Socio-economic Determinants of Health in Port Harcourt Slums, Nigeria: Bridging the Gap between Informal Reality and Formal Urban Renewal Policies

Abstract

Context/Problem: The rapid urbanization of Port Harcourt has led to a proliferation of informal settlements where health outcomes are deeply compromised by a “clash of rationalities” between resident survival strategies and state-led urban renewal policies. Objective: This study aimed to identify the socio-economic factors influencing health status, assess the relationship between housing quality and communicable diseases, and evaluate the impact of current urban renewal policies. Methodology: Adopting a qualitative phenomenological design, the study focused on 10 purposively selected settlements. Data were collected from 300 respondents via open-ended questionnaires, 20 key informant interviews (KIIs), and “walk-through” observations. Findings: Results revealed a significant “poverty-health nexus,” where 72% of residents engage in precarious informal labor, leading to a 68% reliance on informal Patent Medicine Vendors. 90% of respondents in industrial fringes reported respiratory issues linked to “black soot.” Residents view urban renewal as “state-sponsored homelessness,” discouraging private investment in sanitation. Conclusion: The disconnect between formal policy and informal reality exacerbates health vulnerabilities.