Social Determinants and Psychiatric Disorders in an Urban Slum Population: An Issue of Concern among Migrant Workers in India

Krishna Mohan V.T. Palipudi, University of Minnesota

The paper analyze differences in the prevalence of depression and schizophrenia among migrant and non-migrant workers in an urban slum population in India in terms of post migration factors such as reasons for migration, region of origin, duration of stay, social support, socioeconomic status, physical environment and socio-demographic indicators of households. It also contributes to the understanding of the level of social determinants in the slum community in relation to the migration and how they further influence the psychiatric health status of the households. Data were collected from 487 urban slum households engaged in workforce. Logistic regression analysis shows that among the migrant workers, increased suboptimal health care, no prolonged morbidity status, post migration factors, social determinants such as social gradient, social support, social exclusion, and stress at work, employment and neighbourhood are found to have significant influence in predicting the households whether they have experienced depression or schizophrenia.