Urbanisation and women's health in Khayelitsha. Part I. Demographic and socio-economic profile

Demographic and socio-economic data and information on migration patterns and urban/rural links was collected from 722 households in the formal housing area and the serviced and the unserviced site areas of Khayelitsha; 659 women and 61 men were interviewed. Thirty-eight per cent of the population were aged under 15 years and 77% under 35 years. There was a predominance of females in the 5-35-year age group. There was a mean of 4.9 persons per household, and 93.5% of sites contained 1 dwelling. Of the 659 female respondents, 7% had received no formal education, 39% had primary school education, and 54% had secondary school education. Unemployment among women was 45%. Domestic service accounted for 66.2% of formal employment. Of all women 86% were unskilled, 71.9% had been born in a 'homeland', and 69.7% had migrated to an urban area before 1985. Ties to the rural areas were strong, particularly in the 'shack' areas. 'New arrivals' to an urban area were young, mostly unemployed, and lived in the worst environmental conditions. In the unserviced 'shack' areas, 47.5% of women had migrated to an urban area in the last 5 years. There are important target areas for a study of the health effects of urbanisation and for possible interventions. This study tends to confirm the 'quadruple' oppression of women in Khayelitsha, on the basis of race, social class and gender and as new arrivals in an urban environment.