Health Information Sharing in Urban Slums: Dynamics of Access, Understanding, and Confidence

Health communication plays a critical role in improving health outcomes, particularly in urban slum settings where access to healthcare resources is often limited due to high population density. This study examines the dynamics of health message sharing in the slums of Dharavi, Mumbai, with focus on the relationship between preferred communication channels, message comprehension, and the confidence to disseminate health information. Using a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data from a structured survey and qualitative insights from interviews were analysed to identify key factors influencing health information sharing behaviours. The study highlights the importance of understanding message accessibility and clarity, with education and gender emerging as significant determinants of sharing dynamics. Additionally, the study underscores the critical role of self-confidence in fostering community-wide health knowledge dissemination. These insights offer actionable strategies for designing effective health communication interventions tailored to the unique needs of urban slum populations.