Cardiovascular Disease and Women in Urban Informal Communities: A Detailed Overview
Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability globally (H. Vorster, 2002a) , with a significant burden of impact being felt in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (Niyibizi et al., 2022) . Women in urban informal settings, often characterized by poor living conditions, limited access to general healthcare, and socioeconomic dynamics, are particularly vulnerable (Niyibizi et al., 2022) . Urban informal settlements, often called slums, are inhabited by millions of women globally (Rossier et al., 2014) , making this population critical to addressing global CVD inequalities (Wekesah et al., 2019) . Prevalence and Burden CVD includes a range of disorders affecting the heart and blood vessels (Niyibizi et al., 2022) , which include coronary artery disease, hypertension, stroke, and heart failure (H. H. Vorster et al., n.d.) . Women in urban informal communities face an increased risk of CVD due to a combination of environmental, behav...