similar disparities were found in egypt and other developing countries in these and other indicators of maternal and child health montgomery thus although there is an urban health advantage health disparities are larger in urban than in rural areas and the burden of disease bome by the urban poor is similar to that borne by rural populations for example poor households may lack the information or the agency needed to seek health care in addition poor city dwellers often live in close proximity to health services yet lack access to basic sanitation or safe drinking water thereby facing a higher risk of contracting communicable diseases