In developing countries, the presence of slum areas is a major challenge (Sukmaniar, Pitoyo et al., 2021) because it leads to a slower growth rate with poorly organized settlements [
2]. Consequently, developing countries need to promptly address slum settlements as a means to expedite economic growth
. According to [
3], approximately one billion people worldwide are inhabitants of slum areas, and this poses a challenge to urbanization. The total population in slum settlements is projected to keep rising and expected to double by 2030 [
4]. This situation calls for significant concern, as the realization of these projections would entail a burgeoning population within slum settlements, coupled with a rise in the number of individuals experiencing impoverished economic conditions
. High population density, poor services, and housing are features of slum areas. However, improved conditions [
5][
5][
5](Bird et al., 2017) with basic urban services and sanitation can be seen in some urban areas (Bird et al., 2017; Gulyani & Talukdar, 2008). This situation is emblematic of the settlements found in developing countries, where there are several slum areas
. Some parts of these areas has been successfully improved in respect to their social, physical, and economic sectors
. Dense settlements in slum areas often result in limited space for waterways and drainage channels [
7]. As a result, the occurrence of floods tend to jeopardize the dwellings of those residing in such settlements
. Assuming the situation deteriorates further, there is a heightened risk of these homes collapsing
. This is prevalent in virtually all urban area in developing countries
. Effective sanitation interventions can lead to longer life expectancy, reduced health costs, and the prevention of various diseases [
8]. Good sanitation management also has a positive impact on the health of infants and children [
9]. However, implementing sanitation and hygiene interventions is time-consuming, as they often require behavioral changes in addition to infrastructure improvements [
10]. The process of achieving behavioral change takes time, specifically when it pertains to residents of slum settlements who have grown accustomed to neglecting cleanliness and health. Guiding them towards prioritizing these aspects demands a significant transformation. Building sanitation infrastructure also requires significant funding, which can be a limiting factor [
11]. This highlights the need for the government to implement policies for enhancing sanitation. The emergence of conflicts and poor cooperation results in inadequate services, uneven infrastructure development [
12], as well as a decline in order and law [
13]. Conflicts tend to arise when there is lack of collaboration between the government and residents. Therefore, establishing strong collaboration becomes essential to maintain orderliness in infrastructural development. Urbanization continues due to the high migration of people to urban areas with increased economic activity (Sukmaniar, Kurniawan et al., 2020). This phenomenon is a result of the strong attraction that urban areas hold for migrants who aspire to enhance their social and economic conditions. These migrants hope their selected destination offers greater opportunities for them to achieve success. The high level of urbanization leads to a continuous rise in the development of urban areas [
15]. This rise is in line with the increasing number of migrating populations, resulting in a heightened level of transactions involving both trade and services. Consequently, this trend is anticipated to impact the advancement of the economic sector.
In slum areas, households have a low socioeconomic mobility level between generations [
16]. This situation arises from the limited capabilities, often linked to lower education levels, which in turn hinders the residents ability to compete with those who are highly educated. As a result, their intergenerational socio-economic mobility remains significantly constrained. These areas are characterized by a lack of public services and home ownership security, a dense population [
17], vulnerability to eviction and poor population status [
18]. Furthermore, unauthorized use of electricity and water is found in almost every location [
19], inadequate basic services and several rented houses [
20], as well as high vulnerability to diseases [
21], are also prevalent. Shafie et al. (2013) stated that urban poor areas in developing countries have a high infant mortality rate, indicating lower infant life expectancy compared to rural areas [
23] where infant mortality is also higher. These diverse characteristics portrays the conditions of slum settlements across various regions in developing countries. This situation is deeply troubling, as failure to address these issues promptly could result in an increased number of infant deaths in urban slum settlements
.
The Palembang city has a river called the Musi River, which divides it into two parts, namely the Ulu and Ilir areas. This division led to several settlements at the riverbanks [
24], forming slum areas. Slum settlements are present in nearly every sub-district of Palembang City, but the most concentrated areas are found among residents living along the banks of the Musi River. The residents residing along the riverbanks hail from the surrounding areas of Palembang City as well as from South Sumatra Province. Some originate from other provinces outside South Sumatra, including within Sumatra and Java Islands. Approximately one million people live in Palembang City, the province's capital and economic center. The riverbanks provide an alternative housing option for residents seeking low rental costs. Like other urban areas, this city always experiences an increase in population yearly (Sukmaniar, Pitoyo et al., 2020). This phenomenon stems from the bustling economic activities in Palembang City service and trade sectors. These factors attract migrants from both within and outside South Sumatra Province. Skilled migrants tend to settle in non-slum areas, while those without skills often reside in the low-cost settlements spread across Palembang. The combination of migrant influx and the pre-existing local population in these areas gives rise to various challenges, including poverty and crime. These problems need to be addressed promptly to prevent further deterioration of conditions in every slum settlement in Palembang City. The importance of this research lies in the fact that understanding the distribution of slum settlements in Palembang will lead to policy recommendations regarding the necessary actions needed to overcome this problem. Studies on the distribution of slum areas in Palembang City using spatial data modelling on accuracy values are unavailable. Therefore, this novelty study aims to analyze the distribution of slum areas in Palembang City using spatial data modelling on accuracy value.