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Abstract:
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Findings from this study indicate that people define quality of life on the basis of access to the most depended upon livelihood resource in each geographical location, possession of assets, access to physical needs and personal freedom and recognition. In other words, definition of quality of life to most people revolves around:
- the right to economic activities,
- the right to acquire and own property,
- the right to adequate food, shelter and decent medical care,
- right to personal freedom, education, personal liberty, recognition and other basic civil and political rights.
This study has revealed that most people in many areas in Malawi consider the status of well-being on the basis of the level to which each of these rights have been achieved by each particular individual, household or community. Consequently, denial of these either through natural processes or socio-political environment leads to poor quality of life.
Households that are considered to be in high wellbeing classes have livelihood resources, have nice shelter and would afford decent medical care and better education. Further, such households live peacefully without any squabbles either from within their families, community or society at large.
The study has also revealed that most people feel that about 70-80% of Malawians belong to lower well-being classes compared to the estimated 30-40% a decade ago. Low agricultural production, high levels of unemployment, high prices of commodities, diseases, high death rates and illiteracy have been cited as the main reasons that have made most people to decline in their well-being status in the last decade.
The authors recommend that there is a need:
- for a strengthened outreach component in the Poverty Alleviation Programme of the Government of Malawi.
- to diversify the national economy.
- to diversify the national economy. The study has shown that hunger is people’s main cause of ill-being status resulting from low food crop production. |