Quality of Life Style of Slum Dwellers in Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background: A slum is a highly populated urban residential area consisting mostly of closely packed, dilapidate housing units in a situation of worsen infrastructure, inhabited primarily by impoverished persons. Sri Lankan experience on slums is discussable and it is one of current topics of national policy planners. As existing data showed, slums are continuously on the increase. Of the total housing stock about one half belongs to middle income while the balance half belongs to low-income population. Objectives: The general objective was to investigate the quality of life style of slum dwellers and the specific objectives were to explore scio-economic status of slum dwellers and to explore problems faced by slum dwellers. Methodology: This was a one-to-one, in-depth interview-based qualitative study design and the study population in this research was the urban slum residents in Kelaniya in Colombo district. As the inclusion criteria, age of the slum dwellers from 18-65 years and people from the Kelaniya district was only included in this study. People with mental disorders were excluded in this study. The sample size considered in this research is 14 people. Thematic analysis was performed on the data collection. Results and conculsions: Four major themes were identified. Economic status, Health sanitary and infrastructure, educational status and family structure were the major themes. Secondary education was the highest education that most of them have achieved. Sanitary facilities and infrastructure were at a very low standard which have caused conditions like common cold, cough, fever, cholera and typhoid frequently. The risk of natural disasters was noticed in the area which the authorities should pay their attention immediately. To conclude, this study has identified two issues where poverty was identified as the major issue. It is recommended that their lives can be uplifted through eliminating or reducing poverty as well as changing their attitudes.