Understanding life satisfaction among the original inhabitants in the suburbanized areas at the outskirts of a major city: a qualitative study

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Suburbanization has become a major characteristic of urban development in sub-Saharan Africa, and shifting from agricultural-based areas modus vivendi to urban lifestyles affects subjective wellbeing of the original settlers. While there is lack of evidence in the literature of wellbeing in these areas, this study examines life satisfaction of these populations by means of individuals’ own appreciation and evaluation of quality of life.

Methods

The study uses interpretionist and reflexive approaches, and analyses 76 interviews conducted through snowball sampling in two major suburbanized areas. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Results

Generally, the findings show that respondents are satisfied with material living conditions due to improvement of availability of economic opportunities, roads and other transport services, social and community support. However, income inequality and urban poverty result in the inability to afford modern and high-quality urban living conditions, which creates feelings of vulnerability while limiting social relationships.

Conclusions

There is a need to strenghten existing frameworks to fully respond to urban life requirements that relate to transport, education, hygiene, and sanitation services. It is also important to develop support systems that mitigate issues of gender discrimination, human rights, household decision-making, fashion, and cultural norms.

KEYWORDS:

• Subjective wellbeing
• life satisfaction
• quality of life
• suburbanization
• urbanization

Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges the support of Sofie Hellberg from Gothenburg University during the whole process of development of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this project was acquired from the capacity building cooperation between the University of Rwanda (UR) – Sweden Bilateral Programme for Research, Higher Education, and Institutional Advancement.

Notes on contributors

Celestin Ndikumana

Dr. Celestin Ndikumana is a senior lecturer at the University of Rwanda and the Head of Department of Governance and Public Administration, School of Governance, Development and Society, College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS). Dr. Celestin Ndikumana has training in management and administration conducts research in public policy, public administration, organization behaviour and communication, governance and service delivery, human resources for health and health systems. He has conducted different interdisciplinary studies that aimed at influencing policy in the areas of management and health systems. Dr. Celestin Ndikumana is a graduate of the Consortium for Advanced Research training in Africa (CARTA), through a rigorous training of the CARTA methodology, he has accumulated huge knowledge in multidisciplinary research approach. Under this training, he also acquired high skills in grant acquisition and management and has been instrumental in boosting postgraduate training at his institutions through the establishment of a framework for advanced postgraduate research training.