Kullabs

Low Quality of Life

Low quality of life means to decrease living standard in the absence of basic needs as well as social, cultural, emotional and spiritual needs. Low quality of life means poor living standard of life.

Effects of low quality of life

• Lack of fulfillment of basic needs
• Problem of health and sanitation
• Problem of education
• Shortage of employment
• Low income and poverty
• Conflict within the family members
• High maternal and infant mortality rate

Advantage of quality of life

• Fulfillment of basic needs
• Attainment of quality education
• Management of health service, facilities and sanitation
• Facilities for maternal and child welfare
• Opportunity for income generating activities and employment
• Women empowerment

Efforts to achieve quality of life

1. Family size

   

   The size of the family directly affects the quality life and family life. It determines the need and necessities of family members. Quality of life is only possible when the needs and necessities of each family member are fulfilled. If the means and resources are according to the size of the family, it will not be difficult to fulfill the basic as well as additional needs.

    

2. Quality education

   

   It is one of the important elements to maintain quality of life. The parents should make great effort to give timely, qualitative and applied education to their children. It helps to raise the standard of the family by long-term achievement. The skilled person with the quality education can translate the contemporary knowledge, skill and competency in his behavioral life appropriately. As a result, person can upgrade the living standard by involving in quick and easy income-generating activities.

    

3. Appropriate age at marriage

   The appropriate age of marriage is after 20 years. Due to the delayed marriage, first child birth will also be delayed. Few and desired number of children will born and the health of mother and child will be better. It also helps to select suitable life partner for marriage due to maturity in age before marriage. As a result, family life becomes happy and quality of life is formed.

4. Appropriate age first pregnancy

   The first child delivery should take place after 20 years of age. Then, on the one hand, the mother’s health remains unharmed and, on the other hand, the couples have adequate time to enjoy conjugal life as they become well matured. The couple becomes able to think, analyze and decide about family size. Therefore, it helps to maintain the quality of life of the family.

5. Birth spacing

   A couple should adopt appropriate birth spacing. There should be an interval of at least 4 or 5 years between 2 consecutive births which helps to maintain the size of the family and also the health of the mother. So, birth spacing helps to raise the level of quality of life.

6. Health and sanitation

   

   Family health plays significant role for economic and social development of a family. Nutritious foods and balanced diet, basic health services and facilities, etc. are necessary for a person to be healthy. Another aspect to be healthy is personal and community sanitation. If we keep our house, courtyard, street, and public places neat and clean, our surrounding environment stays fresh, clean and green. As a result, family members becomes healthy and active, Then, quality of life is achieved.

    

7. Nutritious food

   

   Nutritious food is necessary for all family members of the family. It helps for the physical, mental and intellectual development. The lack of nutritious food leads towards malnutrition. Therefore, every member of the family should regularly have balanced diet and nutritious foods.

    

8. Gender equality

   

   Gender equality has its own separate position for quality of life. Because of gender inequality in our society, gender bias for son and daughters till the son is born. This wrong tendency has increased the size of the family. Therefore, every conscious person should develop same attitude of gender equity. The concept of gender equity makes the family life happy and makes domestic environment peace, beautiful and cordial. Then the quality of life is further improved. Therefore, each and every couple should believe the gender equality for the quality of life.

    

9. Responsibilities of parents

   

   If parents understand and bear their responsibilities to children, the quality of life is built in the family. These responsibilities consist of rearing, caressing and educating children. They have to keep children healthy and treat them well. If parents bear their responsibilities sincerely, the children grow as the good and capable members of the family and the quality of life is made.

    

10. Maintain saving

     

    

    Saving is also an effort to build the quality of life of the family. Everyone should pay something from his or her income. Money, thus, gathered should be invested in some income-generating activities. This will increase the income of the family. Then, there will be no shortage of money for fulfilling basic needs and other aspirations in the need. In this way, saving plays a significant role in creating quality of life.

     

Basis of quality of life

Basic Needs Oriented Approach

Fulfillment of basic needs is one the indicators of measuring the quality life of human being. The fulfillment of basic needs has been taken as an indicator of economic development and quality life in 1970. Economic and social status increase through economic development and improve the quality life that one can fulfill his basic needs. Thus, basic needs are regarded as one of the bases of quality life. The fulfillment of basic needs was aimed in the sixth five yearly plan (1980- 85 AD) in Nepal for the first time.

The following needs must be ensured to fulfill under the basic need oriented approach:

• Food
• House
• Clothes
• Health
• Education
• Safe drinking
• Water and environmental sanitation

Physical Quality Life Index (PQLI)

Physical quality life index (PQLI) is considered as an indicator or measure quality life. It is passed on the aspect of human welfare and social service rather than per capital income of an individual.

The major basis to measure the physical quality life indexes are as follows:

• Mortality rate of children aged less than five years
• Life expectancy at birth
• Literacy Rate

These are jointly used to find out the status of nations on the basis of 0 to 100 points. The large number indicates better quality life.

Human Development Index (HDI)

Human development report has been published on the basis of Human Development Index (HDI) since 1990. In these days the quality life in measured with the help of human development index.

It is based on the following three dimensions:

• Life expectancy at birth
• Education (literacy rate)
• Income (per capita income)