Perceived Effects of Poverty on Urban Socio-Economic Development in Ambo Town, Ethiopia

Yikeber Yimesgen,Taye Daba

doi:10.11648/j.ajtab.20190504.13

Abstract

This study was an assessment of the perceived effects of poverty on urban socio economic development in Ambo town. Poverty is deprivation in wellbeing and lack of basic necessities to sustain life. Prior researches conducted on the perception of people on the effects of poverty towards urban socio-economic development were insufficient in Ethiopia. Thus, the objectives of the study were to assess the effects of poverty on urban economic, education and healthcare development, and to examine the effects of poverty on women economic development in Ambo town. The research was a qualitative research, used primary data collected through key informant interview selected purposively from experienced persons residing in Ambo town. The data was analyzed using thematic method of analysis. The study indicated that poverty is highly prevalent in Ambo town mainly due to poor governance, corruption, poor investment flow, lack of political will from the government and political instability. The education and health care infrastructures were expanding in the town in the last decade but there were limitations in quality and service provision. Poverty has negatively affected poor people livelihoods in income generation, and medical as well as educational services in Ambo town. Women poverty in Ambo is higher than men and a significant number of women were living in destitution. Many women in Ambo town were economically dependent on men.

Highlights

Poverty can be defined as lack of basic necessities of human beings such as food and water, shelter, education, medical care and security
The 2007 population and housing census by Central Statistical Agency (CSA) of Ethiopia reported that the total population of Ambo town was 50,267 individuals
The results indicate that urban poverty is a growing concern for Ambo town

Summary

Introduction

Poverty can be defined as lack of basic necessities of human beings such as food and water, shelter, education, medical care and security. Poverty is highly prevalent in developing countries especially in the sub Saharan Africa [3]. Ethiopia is one of the sub Saharan Countries in which poverty was highly prevalent. Many Ethiopians in the urban areas are living in poverty. Various studies have been conducted on the prevalence of poverty and food insecurity in Ethiopia. Their study was based on quantitative methods and did not study people’s perception towards the effects of poverty on urban development qualitatively. Another study on urban poverty, based on a data from the Ethiopian Urban Household survey, indicated that the incidence of urban poverty in Ethiopia is high with a head count index of more than 40%, but it did not show people’s perception towards urban poverty [7]

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion