Quality of Life and Habitability Conditions in Peri-Urban Areas of Southern Mar del Plata, Argentina: a Multimethod Study

Peri-urban areas in Latin America exhibit significant social and environmental problems that affect the quality of life of their inhabitants. Based on previous studies, this paper aims to evaluate the quality of life in the peri-urban area of southern Mar del Plata, Argentine Republic, from a multimethod approach. A synthetic index was constructed based on the concept of habitability, which is directly linked to the notion of quality of life, and integrates six dimensions (health, housing, accessibility, education, economy, and environment). Indicators were obtained mainly from the last national censuses (2001-2010). Subsequently, semi-structured interviews (2015-2016) were conducted in the areas affected by the most critical habitability conditions identified by the index in order to deepen the perception and appreciation of the individuals' experience about their quality of life. The results obtained reveal unequal access to infrastructure, services, equipment, adequate housing, and urban land, among others, especially noticed between the coastal and inland sectors. The methodological procedure adopted allowed to complement and enlighten some objective and subjective aspects of the quality of life of peri-urban areas, providing the basis for the urban management of the study area.