Comparative analysis of Quality of life in old and new quarters, the case of Zafarieh and Qatarchian quarters of Sanandaj

In Iran, after cities expansion and urban population growth, the issue of Quality of Life (QOF) has been concerned in our cities, so that there is great different between urban neighborhoods regarding to QOF level. In recent decades, the old area of the city with peripheral growth around it as new quarters has concentrated population and many of services and facilities which faces with infrastructures and utilities deficiency. This rapid physical growth has changed and destructed the old quarters. Meanwhile, lack of some novel facilities and population demand exist in these areas. In other hand, it is essential to evaluating urban plans and implementations success in new quarters for the future planning which must be promoted existing challenges. Nowadays, disregarding the QOF in urban areas has led to ecological segregation, marginal settlement, poor and social inequality, environmental, moral and human issues, gap and dispersion between different neighborhoods and segregation from each other. This paper with assessing QOF in two old and new quarters of Sanandaj tries to find factors that can be used to promoting QOF in each quarter. For this, one quarter selected from old ones (Qatarchian quarter) and another is new (Zafarieh).
Main method of this research is Analytical-Descriptive which is based on poll and questionnaires distribution among residents. Other data collected by field surveys of researchers. Regarding to aims, main parameters derived from literatures, practices and field survey in the quarters and structured by a hierarchy from top to down (analytical). The obtained model is based on the tree diagram that has four levels including criteria, parameters and items. For assessing QOF a questionnaire with 45 questions has been designed which reflects experiences and mentalities of resident about QOF. Questions are based on Likert spectrum (the minimum score is 1, maximum is 5 and mean is 3). For validity of it we use the Cronbach's Alpha method. Based on result of this method, amount of Alpha is 0.916 that confirms their validity well. For analyzing data has been used from SPSS software based on the multiple Regression, t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient.
In this paper, the comprehension and analysis of residents have been regarded as a basis for evaluating QOF regarding to economic, social and physical aspects of urban life. To do this, the mentioned criteria have been derived from theoretical and empirical studies in Iran and other countries and have been tries to adapting with the study area conditions. Each of the triple criteria including social, economic and physical criterion analyzed to some parameters which QOF assessment in the quarters is based on those.
3.1. Physical dimension
In physical criterion five factors including the housing, the quarter, the transportation, the green space and solid waste collection has been selected as parameters. Regarding to residents score that dedicated to these parameters for two quarters, the average scores of Zafarieh quarter to five parameters are above theoretical average that are more than mean limit. But about Qatarchian these are lower than theoretical average.
3.2. Social dimension
For evaluating this, we select four parameters including individual security, health situation, sense of place and relationship with neighbors. Investigation of average scores shows that satisfaction of Zafarieh residents about four factors are more than theoretical average. Resident scores of Qatarchian quarter shows level of satisfaction for individual security parameter is lower than moderate level which is because of lack of good lighting in the quarter, crimes and lack of security and safety for women and children.
3.3. Economic dimension
This criterion has been evaluated based on five parameters including economic situation, health facilities, recreational facilities, educational and commercial centers in two quarters. Average of scores related to the resident of the quarters shows satisfaction level of Zafarieh quarter for some factors such as economic situation, recreational facilities, educational and commercial centers is more than moderate level. About Qatarchian quarter maximum average of the resident satisfaction is related to commercial centers which may be because of vicinity of this quarter to the city center and good access to commercial centers.
The study of QOF in two old and new quarter of Sanandaj shows that QOF in new fabrics of the city is better than old ones. Examining average of scores confirmed that while in Zafarieh quarter maximum satisfaction is related to the physical dimension, in Qatarchian is related to the social dimension. Mainly this can be because of great social capital phenomenon in the Qatarchian that oldest structures, social relationships and sense of cooperation affect this factor. Result of T test in Zafarieh shows that among three factors including the quarter, sense of place and the transportation have highest rate of resident satisfaction and three parameters including commercial cores, sanitary facilities and neighbor relationships have lowest level of satisfaction. Highest level of resident satisfaction in Qatarchian based on results of T test is related to health situation, commercial centers and neighbor relationships and lowest rate because of low permeability for cars to crossing in the quarter is related to the transport, housing and solid waste collection parameters.
Examining average of scores confirmed that while in Zafarieh quarter maximum satisfaction is related to the physical dimension, in Qatarchian is related to the social dimension. Mainly this can be because of great social capital phenomenon in the Qatarchian that oldest structures, social relationships and sense of cooperation affect this factor. Result of T test in Zafarieh shows that among three factors including the quarter, sense of place and the transportation have highest rate of resident satisfaction and three parameters including commercial cores, sanitary facilities and neighbor relationships have lowest level of satisfaction. Highest level of resident satisfaction in Qatarchian based on results of T test is related to health situation, commercial centers and neighbor relationships and lowest rate because of low permeability for cars to crossing in the quarter is related to the transport, housing and solid waste collection parameters.