Abstract: | The Centre for Applied Social Sciences at the University of Natal in conjunction with the Human Sciences Research Council undertook a nationwide study of quality of life in South Africa in 1983. The rationale of the study was that if the basic needs approach were to be applied on a broader basis in South Africa, a large-scale assessment would be required of basic needs priorities of current access to essential goods and services, and it would be essential to identify groups and areas which were severely deprived in terms of basic needs. After an explanation of the basic needs strategy and methodological considerations, this article presents the findings with respect specifically to South African blacks. App., bibliogr., notes. |