Abstract/Details

A STUDY OF LIBERIA'S POPULATION WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ETHNIC AND FERTILITY VARIATIONS

MEHROTRA, GOPAL KRISHNA.   University of Pennsylvania ProQuest Dissertations Publishing,  1980. 8107777.

Abstract (summary)

Liberia, with a population of 1.5 million in 1974, is situated on the western coast of Africa. The major sources of socioeconomic and demographic information for the country are the sample surveys carried out during 1969-72 and 1978-79 and the 1962 and 1974 population censuses.

The present study, based on a 10 percent probability sample of the 1974 Census data, is designed with a view to (a) evaluating the quality of the 1974 Census, (b) providing socioeconomic characteristics of ethnic populations, (c) estimating fertility and mortality levels, (d) developing regression models for explaining fertility variation, and (e) analysing fertility differences among various segments of the female population. The study is described in seven chapters; the first and last chapters deal with the genesis, objectives, organization, summary findings and conclusions. Each of the remaining five chapters deal with one specific area of study listed above.

The evaluation of the 1974 Census has been carried out by comparing the 1962 and 1974 Censuses and also by checking the consistency of census age distributions with that of stable population models. One significant finding worth mentioning is that the official growth rate of 3.36 percent per annum is inconsistent with the census age distribution, the probable growth rate is estimated around 2.5 percent per annum.

The characteristics of Liberia's population, classified under 9 ethnic groups, have been studied with reference to household size and composition, age and sex distribution, marital status, literacy, school attending population, migration, and economic activity.

The demographic techniques applicable for deficient data are applied on the census information on number of children: ever born, surviving, born in the year preceding the census date. When data are highly deficient, it is observed that these techniques may lead to erroneous results. The mortality estimates from different methods are in a fairly close range, but fertility estimates show considerable fluctuations. The plausible estimates for Liberia of total fertility and mortality are respectively close to 6.00 and level 12 of the West Model Life Tables.

Fertility regression models consider the efficacy of using alternative designs such as individual versus aggregate levels, retrospective versus current fertility, linear versus multiplicative models, and independent variables with and without multicollinearity effect. The infant and childhood mortality and proportion married have proved to be the most significant explanatory variables for all types of fertility regressions. The explanatory power is much higher for aggregate than for individual level regressions.

Fertility differentials in Liberia's population are analyzed with reference to ethnicity, literacy, school attendance, highest grade completed, migration, economic activity, and work status. Major sources of fertility variation were due to variations in the proportion of married and extent of childlessness. Education, school attendance and work status have shown significant effects on fertility.

The present research has succeeded in unfolding many facts about Liberia, which seem consistent with the experiences of developing countries. As there are still many issues, which remain unresolved or need substantiation from other sources; future research may, therefore, be required in the direction of solving the myth of growth rate, verifying statistical facts of the population against its social, cultural and religious backgrounds, reconciling estimates of fertility and mortality through other demographic sources and extending regression approach for studying fertility differentials.

Indexing (details)


Subject
Demographics;
Demography
Classification
0938: Demography
Identifier / keyword
Social sciences
Title
A STUDY OF LIBERIA'S POPULATION WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ETHNIC AND FERTILITY VARIATIONS
Author
MEHROTRA, GOPAL KRISHNA
Number of pages
283
Degree date
1980
School code
0175
Source
DAI-A 41/10, Dissertation Abstracts International
Place of publication
Ann Arbor
Country of publication
United States
ISBN
9798661866660
University/institution
University of Pennsylvania
University location
United States -- Pennsylvania
Degree
Ph.D.
Source type
Dissertation or Thesis
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation/Thesis
Dissertation/thesis number
8107777
ProQuest document ID
302980218
Copyright
Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works.
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/docview/302980218