1980-81 Somalia fertility and mortality survey of Benadir, Bay, and Lower Shebelle : a summary of results

Separate questionnaries were used to survey first the settled population of Mogadishu and other towns and villages and then the nomadic population. This report summarizes the Survey data gathered on births, deaths, education, literacy, internal migration, and for the settled population only, on labor force participation and occupation. The settled population is quite "young" (44% under age 15) and has an overall sex ratio of 96 males to 100 females. Although the small sample size makes estimates less reliable, the sex ratio of the nomadic population appears to be 140 males to 100 females, probably due to outmigration of women favoring a settled life. Age heaping was common among both populations. Almost all Somali women and 96% of the men marry; average age at first marriage is 26 for males and 20 for females in the settled population and 28 for males and 19 for females who are nomadic. However, 60% have been married more than once before they reach their late 40"s. Fertility among settled women is 49/1,000 or 7.l births per woman. Nomadic women report an average of only six children ever born and have the lowest lifetime fertility; urban women have the highest. The Brass P/F Method was used to correct for misdating of births. Since direct methods yield implausibly low mortality rates (7/1,000) two indirect techniques were used and resulted in a crude death rate of 17.8/1,000; life expectancy at birth is 44 years for males and 49 for females. An apparent recent rise in infant mortality rates is 44 years for males and 49 for females. An apparent recent rise in infant mortality rates is ascribed to age misreporting or the higher mortality of children born to younger women. Overall literacy is 46% (60% for men and 30% for women) but is higher among teens due to the government"s literacy campaign. Under 1% of nomad women and only 13% of nomad men are literate. Only 20-25% of the settled population has ever migrated and 87% of nomads spend most of the year in one district. A total of 80% of men and 30% of women aged 25-50 are gainfully employed; 40% were employed in agriculture. A 25-item bibliography (1965-81) is appended.