1980 Bolivia national demographic survey : a summary of results

This report summarizes the major findings of the l980 National Demographic Survey and, where possible, makes comparisons to the l975 survey and to the l976 Census of Population and Housing. The 1980 survey was conducted using a stratified cluster sample of l0,573 households from all the provinces except eight in remote, tropical areas of the country. A comparison of age, sex, and residence data with l976 census data indicated little change in the overall age and sex distribution but substantial rural to urban migration, more so among males. A measurement of age heaping by Myers" Blended Method revealed that the quality of age reporting was similar to that of the l976 census. Data on marital status showed that the percentage of single males and females declines rapidly as age increases. Using the Hajnal method, which relies on proportions single by age, average age at first union for men was estimated at 24.9 years and for women at 23.0, with both ages lower in rural areas. Data from the l980 survey yielded a crude birth rate of 40 per l,000, similar to the rate found in direct reporting and upon application of the Brass P/F adjustment and the Own Children method. Although data from the l980 survey showed a slight decline in children born, these same sources indicated that Bolivian women give birth to an average of six children. A comparison of direct reports of births from the l980 survey and adjustments from application of the Brass P/F method and the Own Children method yielded similar age-specific fertility rates. Total fertility rates are approximately 30% higher for rural than for urban areas. The data indicate a 20% decrease in fertility from the 1976 census and the 1975 survey although there is concern that reporting could be inaccurate. A crude death rate of 9.4 per 1,000 is low for Bolivia, suggesting incomplete death reporting. The data suggest an overall decline of about 25% in child mortality over the 4-5 year period preceding the l980 survey, similar to declines documented for other countries. Adult mortality is estimated to be near l5 per 1,000 for females and near l4.2 per 1,000 for males for the 4-l0 year period preceding the survey, compatible with infant mortality levels. A 24-item (1966-81) list of references is appended.