The use of the community -level data in the analysis of fertility differentials in Tanzania

This thesis deals with a unique characteristic of the 1973 National Demographic Survey of Tanzania, namely the study of the determinants of fertility differentials, in rural Tanzania, using the "mode of life" approach. The introduction, (chapter 1), shows why the mode of life of the people is a more important determinant of fertility in the present stage of African economic and social development than the traditional explanatory variables, e.g. income, education, etc. In chapter 2, the comprehensive questionnaire which was used to obtain community-level data at cluster level is described, and the limitations and the quantity of the data collected are discussed. A test is made of the reliability of the data by comparing some of the data from the comprehensive questionnaire with similar data from the household schedule and data from a Socio-economic survey conducted at the same time as the 1973 National Demographic Survey in order to ascertain the reliability of those data for which no comparisons could be made, e.g. data on lactation; taboos on sexual abstinence, frequency of visits to town, etc. Chapter 3 describes the principal component method as applied to the survey data. In chapter 4 a study is made of the factors that determine fertility differentials in rural Tanzania. Multiple regressions model is used for this purpose. In chapter 5 a similar study is made for mortality. Chapter 6 is summary and conclusions.