Authors :
Adeyemo, S.O
Volume/Issue :
Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 3 - March
Google Scholar :
https://bit.ly/3TmGbDi
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/3KuYGm7
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7797375
Abstract :
Demographic data are usually classified by
age and sex, as they both are very important variables.
National plans for the provision of such need as
housing, food, education, health, e.t.c depend on the
relevant socio – demographic statistics classified by age
and sex. The importance of accurate age-sex data in
demographic analysis cannot be over emphasized as
there are errors associated with age and sex. As age
data tend to be more inaccurate than sex data, there is
need for investigation and evaluation of the quality of
the data collected on age. This paper is purposely
prepared to evaluate the accuracy of age reporting
using the demographic and health survey 2018 for
Nigeria using demographic techniques. The Whipples’
and Meyer’s indices as well as the United Nations AgeSex accuracy index were determined. The result of the
work has shown very accurate age data reporting for all
except male at age ending with “0” in Nigeria. For the
Myer’s index, the most preferred final digits are ‘5’ and
‘0’, while the most avoided final digit by both sexes is
‘1’. Furthermore, the calculated age-sex accuracy index
is 57.61 that qualified the age data is deficient and
requires massive adjustment before they could be
meaningfully used.
Keywords :
Digit preference, Whipple’s index, Myer’s index, Age, UN age-sex accuracy Index
Demographic data are usually classified by
age and sex, as they both are very important variables.
National plans for the provision of such need as
housing, food, education, health, e.t.c depend on the
relevant socio – demographic statistics classified by age
and sex. The importance of accurate age-sex data in
demographic analysis cannot be over emphasized as
there are errors associated with age and sex. As age
data tend to be more inaccurate than sex data, there is
need for investigation and evaluation of the quality of
the data collected on age. This paper is purposely
prepared to evaluate the accuracy of age reporting
using the demographic and health survey 2018 for
Nigeria using demographic techniques. The Whipples’
and Meyer’s indices as well as the United Nations AgeSex accuracy index were determined. The result of the
work has shown very accurate age data reporting for all
except male at age ending with “0” in Nigeria. For the
Myer’s index, the most preferred final digits are ‘5’ and
‘0’, while the most avoided final digit by both sexes is
‘1’. Furthermore, the calculated age-sex accuracy index
is 57.61 that qualified the age data is deficient and
requires massive adjustment before they could be
meaningfully used.
Keywords :
Digit preference, Whipple’s index, Myer’s index, Age, UN age-sex accuracy Index
