A study of fertility and child mortality in Illubabor and Wollo, Rural Ethiopia

Abstract

This study examines fertility and child mortality differences among the social groups in Illubabor and Wollo regions based on the 1981 Rural Demography Survey. Sub-regional differences in fertility level and child mortality rates and the effect of childlessness on fertility are also considered. However, due to the nature of the survey and its inherent data problems it was not possible to explain fully and produce evidences at a conclusive level. Some variations in mean number of children ever born were observed among the social groups in both regions. In addition, in most social groups childlessness was found to be inversely related with fertility. However, the results of this study for religion and ethno-religious groups were different from the results of other studies in other regions of Ethiopia that found statistically higher fertility level for Muslims and Oromo-Muslims. As for child mortality the differences observed were not consistent. Most of the variations among the social groups were found not to be significant, especially in the case of Wollo.