The activities of the Demographic Research Unit of the University of Benin
Locoh, T.; Nomenyo, A.
Demographie africaine 1986(50): 61-68
1986
PMID: 12341941 Document Number: 356105
The Demographic Research Unit of the University of Benin was created in 1975, to contribute to a better knowledge of population in Togo and Africa. It now has 5 researchers, good administrative support, and a team of trained interviewers. The unit publishes textbooks and gives demography training to teachers (in primary and secondary schools) and to students (in Togo as well as West Africa), creating knowledgeable interlocuters in various sectors of society; integrates student these into its own researchs, and contributs to new vocational research. Its Documentation Center collects, processes, and circulates information on population and development (2300 books and pamphlets), computerizes information on Togolese demographic documents, and publishes reports on the unit's research in 2 publications: Togolese Studies on Population" (10 issues), and "Togolese Population." The unit is conducting research on 1) fertility and family in Togo and black Africa: in progress is a 4 year study on "the coming of the 1st child in Lome sample size=2500 women), and a study on teenagers' fertility; 2) population and aspects of economic development in Togo: completed in 1985 was a study on the utilization of demographic data for plans, and a study, in 2 rural areas (N=1000), of the relation between high birth rate and migration to the cities; 3) spatial redistribution and migration movements in Togo: in progress is a study of the results of the 1981 census, and surveys in 6 areas highly concerned by migration; 4) mortality and morbidity: studies on life expectancy in 1970 (men 40.2 years, women 43.), on infant death in Lome (1980-1982), of pediatric consultations of to 5 years children in several hospitals; 5) prospects for population: a population of 4,836,000 is expected in 2006 if there is a fast decrease in birth-rate, and of 6,214,000 with a slow increase.