New estimates of fertility and child mortality in Africa, south of the Sahara
Adegbola, O.
Population Studies 31(3): 467-486
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0032-4728 PMID: 22091909 DOI: 10.1080/00324728.1977.10412761Document Number: 364067
Summary Earlier work by Page and Coale has estimated demographic indices of fertility and mortality for parts of Africa using the Sullivan modification of Brass's technique. The present paper presents modified and more accurate estimates of fertility and child mortality, not only for the sub-national units covered by Page and Coale but also for areas not covered by them. The present analysis which employs Trussell's refinement of Brass and Sullivan's techniques also includes improvements overlooked in earlier estimates. The salient finding that emerges is that while the Brass mortality technique is very powerful, his equally ingenious fertility technique is very weak and should not be relied on for estimating fertility parameters.