Factors affecting reliability in age estimation in rural West Africa: A statistical analysis

Abstract

Ages of the same individual in two rounds of a rural survey in Sierra Leone spaced at intervals of six to ten months, were recorded by similar census-type methods, but using different enumerators. Substantial age differences were noted between the two surveys. Simple linear regression analysis was used to identify factors related to the interviewer, the interviewee and the method of interviewing that contributed to these age differences. It was concluded that age errors will be reduced by interviewing individuals directly rather than through a third party (usually the household head), more careful recruitment and training of enumerators and by the gradual spread of education and age awareness in rural areas.