Attitude to Age and Socio-Demographic Information Reporting: The Unseen Challenges to Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

The study investigated the prevailing factors over age reporting and other socio-demographic information during the Nigerian population census. The study was carried out in south eastern Nigeria, using the cross sectional survey method. The sample size was 597 respondents, males and females aged 26 and older. The analysis examined the latent factors that affected the reporting of age and other socio-demographic status of the citizens using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. From the data, the study demonstrated that age reporting can be predicted by educational level (β= .075, t= 1.965, P<.05), the means of information about the population census (β= .126, t= 3.272, P<.05) and the citizens’ understanding of the census as a means of knowing their needs by the government (β= .343, t= 8.943, P<.05); similarly, reporting of occupational status can be predicted by educational levels (β= .130, t= 3.263, P<.05) and the citizens’ understanding of census as a means of knowing their needs by the government (β= . 263, t= 6.592, P<.05), etc. The study revealed the loopholes that affected the 2015MDG target and set a pace to achieve the post-2015 SDGs. The study has raised a concern for the empirical evaluation of census participation and socio-demographic status reporting.