Chapter 2

Chapter 2

DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE

2.1. Demographic Characteristics

Urban/rural distribution:

Currently, more than two thirds of Armenian Population lives in designated urban areas, therefore we selectively involved more inhabitants of the towns and cities in the survey and case studies. In total, there were 863 (48%) rural and 937 (52%) urban respondents of the survey, including 660 (37%) from Yerevan and 277 (15%) from urban areas of the Ararat Region (Figure 2.1). The majority (83%) of respondents of the case studies were from urban areas.

Figure 2.1. Urban/rural distribution of respondents of the survey and case-studies

Survey (n=1800)

Case studies (n=150)

Religious belief:

The majority of adults (97%) and young people (95%) involved in the survey, as well as all young respondents of the case studies (100%) considered themselves Christians by culture.

Age and sex distribution:

Survey data

The age of 900 young participants of the survey varied from 13 to 24 years old (Median = 17) and of 900 adult participants - from 25 to 71 years old (Median = 40). The largest group (31%) of the total survey population was composed of 564 young people 15-19 years old (Figure 2.2).

Figure 2.2. The frequency distribution of the survey respondents, by age

(n=1800)

Table 2.1. represents details on the frequency and percentage distribution of the survey participants by gender and age. It is obvious from Table 2.1. that proportion of male respondents in the survey sample was smaller than of females. Thus, there were 40% of males among young people and only 14.7% among the adult respondents.

This fact may be explained by several reasons: 1) most of the teachers and health providers of the Armenian educational institutions and public health facilities are women; 2) mainly mothers and women guardians take care of children and were available for interview; 3) it was difficult to reach adult males at their home during the daytime; 4) the refusal rate for participation in the survey was higher among males compared to females.

Case studies data

The age of 150 participants of the case studies varied from 14 to 24 years old (Median = 16.5). The proportion of females was more than twice of proportion of males in the groups “A” (which included young people who participated in training courses on sexuality, and sexual and reproductive health) and “B” (which received relevant information from previously trained peer educators. However, there were more boys than girls in the target group “C”, participants of which didn’t have an access to accurate information on sexuality, and sexual and reproductive health (Table 2.2).

Table 2.1. The frequency and percentage distribution of the survey respondents,

by gender and age (n=1800)

Respondents	Females		Males		Total
Respondents	abs.	%	abs.	%	abs.	%
*Young People*
< 15	81	61	52	39	133	100
15 – 19	332	59	232	41	564	100
20 – 24	126	62	77	38	203	100
Total for young people:	539	60	361	40	900	100
*Adults above 25 years of age*
25 – 29	109	81	25	19	134	100
30 – 34	110	93	8	7	118	100
35 – 39	150	88	21	12	171	100
40 – 44	161	86	26	14	187	100
45 – 49	109	83	22	17	131	100
>= 50	129	81	30	19	159	100
Total for adults:	768	85	132	15	900	100
OVERALL:	1307	73	493	27	1800	100

Table 2.2. The frequency and percentage distribution of participants

of the case studies, by gender (n=150)

*Target groups*	Females		Males		Total
*Target groups*	abs.	%	abs.	%	abs.	%
Group “A”	34	68	16	32	50	100
Group “B”	35	70	15	30	50	100
Group “C”	19	38	31	62	50	100
TOTAL:	88	58	62	42	150	100

Marital status

Survey data

By the time of this survey, the great majority (86%) of young people have never been married, while most (90%) of the adult respondents over 24 years of age have been ever married. The frequency and percentage distribution of participants of the survey, according to their marital status at the time of interview is demonstrated in Table 2.3, below.

Table 2.3. The frequency and percentage distribution

of the survey respondents, by marital status (n=1800)

Marital status	Adults		Young people		Total
Marital status	Abs.	%	Abs.	%	Abs.	%
Currently married, living with spouse	682	76	37	4	719	80
Currently married, but separated	41	5	20	2	61	4
Widowed	50	6	0	0	50	3
Divorced	35	4	2	0,2	37	2
Never married	85	9	776	86	861	48
Consensual union	2	0,2	6	0.7	8	0.4
Single mothers	5	0,5	0	0	5	0.3
Total:	900	100	900	100	1800	100

Case studies data

Among 150 participants of the case studies only 3 (2%) girls were currently married and lived with spouse. The remaining 147 (98%) respondents have never been married.

2.2. Social and Economic Status

Education

Survey data

Almost 43 percent of young participants of the survey were students at public schools, 22 percent at colleges, and 21 percent at universities or institutes. But 112 young people (12%) were out of educational institution (completed or dropped out), 11 (1%) - lived in orphanages or boarding schools for children in need of special protection (Table 2.4).

Table 2.4. The frequency and percentage distribution

of young respondents of the survey, by educational status (n=900)

Educational Status	Number of respondents
Educational Status	abs.	%
Students of the public schools	390	43
Students of the colleges	199	22
Students of the universities/institutes	188	21
Out of any educational institution (completed or dropped out from the public schools)	112	12
Institutionalized children	11	1
Total:	900	100

The educational level of the adult respondents of the survey was quite high: about 53% had a university level education and 36% had completed college or technical school. There were 325 (36%) health providers and 223 (25%) teachers/educators among participants of the survey.

Case studies data

The majority (95%) of participants of the case studies were students. There were 113 (75%) students at public schools, 17 (11%) - at colleges, and 13 (9%) - at universities, as well 7 (5%) young people out of any educational institution (Table 2.5).

Table 2.5. The frequency and percentage distribution

of participants of the case studies, by educational status

(n=150)

Educational Status	Number of respondents
Educational Status	abs.	%
Students of the public schools	113	75
Students of the colleges	17	11
Students of the universities/institutes	13	9
Out of any educational institution (completed or dropped out from the public schools)	7	5
Total:	150	100

Three adolescent boys dropped out from the 8^th class of the public schools for own income generation. The extract from interview with one of them is provided below:

Respondent of male gender, 14 years of age, dropped out from the public schools:

“ My father does not live with us anymore. He has been in Russia for already 2 years, but he hasn't yet been able to find an appropriate job to support our family… My mother has to take care of my little sisters, so how could I continue my education?”

Employment

Survey data

The majority of 900 adults over 24 years of age, who participated in this study, were currently employed (85%), however there were 84 (9%) people, who were looking for an appropriate job or employment opportunity. To reach objectives of this study, we specifically have involved significant proportion of teachers/educators (25%) and primary health care providers (36%).

Assessment shows that only 79 (9%) out of 900 young participants of the survey were currently working. Thirty four (43%) of them were working in the private sector, 29 (37%) - were engaged in different kind of unregistered trade activities, 11 (15%) – were working as civil servants and 5 (6%) – were self-employed. The most common types of current occupational activities of young people were trade (27%), agriculture (17%), and miscellaneous physical work (16%). However, 366 (41%) young people mentioned that they were looking for an appropriate job.

Case studies data

Among 150 participants of the case studies, there were 16 (11%) young people, including 3 females and 13 males, which tried to generate income mainly through involvement in trade and physical work. However, most of them managed to earn only small amount of “pocket” money.

Living place

Case studies data

The great majority of young participants of the case studies (145 people- 96.7%) were living with their parents. Three adolescent girls (2%) were living with their friends or relatives, and one (0.7%) girl was living alone. There was also one (0.7%) married young woman who was living with her husband.

Most of the young participants (145 people - 96.7%) lived in private flats or houses, which belonged to their parents, and 5 (3.3%) young women lived in rented flats or apartments. The housing conditions were not satisfactory in most of the cases (136 cases - 90.7%). There were difficulties with water and power systems and sanitation.

2.3. Summary of main findings

The main findings, related to demographic and socio-economic profile of the target population are given below:

· Among participants of the survey there are 52% of urban and 48% of rural inhabitants. One half (50%) of participants of the case studies are young people living in city of Yerevan, and another half (50%)- in the Ararat region. About 17% of participants of the case studies are rural people.

· The majority of respondents of the survey and case studies consider themselves Christians by culture.

· The average age of young people involved in the survey is 17 years old, and of the adults above 24, is 40. The largest group of the total survey population is composed of 15-19 years old young people. The average age of young participants of the case studies is 16.5 years.

· There are more females (73%) than males (27%) among participants of the survey because of the following reasons: a) most of the teachers and health providers of the Armenian educational institutions and public health facilities are women; b) mainly mothers and female guardians take care of children and have time available for interview; c) it is difficult to reach adult men at their homes during the daytime; d) participation in the population-based surveys is on voluntary basis and men more often refuse to participate. The gender distribution of young participants of the case studies is 58% of females and 42% of males.

· The majority of young people who participated in the survey and case studies have never been married, while most of the adult respondents over 24 years of age have been ever married.

· Most of young participants of the survey and case studies are students at public schools, colleges, universities, or institutes. About 13% of young people are out of educational institution or live in orphanages or boarding schools for children in need of special protection.

· The educational level of adult respondents of the survey is quite high: about 53% have a university level education. Significant proportions of the survey participants are health providers (36%) and teachers/educators (25%). In the case studies mainly students of public schools are involved (75%).

· The majority of adults over 24 years old (85%) and 9% of young people are currently employed. The most common types of current occupational activities of young people are trade, agriculture, and miscellaneous physical work. About 41% of young people are looking for an appropriate job for own income generation.

· Living with parents at least until the marriage is common for young people (97%). The housing conditions are not satisfactory in most of the cases (91%): there are difficulties with water and power systems and sanitation.