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USES OF DEMOGRAPHY. Dr. Saman Yazdani Khan. Introduction.
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USES OF DEMOGRAPHY Dr. Saman Yazdani Khan
Introduction • The use of demographic data is multifarious & diverse. It is not only professional demographers who use this data but a great many people, from many walks of life, utilize this data to improve their businesses & services. The need for the collection of demographic data began when the government of the day felt the need to find out about the trends occurring in the population. Ever since the 17th century, merchants have used demographic data for reasons of labour & identification of potential markets. The start of the insurance business began from a collection of data on mortality with grateful acknolwedgment to John Weeks
Currently data on population is utilized/used by; ·Businesses ·Governments ·Academicians
Businesses; Businesses use population data to; • Identify potential markets & places to run advertisements (retail businesses). • Determine whether an area considered for a plant/factory has a sufficient labour force. • They also study population shifts for changes that could affect market for their products, (manufacturing businesses).
Government; • Governments at all levels also utilize population data for the following purposes; • 1.For long range planning of various departments & government organizations. • 2. For projecting the kind of public services that will be needed at various points in the future. • 3. For monitoring changes in society such as decline or improvement in health, shifts in the structure of the family, alterations in ethnic relationships etc.
Government –contd: • 4. For health planning. Demographic data can assist in helping to plan by describing the following; ØUptake of health services in a country or an area. Ø The usual presentation of illnesses in an area/country. ØBy identification of the population’s perception of illness & disease. ØBy identifying the lifestyle & cultural practices of the population. ØBy the kind of encounters that the population has with the services. ØBy identifying the patterns of disease in the population. ØBy identifying the kind of alternate medicine being utilised by the population.
Academicians; • Academicians use demographic data; • ·To improve understanding of human society by analyzing the consequences of social political & economic change brought about by population alterations. In so doing they • ·Help to forecast the future of the society. • ·Assist governments in planning purposes.
The author • Dr. Saman Yazdani Khan, • Director, • Centre for Health and Population Studies (CHPS), • 2-A/5 Chamba Lane, G. O. R.-1, • (near children complex library) • Lahore -3, Pakistan. • phone; 6375572/3, fax; 6375486, • email; yazdani@brain.net.pk, chms@pol.com.pk • website:www.chps.edu.pk