Mortality among New Zealand Maori and non-Maori Mormons.

Mortality rates for New Zealand Maori and non-Maori Mormons in the period 1970-77 have been compared with those for non-Mormons in the census year 1976 to measure the impact of the Mormon lifestyle on differences in mortality between Maoris and non-Maoris. Maori mortality was much lower among Mormons than non-Mormons suggesting that environmental, rather than genetic factors, play a predominant role in the relatively high overall Maori mortality. However the prevalence of smoking among Maori Mormons was not much lower than for the general Maori population. Reasons for the relative mortality advantage of Maori Mormons were therefore not clear, although attitudes to health and health services utilization, and the influence of strong social support networks, might be involved. Paradoxically, non-Maori Mormon mortality rates were similar to those for non-Mormons. A combination of factors appeared to contribute to this finding including the fact that 26% of non-Maori Mormons were of Pacific Island origin, non-Maori Mormons were of lower socioeconomic status than other non-Maoris, and part Maoris probably constitute a high, but unknown, proportion of Mormons classified as non-Maoris.

Post-War trends in Maori population growth.

Abstract Recent levels and trends of mortality and fertility of the minority Maori population of New Zealand are analysed. On this basis two projections for the year 1976 are presented, the first assuming a further rise in life expectation, which has already increased rapidly over the last two decades; and the other that both mortality and the consistently high fertility levels will be reduced. The conclusion is that, regardless of which projection one accepts, growth will be rapid (an increase of 60% to 70% in the period 1961-76), although the age distribution will be different at the youngest ages. Unless fertility is reduced, as in Projection 2, the dependency burden of Maori family heads will be extremely heavy.

Assisting African countries in the field of demography.

PIP: Demographic aid is needed in African countries, but it should consist of the development of the country's own demographers and planners who will be able to implement population policies in the future. Problems with past aid have been the appropriation of most aid to a few Anglophone countries, and the overemphasis of family planning. However it should not be assumed that donor agencies have underlying motives for their aid, nor should Aid be considered an attempt to avert social change. Future aid should therefore consist of multilateral aid in the areas of data collection and analysis, with fertility and family planning seen only as 1 aspect of population policy.^ieng