[Rural Household Survey of Cochabamba: preliminary findings. Report]

The 1991 Survey of Rural Households in Cochabamba was designed to measure household income relate income levels to a series of socioeconomic variables and provide an idea of the sources of employment and income of rural households. Preliminary results are presented in a descriptive form. Based on interviews with members of 1177 households in population centers with fewer than 2000 inhabitants the rural population of Cochabamba was estimated at 529473 persons in 112148 households. Approximately 10% were in the tropical lowlands. 44.2% of the rural population was under age 15 years and the median age was 24 years. An estimated 15% of households were headed by women. The average household size was 4.7 members. An estimated 45% of women and 24% of men were illiterate. The average formal education of male household heads was 1.3 years. Approximately 80% of households used firewood for cooking and fewer than one-fourth had access to potable water. 30% had electricity. Among children under age 5 27% were completely vaccinated against polio 61% against typhoid 17% against DPT and 54% against measles. Wide geographic differences in vaccination rates were observed. Agriculture was the single most important economic activity for men in the sierra and lowlands. Most women were housewives but secondary occupations in agriculture commerce and animal husbandry were common. An estimated 86% of households were active in agriculture or animal husbandry and their average income was nearly 15% higher than that of households not engaged in these activities. An estimated 13% of these households received technical assistance of some kind. 62% of proprietors had definitive title to their lands and another 25% had titles in process. Households headed by women had slightly over half the average total income of households headed by men. Average total income of all households in non coca producing areas was less than one-fourth that in coca producing regions. 82% of households raised animals of some type. 40% of agricultural households reported they did not sell any products in the market. In response to an open question on needs of rural households 47% identified better access to water and 28% improved health services.