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. 2013 Feb 6;6:10.3402/gha.v6i0.19880. doi: 10.3402/gha.v6i0.19880

Table 1.

Sociodemographic characteristics of adults aged 50 years or older, per cent distribution by sex

Sociodemographic characteristics Men (N=1,690) Women (N=2,146) Total (N=3,836) n (%)
Age group (years)
 50–59 52.2 48.1 1,914 (49.9)
 60–69 30.5 30.7 1,174 (30.6)
 70–79 11.4 16.0 536 (14.0)
 80+ 5.8 5.3 212 (5.5)
Ethnic background
 African/Black 73.7 74 2,337 (73.9)
 White 10.7 8.3 293 (9.3)
 Colored 11.8 13.5 406 (12.8)
 Indian/Asian 3.7 3.9 121 (3.8)
 Unknown 0 0.1 2 (0.1)
 Other 0.1 0.1 3 (0.1)
Residence
 Urban 65.8 64.1 2,489 (64.9)
 Rural 34.2 35.9 1348 (35.1)
Marital status
 Never married 8.3 18.6 539 (14.1)
 Currently married 71.9 31.9 1901 (49.5)
 Cohabiting 7.4 3.8 207 (5.4)
 Separated or divorced 3.8 7.4 224 (5.8)
 Widowed 7.6 35.9 900 (23.5)
Education
 No formal education 22.2 27.1 774 (25.2)
 Less than primary education 25.2 23.2 738 (24.0)
 Primary school completed 22.0 22.7 688 (22.4)
 Secondary or more 30.7 27.0 875 (28.3)
Wealth quintile
 Lowest 20.3 21.0 791 (20.7)
 Second 20.2 19.6 759 (19.9)
 Middle 13.2 22.2 696 (18.2)
 Fourth 20.1 19.6 757 (19.8)
 Highest 26.1 17.6 815 (21.3)

Figures do not add up to 100% because of rounding off.