Demographic and Health Survey 2009-10 - Timor-Leste Ministry of ...

ate (2 percent) than their rural counterparts (0.2 percent). Larger differentials are observed by
districts, especially in grade 1. While as high as 3 percent of pupils in the Ermera, Lautem, and
Liquiçá districts, respectively, repeat grade 1, there is no grade repetition in grade 1 in Manatuto. In
grade 6 only, pupils in Liquiçá (2 percent) and Aileu (1 percent) repeat the grade.
In general, dropout rates are higher than repetition rates for all grades. Dropout rates across
grades are similar (1 to 2 percent), except for grade 6 (4 percent). Males and females have similar
dropout rates for almost all grades. It is interesting to note that the dropout rates are higher at all levels
in urban areas than in rural areas, except for grade 2. There are wide regional variations in dropout
rates. Dropout rates are markedly higher in Dili than in all other districts, and this may be attributed to
the displacement of the population, particularly in Dili, due to the political strife and subsequent
instability in years 2006-2008.
Figure 2.3 shows the age-specific attendance rates (ASAR) for the de facto household
population, age 5-24, by sex. The ASAR shows participation in schooling at any level, from primary
through higher education. The closer the ASAR is to 100, the higher the participation of a given age
population at that level. A little more than 66 percent of children who are age 7 attend school. School
attendance rises markedly up to age 12, remains high up to age 13, and then gradually declines. There
are no marked differences in the proportion of males and females attending school up to age 18, after
which there are substantially higher proportions of males than females attending school.
22 | Household Population and Housing Characteristics
Figure 2.3 Age-specific Attendance Rates of the de facto
Population 5 to 24 Years
100 Percent
80
60
40
20
0
13
11
42
35
88 87 89 89 89
86
83 85 85
86
84
82
80
81 79
76
73 75
73
71
67
69
62
60
48
58
44
38
27
41
32
16 15 16
13
7
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
2.4 HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS
Age (years)
Female Male
Timor-Leste 2009-10
There is a strong correlation between the socioeconomic condition of households and the
vulnerability of their members, especially children, to common diseases. The amenities and assets
available to households are important in determining the general socioeconomic status of the
population. The 2009-10 TLDHS included questions on household access to electricity, sources of
drinking water, types of sanitation facilities, flooring materials, and ownership of durable goods.
The availability of and accessibility to improved drinking water may, to a large extent,
minimize the prevalence of waterborne diseases among household members, especially young
children. The source of drinking water is important because potentially fatal diarrheal diseases, such
as typhoid, cholera, and dysentery, are common in Timor-Leste. Table 2.7 shows the percent