40. How many children have you had in your life (live births)?

40. How many sons or daughters born alive has ... had in her whole life?

Ask the interviewed person for the number of sons and daughters, born alive, that a woman has had during her whole life; write separately, in the corresponding boxes, the number of male and female children.

[Below the text is a form.]

Keep in mind that a mother when taking account of her children can forget some who died or do not live with her. Help with her with questions like "did you count those who are away?", "did you count any who have died".

If the interviewed person has doubts about what "born alive" means you can make it clear in accordance with the following:

Born alive

It is considered that a baby is born alive when at the moment of birth it shows signs of life like breathing, crying or moving. If a child upon being born shows any of these signs of life and then dies, it is born alive, and therefore should be counted.

It is important to keep in mind the previous because some women declare as still born children who, having been born alive, die during their first hours or months of their life.

If a woman or the interviewed person do not remember or do not know the number of male and female children, born alive, that she has had, write "99" in the boxes corresponding to "No. of male children" and "No. of female children" and continue with the next question.