Continue only for all citizen women aged 15 years or more
[Questions 20-23 were asked of females age 15+.]
20. How many children has [the respondent] given birth to?
____Boys
____Girls
Records of births and deaths of children
The next four questions are about the number of children women have had, and the number of children who have died. This is important information to help us estimate how many people PNG will have in the future, and to help us plan for maternal and child health services.
Question 20. Total children ever born
Q20. How many children have you given birth to?
____Boys
____Girls
Who to ask: Ask all
PNG citizen women born before 9 July 1985, who are aged 15 years or more. If date of birth is not recorded, use age given in years.
Get this information for: All PNG citizen women aged 15 years or more.
How to ask: "How many children have you given birth to?"
-This means all children born alive, even if they died soon after they were born.
-When the respondent tells you the number of children, ask "How many of these babies were boys and how many were girls?"
How to record: Record the total number of boys in the box for boys, and the total number of girls in the box for girls.
If the woman has never given birth, write "0" in each box. Do not leave blank spaces for this question.
Do not ask any more questions if the woman has never given birth.
[P. 110]
Note: Record all of the respondent's natural births, i.e. the total number of children she has given birth to,
-even if the child no longer lives in the household, and
-even if the child is no longer alive.
Include any birth which showed signs of life (by crying, breathing or moving), even if the baby died soon after birth.
This question is also used to check against the total number of children Questions 21, 22 and 23.
--Do not include stillbirths, (i.e. giving birth to a dead child)
--Do not include adopted children (i.e. children the woman did not give birth to herself).
--Do not include step-children (children of the husband who have a different mother), or foster children.
--Question 20-23 are sensitive issues. You must remember this, and be careful not to upset or offend the respondent.
--Explain the questions clearly and remind them politely that they should include children who have died.
--If possible, ask each woman herself, separately. Explain to the head of household that the woman, or mother is the best person to give accurate information about her children.
--Try to avoid having other people answer for the woman.
--Ask all women 15 years or older, even if they are not married.
If the woman says she has never given birth, do not ask her any more questions. Move on to the next respondent.