If yes, how many children born to (the respondent) have died?
Information on live births (fertility) should be obtained for all women age 15 to 49 years. Information should be requested of all of them irrespective of the marital status, whether or not they are visitors, at school, or you think they have never given birth to any children.
Effort should be made to get responses from the women themselves and permission to do this should be obtained from the head of household. Where the woman concerned is not present, a proxy should be used to answer the question.
[pg. 35]
Definition of Live Birth: a life birth is one which results in a child that shows any sign of life irrespective of the time or the period within which these signs are manifested, e.g. crying, movement of limbs.
Before proceeding with the actual interview, identify all eligible women using the age of the woman. Lumping ages should be discouraged as it can be shown on the pyramid that the age distribution has been improperly entered.
How many children born alive to you (or name) have died?
Make the appropriate entries under columns for males and females.
This information is extremely important and is the most difficult on which to obtain accurate data, because some respondents may fail to mention children who died very young. Probe by asking "Any male or female who was born alive but only survived a few days or hours?"
Some respondents may be reluctant to talk about it or may become sad or upset that you are asking such questions. Be tactful in such situations. Say you know the subject is painful but the information is important.