PREMATBR_ALL variables are 1-digit variables.
0 = On time
10 = Premature
11 = Less than 7 months
12 = 7 to 8 months
20 = Overdue
97 = Don't know
98 = Missing
99 = NIU (not in universe)
Description
For women who gave birth in the last three to five years, PREMATBR_ALL (M16_x) indicates whether the child was born on time or prematurely.
PREMATBR_ALL consists of a set of up to six separate variables, covering the most recent birth (PREMATBR_01) up to the sixth most recent birth (PREMATRBR_06) during the reference period prior to the survey. If PREMATRBR_ALL is included in a data extract, all these separate variables are included in a researcher's data file.
This information was collected for all births within the reference period preceding the survey. In many cases, data were hypothetically collected on up to six births, but no women in the survey had so many births (e.g., no woman had 4 or more births in 3 years, or had 5 or 6 births in 5 years). If, for example, no woman in a survey had 6 births in five years and only blank values were included in the original DHS file, then PREMATBR_06 would not be available for that survey in IPUMS-DHS.
Comparability
In addition to universe differences and slight differences in question wording, PREMATBR_ALL (M16_x) varies in the number of response categories. To maximize comparability, IPUMS-DHS uses composite coding, with "On time" responses having a first digit of "0," "Premature" responses having a first digit of "1," and "Overdue" responses having a first digit of "2." The second digit provides additional detail, when available.
Comparability - Standard DHS
PREMATBR_ALL is included in Phase II of the standard DHS questionnaire.
