Interviewer instructions
Fertility characteristics
Questions (18, 19, 20, and 21) included under this title are designed to provide information to carry out studies on the fertility level of the population and on the differential characteristics of this component of population growth.
These questions are also designed to obtain information to carry out studies on the level and past tendencies of the mortality of the country's population.
The adequate investigation of such important topics requires that the enumerator be delicate and extremely diligent. Questions 18 and 19 are presented to every woman age 15 or older. Question 20 and 21 are presented to women ages 15 to 49.
Question #19: Total number of surviving children
This question is presented to all women age 15 or older, irrespective of marital status.
a. How to ask the question:
How many children are currently alive?
The following definition should be taken into account upon asking this question:
[p. 66]
Surviving children: Surviving children are those who are alive at the time of the census, independent of whether they live with their parents or if they live in another geographical location in the country or abroad.
b. How to record the information:
Before recording the answer, it should be verified that no surviving child has been omitted and that the information provided corresponds to the pertinent definition.
Given the above warnings, the number of surviving children is recorded above the space provided after the word "Number___". If the enumerated woman does not have any surviving children, the box labeled "None___ 00" is marked.
The box "Unknown ___99" is only marked if the informant does not know the number of the enumerated woman's surviving children.
c. Examples:
[These instructions refer to a graph of question 19 on the census form]
