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 #20: Children born alive in 1970
This question is presented to all women ages 15 to 49, irrespective of marital status.
a. How to ask the question:
How many children were born alive between January and December of 1970?
b. How to record the information:
Before recording the answer, it should be verified that the informant has not made any omissions and is not confused.
[p. 67]
Once the information's veracity is confirmed, the number of children born alive in 1970 is recorded in the box labeled "Number___".
If the enumerated woman has not had any children born alive in 1970, the box labeled "None___ 00" is marked. Only in exceptional cases when the informant does not know the number of children born alive of the enumerated woman is the box "Unknown ___99" marked.
c. Examples:
[These instructions refer to a graph of question 20 on the census form]