Interviewer instructions
P20a. Number of children ever born alive (answer for females 12 years old and older): How many children has (name) ever born alive?
Question 20a is to be asked of only females aged 12 years and older. A live birth is defined as the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, which after separation, cried, breathed or showed any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached. Children born alive includes male and female children born alive and still living and those who have since died. It excludes children who did not show any signs of life at birth (still births/fetal deaths).
Information on the number of children born alive includes all children born alive during the lifetime of the female concerned up to the Census Night. The number recorded should include all male and female children born alive whether born in or out of marriage, born in present or previous marriage, or in a de facto union. It also includes all children of the female concerned living with her in the household as well as those living elsewhere. Excluded are adopted children, step children and children of other relations, e.g. sisters and cousins.
You should record the number of all live births of the female concerned by sex and in 2 digits. If the female concerned has not had any live birth during her lifetime, you should record 00 in the boxes provided and go the next eligible female.
