Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2011
Trinidad and Tobago, 2011
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TTO_2011_MICS_v01_M
Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2011
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Trinidad and Tobago | TTO |
Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey - Round 4 [hh/mics-4]
The Trinidad and Tobago Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) was conducted from November to December 2011 by the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services and Central Statistical Office in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF), as part of the global MICS4 programme. Technical and financial support was provided by UNICEF.
The survey provides statistically sound and internationally comparable data essential for developing evidence based policies and programmes for children and women in Trinidad and Tobago and for monitoring progress toward national goals and global commitments. Among the global commitments are those emanating from the World Fit for Children Declaration and Plan of Action, the goals of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, the Education for All Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The findings are also expected to be part of the base line data on children and women for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The data will inform the monitoring of national plans and policies related to children such as, the National Child Policy 2017-2022 and the Vision 2020 National Strategic Plan. It will provide useful insights for the draft National Gender Policy and Action Plan and the national health agenda. MICS data will be a valuable input for assessing the investment within the Social Sector towards the achievement of national priorities.
The 2011 Trinidad and Tobago MICS is the third survey of its kind supported by UNICEF and implemented collaboratively by the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services and Central Statistical Office
MICS provides up-to-date information on the situation of children and women and measures key indicators that allow countries to monitor progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other internationally agreed upon commitments.
OBJECTIVES
- To provide up-to-date information for assessing the situation of children and women in Trinidad and Tobago;
- To furnish data needed for monitoring progress towards goals established in the national development plans and internationally agreed upon commitments, as a basis for future action;
- To collect disaggregated data for the identification of inequities and disparities, to allow for evidence based policy-making aimed at social inclusion of the most vulnerable;
- To contribute to the improvement of data and monitoring systems in Trinidad and Tobago and to strengthen technical expertise in the design, collection and analysis of data;
- To validate data from other sources and the results of focused interventions.
Sample survey data [ssd]
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Individuals
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Households
Version
- v01: Edited, anonymous datasets for public distribution.
Scope
The scope of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey includes:
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HOUSEHOLD: Household Listing Form, Education, Water and Sanitation, Household Characteristics, Child Labour, Child Discipline, Handwashing and Salt Iodization.
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WOMEN: Women’s Background, Access to Mass Media and Use of Information/Communication Technology, Child Mortality, Desire for Last Birth, Maternal and Newborn Health, Post-natal Health Checks, Illness Symptoms, Contraception, Unmet Need, Attitudes Toward Domestic Violence, Marriage/Union Sexual Behavior and HIV/AIDS.
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CHILDREN: Age, Birth Registration, Early Childhood Development, Breastfeeding, Care of Illness, Immunization and Anthropometry.
Coverage
National level and for 5 Regional Health Authorities (regions): North West, North Central, South West, East, and Tobago.
The survey covered all de jure household members (usual residents), all women age 15-49 years and all children under 5 living in the Household.
Producers and sponsors
| Name |
|---|
| Ministry of Social Development and Family Services |
| Central Statistical Office |
| United Nations Children’s Fund |
| Name |
|---|
| United Nations International Children's Fund |
Sampling
A multi-stage, stratified cluster sampling approach was used for the selection of the survey sample.
SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLE ALLOCATION
The sample size for the Trinidad and Tobago 2011 MICS was calculated as 6,600 households. For the calculation of the sample size, the key indicator used was DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) immunization coverage.
For each of the five regions, namely, North West, North Central, South West, East and Tobago, the calculation of n was based on r (DPT coverage) that was assumed to be 72.9 percent, 70.3 percent, 87 percent, 94.5 percent and 77.8 percent respectively, based on the values found in Trinidad and Tobago 2006 MICS.
The choice of the DPT immunization rate as the key indicator for estimating sample size was made after examining the likely sample sizes that would be needed for this and other possible key variables such as those relating to HIV.
To calculate n (the required sample size) the r values for DPT for each region were used, p (percentage of children age 18-29 months in the total population) was taken as 3 percent, average household size was taken as 3.4 persons, and the expected response rate was assumed to be 90%. The standard MICS default value of 1.5 was used for the design effect deff, since there was some doubt about the credibility of the very low deff values obtained for DPT in Trinidad and Tobago 2006 MICS.
Given uncertainties that prevailed with respect to the required sample size, the sampling consultant recommended a sample size of 6,600 households for Trinidad and Tobago 2011 MICS, which is slightly larger than the sample size used in Trinidad and Tobago 2006 MICS.
A number of possible allocation principles were considered for determining the number of sampling units to be enumerated in each of the five regions. These included proportional allocation, square root allocation, cube root allocation and equal allocation. Because Trinidad and Tobago 2006 MICS had relied on proportional allocation resulting in sample sizes that were too small to yield reliable estimates in the Eastern region and in Tobago, 2011 MICS relied on disproportionate allocation based on the three alternative allocation principles - a square root allocation, a cube root allocation and an equal allocation.
SAMPLING FRAME AND SELECTION OF CLUSTERS
The survey team examined the possible sampling frames at CSO. One option was a sampling frame based on the old administrative regions consisting of counties and wards, and a table of equivalence that links the former structure to a new set of administrative regions consisting primarily of regional corporations, two cities, three boroughs and the island of Tobago with its seven parishes. The survey team also discussed about using a sampling frame that was developed to undertake work done for the Pan- American Health Organization (PAHO) and which was based on an automatic system for sample selection. It was prepared in December 2009 and consisted of a listing of all the EDs by region, along with their size estimates. The PAHO frame was considered ideal for Trinidad and Tobago 2011 MICS and was used for the selection of clusters.
Separate lists of enumeration districts have been prepared for Trinidad and for Tobago. The lists for Trinidad had to be disaggregated to reflect the four health regions on the island. The lists had to be cleaned as a number of EDs had no measure of size to the extent that it was appropriate to insert the latest available figure, from either the 2000 census or some more recent survey. A few EDs were extremely small and had to be combined with neighboring EDs before the sample was drawn. In contrast, some other EDs were very large, and had to be segmented, either in the frame before drawing the sample or in the field if a large ED was selected.
The enumeration districts were defined as primary sampling units (PSUs), and were selected from each of the sampling strata by using systematic pps (probability proportional to size) sampling procedures, based on the number of households in each enumeration district. The first stage of sampling was thus completed by selecting the required number of enumeration districts from each of the five regions.
LISTING ACTIVITIES AND SELECTION OF HOUSEHOLDS
Lists of households were prepared by the listing teams in the field for each enumeration district. The households were then sequentially numbered at the Central Statistical Office from 1 to the total number of households in each ED, and a selection of 15 households in each ED was carried out using random systematic selection procedures.
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Household response rate 92.6
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Women’s overall response rate 86.3
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Under-5’s overall response rate 90.7
The Trinidad and Tobago MICS sample is not self-weighting, since different sampling fractions (based on a cube root allocation) were used for each region. For this reason, sample weights were calculated and these were used in the subsequent analyses of the survey data.
The major component of the weight is the reciprocal of the sampling fraction employed in selecting the number of sample households in that particular sampling stratum (h) and PSU (i).
Since the estimated number of households in each ED (PSU) in the sampling frame used for the first stage selection and the updated number of households in the ED from the listing were different, individual sampling fractions for households in each sample enumeration area (cluster) were calculated. The second stage probability in this formula refers to the proportion of the sample ED that is listed, in the case of a large sample ED that is segmented; for the remaining sample EDs this probability is 1. The sampling fractions for households in each enumeration district (cluster) therefore included the first stage probability of selection of the ED in that particular sampling stratum, any second stage probability, and the last stage probability of selection of a household in the sampled ED (cluster).
A second component in the calculation of sample weights takes into account the level of non-response for the household and individual interviews. The adjustment for household non-response is equal to the inverse value of:
RRh = Number of interviewed households in stratum h/Number of occupied households listed in stratum h
After the completion of the fieldwork, response rates were calculated for each sampling stratum. These were used to adjust the sample weights calculated for each cluster within the stratum.
Similarly, the adjustment for non-response at the individual level (women and under-5 children) for each stratum is equal to the inverse value of:
RRh = Completed women’s (or under-5’s) questionnaires in stratum h / Eligible women (or under-5s) in stratum h
The non-response adjustment factors for women’s and under-5’s questionnaires were applied to the adjusted household weights. Numbers of eligible women and under-5 children were obtained from the roster of household members in the Household Questionnaire for households where interviews were completed.
The design weights for the households were calculated by multiplying the above factors for each ED. These weights were then standardized (or normalized), one purpose of which is to make the weighted sum of the interviewed sample units equal the total sample size at the national level. Normalization is achieved by dividing the full sample weights (adjusted for nonresponse) by the average of these weights across all households at the national level. This is performed by multiplying the sample weights by a constant factor equal to the unweighted number of households at the national level divided by the weighted total number of households (using the full sample weights adjusted for nonresponse). A similar standardization procedure was followed in obtaining standardized weights for the women’s and under-5’s questionnaires.
Normalized sample weights were appended to all data sets and analyses were performed by weighting each household, woman or under-5 with these sample weights.
Survey instrument
Three sets of questionnaires were used in the survey: 1) a household questionnaire which was used to collect information on all de jure household members (usual residents), the household, and the dwelling; 2) a women’s questionnaire administered in each household to all women age 15-49 years; and 3) an under-5 questionnaire, administered to mothers (or caretakers) for all children under 5 living in the household.
The Questionnaire for Children Under Five was administered to mothers (or caretakers) of children under 5 years of age1 living in households where interviews were conducted. Normally, the questionnaire was administered to mothers of under-5 children; in cases when the mother was not listed in the household roster, a primary caretaker for the child was identified and interviewed.
The questionnaires are based on the MICS4 model questionnaire. From the MICS4 model English version, the questionnaires were customized and pretested during the third quarter of 2011. Based on the results of the pre-test, modifications were made to the wording of the questionnaires.
In addition to the administration of questionnaires, fieldwork teams tested the salt used for cooking in the households for iodine content, observed the place for handwashing, and measured the weights and heights of children age under 5 years.
Data collection
| Start | End |
|---|---|
| 2011-11 | 2011-12 |
Training for the fieldwork was conducted for 10 days between October 24th and November 4th, 2011. Training included lectures on interviewing techniques and the contents of the questionnaires, and mock interviews between trainees to gain practice in asking questions. Towards the end of the training period, trainees spent 5 days in practice interviewing in the following locations: Four Roads Tamana, Cedros, Point Fortin, Barrack pore, San Fernando, St. Augustine, Petit Bourg, California, Cocoyea, Princes Town, Mayaro and Edinburgh.
The data were collected by 12 teams; each consisting of 4 interviewers, one editor and a supervisor. There was a field-co-ordinator overseeing the field work activities and reporting to a survey co-ordinator. Twenty-six nurses were separately trained to perform the anthropometric measurements. The anthropometry training took place on December 1st, 2011. Given that some nurses dropped-out before the field work, some regions and teams were left without a trained measurer and had to rely on supervisors and other team members who were trained during the pre-test. Due to the challenges with recruiting the nurses, the anthropometry module was not completed at the same time as the other modules of the questionnaire. This resulted in a back log which continued to increase due to the shortage of nurses in some regions. This situation could not continue and the survey team had to temporarily stop the fieldwork and focus on reducing the number of children to be measured. Fieldwork began in November 2011 and concluded in December 2011.
Data processing
Data were entered using the CSPro software. The data were entered on 10 microcomputers and carried out by 10 data entry operators. There were also a data processing supervisor, a data entry supervisor and 3 secondary editors to reinforce quality control standards. All questionnaires were double-entered and internal consistency checks were performed. Procedures and standard programs developed under the global MICS4 programme and adapted to the Trinidad and Tobago questionnaire were used throughout. Data processing began simultaneously with data collection on November 14th, 2011 and was completed in June 2012. According to the original schedule of activities, the completion date for data processing was January 13th, 2012. The delays in completion were mainly due to: incomplete questionnaires, discrepancies in the data, slow pace of some data entry operators, and non-adherence to the data processing process. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software program, Version 18. Model syntax and tabulation plans developed by UNICEF were customized and used for this purpose.
Data appraisal
The sample of respondents selected in the 2011 Trinidad and Tobago Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey is only one of the samples that could have been selected from the same population, using the same design and size. Each of these samples would yield results that differ somewhat from the results of the actual sample selected. Sampling errors are a measure of the variability between the estimates from all possible samples. The extent of variability is not known exactly, but can be estimated statistically from the survey data.
The following sampling error measures are presented in this appendix for each of the selected indicators:
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Standard error (se): Standard error is the square root of the variance of the estimate. For survey indicators that are means, proportions or ratios, the Taylor series linearization method is used for the estimation of standard errors. For more complex statistics, such as fertility and mortality rates, the Jackknife repeated replication method is used for standard error estimation.
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Coefficient of variation (se/r) is the ratio of the standard error to the value (r) of the indicator, and is a measure of the relative sampling error.
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Design effect (deff) is the ratio of the actual variance of an indicator, under the sampling method used in the survey, to the variance calculated under the assumption of simple random sampling based on the same sample size.
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The square root of the design effect (deft) is used to show the efficiency of the sample design in relation to the precision. A deft value of 1.0 indicates that the sample design of the survey is as efficient as a simple random sample for a particular indicator, while a deft value above 1.0 indicates an increase in the standard error due to the use of a more complex sample design.
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Confidence limits are calculated to show the interval within which the true value for the population can be reasonably assumed to fall, with a specified level of confidence. For any given statistic calculated from the survey, the value of that statistic will fall within a range of plus or minus two times the standard error (r + 2.se or r - 2.se) of the statistic in 95 percent of all possible samples of identical size and design.
For the calculation of sampling errors from MICS data, programs developed in CSPro and SPSS Version 18 Complex Samples module have been used.
Access policy
UNICEF
UNICEF
http://mics.unicef.org/surveys
Cost: None
Data Access
| Name | URL | |
|---|---|---|
| UNICEF | http://mics.unicef.org/surveys | mics@unicef.org |
| Is signing of a confidentiality declaration required? | Confidentiality declaration text |
|---|---|
| yes | Users of the data agree to keep confidential all data contained in these datasets and to make no attempt to identify, trace or contact any individual whose data is included in these datasets. |
Use of the dataset must be acknowledged using a citation which would include:
- the Identification of the Primary Investigator
- the title of the survey (including country, acronym and year of implementation)
- the survey reference number
- the source and date of download
Example,
Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, Central Statistical Office, United Nations Children’s Fund. Trinidad and Tobago - Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2011. Ref. TTO_2011_MICS_v01_M. Dataset downloaded from [url] on [date].
Disclaimer and copyrights
The user of the data acknowledges that the original collector of the data, the authorized distributor of the data, and the relevant funding agency bear no responsibility for use of the data or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses.
Contacts
| Name | URL | |
|---|---|---|
| General Inquiries (UNICEF) | childinfo@unicef.org | http://www.childinfo.org/ |
| MICS Programme Manager (UNICEF) | mics@unicef.org | http://www.childinfo.org/ |
Metadata production
DDI_TTO_2011_MICS_v01_M_WB
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Development Economics Data Group | The World Bank | Documentation of the DDI |
2018-06-04
Metadata version
Version 01 (June 2018)