Notes
The calendar of events representing the 5+ years prior to the date of interview. The calendar is split into 5 records, representing each of the 5 columns. Each of the 5 columns contains a single character for each month in the time period. The data are stored as single variables of 80 characters, allowing for up to 80 months to be represented in the calendar. The first character in each variable represents the most recent point in time, while the 80th character position represents data for January of the year in which the calendar started. The calendars are fixed at the 80th character position, such that the first few entries in the calendar represent points in time after the date of interview, and are consequently left blank. The columns are as follows:
Column / Description
1 - Births, pregnancies and contraceptive use
2 - Reasons for discontinuation of contraceptive use
3 - Marital/union status
4 - Residence
5 - Source of contraception
6 - Country specific
7 - Country specific
8 - Country specific
9 - Country specific
The entire calendar is usually inserted in questionnaires of countries using the model A. However, MESURE DHS+ includes, in model B questionnaires, a reduced calendar that has one column on births, pregnancies and contraceptive use (column 1).
