Definition
The calendar of events representing the 5+ years prior to the date of interview. The calendar is split into 9 records, representing each of the 9 columns. Each of the 9 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:
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, MEASURE DHS includes, in model B questionnaires, a reduced calendar that has one column on births, pregnancies (column 1). 1 Records each of the births and pregnancies during the calendar period, as well as each episode of contraceptive use and non-use. The following codes are used in column 1:
0 Non-use of contraception
1 Pill
2 IUD
3 Injections
4 Diaphragm
5 Condom
6 Female sterilization
7 Male sterilization
8 Periodic abstinence/rhythm
9 Withdrawal
W Other traditional methods
N Norplant
A Abstinence
L Lactational amenorrhea
C Female condom
F Foam and Jelly
a Country-specific method 1
ß Country-specific method 2
t Country-specific method 3
? Unknown method/missing data
P Pregnancy
T Terminated pregnancy/non-live birth
B Birth
All codes are standard except for codes a, ß, and t which are country-specific letter .
2 Records the reason for discontinuation of a method. The discontinuation code appears in the row of the last month of use of the method for the episode. All other rows in the column are left blank, except for those in which discontinuations took place. The standard codes are as follows:
1 Became pregnant while using
2 Wanted to become pregnant
3 Husband disapproved
4 Side effects
5 Health concerns
6 Access/availability
7 Wanted more effective method
8 Inconvenient to use
9 Infrequent sex/husband away
C Cost
F Fatalistic
A Difficult to get pregnant/menopause
D Marital dissolution
W Other reasons
K Don't know
a Country-specific reason 1
ß Country-specific reason 2
t Country-specific reason 3
All codes are standard except for codes a, ß, and t which are country-specific letter codes representing additional reasons for discontinuation.
3 Records the episodes of marriage in the calendar period. The following codes are used:
X In union (married or living together)
0 Not in union
4 Residence
5 Source of contraception
6 Country specific
7 Country specific
8 Country specific
9 Country specific
