Codes and Frequencies
Description
HUSLIT (V703) indicates whether the woman's current/last partner could read.
Comparability — Index
|
GENERAL India |
Jordan Malawi |
Tanzania |
Comparability
Along with universe differences, question wording and response codes vary across samples. While most surveys ask if the woman's current (last) partner can (could) read a newspaper or letter, some samples distinguish between reading with difficulty and reading easily. To maximize comparability across samples, IPUMS-DHS uses composite coding. All affirmative responses about reading share a common first digit of "1," and the distinction between "reads with difficulty" (code 11) and "reads easily" (code 12) is preserved in the second digit.
For most samples (with exceptions noted below), information on literacy was collected only on men with no more than primary schooling; husbands/partners with further education were automatically coded as literate (or able to read easily).
Samples with additional comparability problems are discussed below.
Comparability - Standard DHS
HUSLIT (V703) is included in the standard DHS questionnaire for Phase I.
Comparability — India [top]
The 1998 Indian survey asked whether the woman's husband could "read and write," a somewhat more demanding definition of literacy. In this survey, women married to men with secondary or higher education are coded as "not in universe" rather than as married to men able to read.
Comparability — Jordan [top]
The 1990 Jordan survey only asks women whose (most recent) husband did not attend school whether he can read or write. Husbands who attended school are coded as "Reads."
Comparability — Malawi [top]
The 1992 Malawi survey asks specifically whether the woman's husband is "able to read and understand English or Chichewa."
Comparability — Tanzania [top]
The 1991 Tanzania survey asks specifically whether the woman's husband/partner can "read and write in Kiswahili," a somewhat more demanding definition of literacy.
Universe
- Burundi 1987: Women age 15-49 who have ever been married.
- Egypt 1988: Ever-married women age 15-49.
- Ghana 1988: Women age 15-49 who have ever been married.
- India 1998: Ever-married women age 15-49 whose last husband never attended school or only attended grades 0 to 5.
- Jordan 1990: Ever-married women age 15-49.
- Kenya 1989: Women age 15-49 who have ever been married.
- Liberia 1986: Women age 15-49 who have ever been married.
- Malawi 1992: Women age 15-49 who have ever been married or in a union whose husband's/partner's highest education level was primary.
- Mali 1987: Women age 15-49 who have ever been married.
- Morocco 1987: Ever-married women age 15-49.
- Senegal 1986: Women age 15-49 who have ever been married.
- Sri Lanka 1987: Ever-married women age 15-49.
- Sudan 1989: Ever-married women age 15-49.
- Tanzania 1991: Women age 15-49 who have ever been married.
- Togo 1988: Women age 15-49 who have ever been married or lived with a man.
- Tunisia 1988: Ever-married women age 15-49.
- Uganda 1988: Women age 15-49 who have ever been married.
- Yemen 1991: Ever-married women age 15-54 whose husband never attended school or attended less than 4 years of primary school.
- Zimbabwe 1988: Women age 15-49 who have ever been married.
