Interviewer instructions
This question asks for cumulative months of absence over the past 12 months. If the number of months is less than 10, then a leading zero should be put before the actual number, i.e. 04 for 4 months.
For example, if an individual was absent once over a period of 3 months and again over another period of 1 month in the past 12 months, one should write 4.
Include portions of a month of absence in the calculations here. Include the portions in determining the total cumulative absence. For example, an individual who was away for one period of 6 weeks (1.5 months), another period of 3 weeks (0.75 months) and a third period of half a month, the total cumulative absence was 2.75months - reported as 3 months.
In reporting the total cumulated absence that includes such portions, round down if the portion of a month is less than half, round up if it is over half. If exactly half, round up. For example, if an individual was absent in total for 3 months and one week, report 3 months; if 3½ months, report 4 months; if 3 months and 3 weeks, report 4 months. In the previous example, where the total cumulative absence was 2.75 months, report 3 months.
It is on the basis of these cumulative months that household membership is determined. It is extremely important to verify that you have listed each household member in the correct row. Considerable error in data entry and analysis is possible if you do not do so.