Behavioural Surveillance Surveys - The Wisdom of Whores

An example of a question for which more than one response is allowed is included below.
Notice that once the respondent has finished answering the question, it is your responsibility
to circle code “2” for NO corresponding to every response not mentioned by the respondent.
Y N
Q405 Why didn’t you [or your partner] Not available 1 2
use a condom that time? Too expensive 1 2
Partner objected 1 2
ADD OTHER LOCALLY Don’t like them 1 2
APPROPRIATE CATEGORIES Used other contraceptive 1 2
AFTER PRE-TESTING Didn’t think it was necessary 1 2
Didn’t think of it 1 2
CIRCLE ALL ANSWERS Other_____________________ 1 2
MENTIONED DON’T KNOW 1 2
NO RESPONSE 1 2
Also notice in the question above, the instructions to “add other locally appropriate categories
after pre-testing.” Many questions in these questionnaires contain similar instructions which are
part of the questionnaire adaptation process during the pre-testing phase of the training. As the
questionnaires are edited with locally appropriate responses, such instructions will be deleted to
save space. Also, categories which seem inappropriate locally will be deleted from column three.
There are several questions in the questionnaire for which more than one response is allowed,
AND for which you are required to probe to see if the respondent is able to provide additional
answers. See the example below:
Yes No
Q705 Which places or persons do you Shop 1 2
know where you can obtain Pharmacy 1 2
male condoms? Market 1 2
Clinic 1 2
PROBE AND RECORD Hospital 1 2
ALL ANSWERS Family planning center 1 2
Bar/guest house/hotel 1 2
Any others? Peer educator 1 2
Friend 1 2
OTHER___________________ 1 2
NO RESPONSE 1 2
Pre-coded questions may also include an “OTHER” response for answers not already coded,
as shown in the above example. In this case, the interviewer circles the code YES (1) for OTHER
and then writes down the respondent’s exact words on the line provided. Questionnaires that are
being pre-tested will generally have many questions with the “OTHER” response code. However,
a finalized questionnaire should contain fewer “OTHER” responses.
B EHAV I OR A L S U R V EI L L A NC E SURV EY S APPEN DI X 2
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