Demographic and Health Surveys Methodology - Measure DHS

Statistics: Percentage Currently PregnantDefinitionProportion of all women 15–49 years of age who report themselves as pregnant at the time of interviewexpressed as a percentage.A. Coverage: All women 15–49 years of age.B. Numerator: Number of women who report themselves pregnant at the time of interview.C. Denominator: Number of all women.CalculationA. Numerator: Tabulation of interviewed women who say they are pregnant at the time of thesurvey.B. Denominator: In all women samples, tabulation of all women. In ever-married samples,tabulation of women using all women factors.Handling of Missing ValuesWomen with missing and “don’t know” responses are considered not pregnant. Women who do not knowor are unsure whether they are pregnant are excluded from the numerator but are included in thedenominator. Women with missing data on whether or not they are pregnant are excluded from thenumerator but are included in the denominator.Notes and ConsiderationsThe percentage of women currently pregnant is underreported because women who are in their early stageof pregnancy may not yet know if they are pregnant and because some women may not want to declarethat they are pregnant. In ever-married samples, never-married women are assumed not to be pregnant.Guide to DHS Statistics 33 Updated September 2006