d) Traditional methods: The number of women who say they currently use one of thefollowing methods: periodic abstinence (rhythm, calendar method), withdrawal (coitusinterruptus) <strong>and</strong> country-specific traditional methods of proven effectiveness.e) Folk methods: The number of women who say they currently use at least one locallydescribed methods <strong>and</strong> spiritual methods of unproven effectiveness, such as herbs,amulets, gris-gris, etc.In the latest version of the <strong>DHS</strong> tabulations, both traditional methods <strong>and</strong> folk methods havebeen grouped under the heading traditional methods.C. Denominator: The denominators are the numbers of women in the coverage categories.CalculationWithin each coverage category, the numerator divided by the denominator, expressed as a percentage.H<strong>and</strong>ling of Missing ValuesA. Coverage categorization: Missing value in whether or not currently married is allowed in the data.Missing value in sexual activity treated as had sexual relations (non-virgin). Missing value intime since last intercourse treated as greater than 30 days (not sexually active).B. Numerators: Treated as does not use any method for individual methods <strong>and</strong> grouped methods.C. Denominators: All women in coverage category included, even if missing values on current useof methods.Notes <strong>and</strong> ConsiderationsBreastfeeding, prolonged breastfeeding, <strong>and</strong> prolonged abstinence are NOT contraceptive methods inthemselves. The lactational amenorrhea method is based on four criteria: Woman is amenorrheic sincelast birth; last birth occurred within six months; woman is exclusively or predominately breastfeeding;other form of contraception is necessary if any of the foregoing criteria does not hold. In the <strong>DHS</strong>description of LAM only the following is used: “Up to 6 months after childbirth, a woman can use amethod that requires that she breastfeeds frequently, day <strong>and</strong> night, <strong>and</strong> that her menstrual period has notreturned.” This description varies from the official LAM criteria by not including exclusive orpredominant breastfeeding (which is based on whether or not the child received complementary liquids<strong>and</strong> foods), substituting frequency of breastfeeding (it is not a requirement that frequent night-timefeeding occurs) <strong>and</strong> by not including the criterion that the woman knows that another form ofcontraception is necessary. The <strong>DHS</strong> description may therefore include women who say yes even thoughthey had never heard of the term LAM or of programs that instruct in the method, thus overestimatingknowledge <strong>and</strong> ever use.Each respondent defines current use of contraception. While some methods such as sterilization, pill,IUD, injectables, implants, <strong>and</strong> LAM involve continuous protection, other methods are coital-specific,requiring use during intercourse, such as condoms, vaginal methods, periodic abstinence, <strong>and</strong> withdrawal.Current use for coital-specific methods is a difficult concept since it may mean use at last intercourse,which could have been a long time before the interview or intention to use at next intercourse.Guide to <strong>DHS</strong> Statistics 45 Updated September 2006
Changes over TimeThe list of specific methods <strong>and</strong> their categorization has changed.In <strong>DHS</strong> I <strong>and</strong> II surveys, modern methods included pill, IUD, injection, vaginal methods, condom, femalesterilization, <strong>and</strong> male sterilization. The vaginal methods included in a single group diaphragm, foam <strong>and</strong>jelly. Traditional methods included periodic abstinence (of any kind), withdrawal, <strong>and</strong> all respondentmentionedother methods.In <strong>DHS</strong> III surveys, modern methods included pill, IUD, injection, vaginal methods, condom, femalesterilization, male sterilization, <strong>and</strong> implants. Traditional methods included periodic abstinence (of anykind), withdrawal <strong>and</strong> lactational amenorrhea. Folk methods included respondent-mentioned othermethods <strong>and</strong> were categorized separately from traditional methods.In <strong>Measure</strong> <strong>DHS</strong>+ (<strong>DHS</strong> IV) surveys, emergency contraception was added to the list of contraceptivemethods but is not included as a separate method for current use (included in “others”). The questionnaireallows for more than one method to be currently used. For specific methods, the following hierarchy isused to tabulate current use: female sterilization, male sterilization, contraceptive pill, intrauterinecontraceptive device (IUD), contraceptive injection, contraceptive implants (Norplant), condoms, vaginalmethods (foam, jelly, suppository), lactational amenorrhea method (LAM), periodic abstinence,withdrawal, other methods.Guide to <strong>DHS</strong> Statistics 46 Updated September 2006