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Birth weight measurement [message #504]

Fri, 31 May 2013 08:18

gmanthalu
Messages: 5
Registered: April 2013
Location: Malawi

Member

Hi,

I am using 2004 and 2010 DHS data for Malawi. My analysis involves the birth weight variable, m19. I understand that birth weight is measured in grams because the variable description says " birth weight (kilos - 3 dec.)". I have values like 200, 300,1100, 2840,6600, 7000, 8000, 9200. My question is: Can birth weight be as low as 200g, 300g or as high as 7000g, 8000g, or 9200g?

Thanks

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Re: Birth weight measurement [message #554 is a reply to message #504]

Thu, 20 June 2013 03:57

Sarah B
Messages: 23
Registered: June 2013

Member

Hi,

I think it's fair to assume that no child was born alive weighing 200g, and that these birth weights were misreported. I looked at the Malawi 2010 dataset and it appears that most of these extreme cases you mention (m19<1000) were collected from a health card (from a crosstab of m19 and m19a). So I'm guessing that either the cards themselves were wrong or interviewers miscopied the information from the cards.

It appears that these extreme cases represent only a very small percentage of children. Depending on your research question, you may want to exclude these extreme values from your analysis.

Cheers.

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Re: Birth weight measurement [message #564 is a reply to message #504]

Mon, 24 June 2013 06:28

gmanthalu
Messages: 5
Registered: April 2013
Location: Malawi

Member

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for your reply.

I would rather exclude the extreme values.

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