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How do I interpret variable "HIV Weight" (ha69 & hb69)? [message #15199]

Fri, 15 June 2018 08:04

nibiti
Messages: 20
Registered: April 2018
Location: Göttingen

Member

Dear all,

I did not find any information about the variables ha69 and hb69 which are named and labeled "HIV weight (6 decimals)" for women and men respectively.

Could you tell me where I can find information about this variable? How do I interpret it? Is there a threshold value after which I can assume that the tested person has contracted HIV?

And do I need to apply some calculation to this variable (e.g. /1000) first?

Many thanks and all the best
Timo

[Updated on: Fri, 15 June 2018 08:05]

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Re: How do I interpret variable "HIV Weight" (ha69 & hb69)? [message #15200 is a reply to message #15199]

Fri, 15 June 2018 11:11

Liz-DHS
Messages: 1516
Registered: February 2013

Senior Member

Dear User,

HA69 from Sections H05 (RECH5) Women's height/weight and hemoglobin Variables and
HB69 from Section HMA (RECHMA) Men's Height/Weight/Hemoglobin Variables. You can find in the DHS recode manual.

https:// dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-DHSG4-DHS-Questionna ires-and-Manuals.cfm

If this does not answer your questions, please feel free to post again. Also, please let us know which dataset(s) you are analyzing.
Thank you!

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Re: How do I interpret variable "HIV Weight" (ha69 & hb69)? [message #15202 is a reply to message #15200]

Fri, 15 June 2018 11:28

nibiti
Messages: 20
Registered: April 2018
Location: Göttingen

Member

Hi,
thanks for your quick reply.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I had already looked in the DHS manual. Unfortunately, the manual does not answer my questions. In the DHS manual, it only says the same thing as in the dataset itself, which is:
"HA69 - HIV Weight (6 decimals)" but does not give any information on how to interpret this value (e.g. threshold value), whether or not the value is to be weighted, etc.

Is there a source of information, other than the manual?

I am using this information for all Sub-Saharan African countries for DHS waves 3 to 7 and took it from the IR (for ha69) and MR (for hb69) datasets.

Many thanks and best
Timo

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Re: How do I interpret variable "HIV Weight" (ha69 & hb69)? [message #15204 is a reply to message #15202]

Fri, 15 June 2018 17:01

Liz-DHS
Messages: 1516
Registered: February 2013

Senior Member

A response from senior data processing specialist:
"These variables are used in surveys where HIV test was conducted and they are essentially the sample weights. HIV results can't be deducted from those variables. HIV results are not distributed with the DHS general data files, they are distributed in a separate file because users need to agree on special conditions for the use of that data."

Thank you!

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