| Age at first union [or cohabitaiton?] - Men [message #16451] | 
			Thu, 17 January 2019 17:52  | 
		 
		
			
				
				
				
					
						  
						ewa.b
						 Messages: 37 Registered: January 2014 
						
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		Hello, 
 
I am interested in using a variable about the age at first union from the men's recode. I noted that in the DHS manuals, the variable mv511 is described as "Age at start of first marriage/union". However, in some datasets (for example Uganda 6), the variable mv511 is described as "Age at first cohabitaion" (but in Uganda 5 as "Age at first marriage"). I checked in the questionnaire, and it seems like the question that is being asked is about the age at which a given man started to live with their first partner/wife. Therefore, in principle, the variable does not necessarily have to correspond to the age at first marriage/union if, for example, the marriage took place before a couple started to live together. 
 
I wanted to clarify that the variable mv511 in fact describes the age at first cohabitation as opposed to the age at first union/marriage. Also does the question on the basis of which mv511 variable is derived differs by DHS rounds and countries or is collected in the same way across? I would be grateful for some insights into that matter. 
 
Many thanks in advance. 
Ewa
		
		
		
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