Philippines, 1978 (WFS)

The following description of this survey appeared in the 1991 edition of Dynamic Database: A Catalogue of Survey Data Files, Voorburg: International Statistical Institute.

Basic Information

• Name of survey: Republic of Philippines Fertility Survey
• Executive agency: National Census and Statistics Office
• Date of fieldwork: 1978
• Universe: Ever-married women, 15-49
• Coverage: National, 95%
• Size: 9268
• Weights: Self-weighting within domains
• Contents: WFS Core Mark 1 + fertility regulation, family planning and FOTCAF modules
• Supplementary surveys: Household members (n = 76,196, self-weighting within domains); Re-interview (n = 645); Community (n = 352)

Additional Information

The questionnaire was printed in five linguistic versions and an additional three versions were available in mimeographed form. This survey has an unusually rich substance as it used the WFS FOTCAF, family planning and abortion modules. A complete history of non-live births is available on the SR file. Household survey data have also been added to the SR file. These include information on lighting, cooking, drinking water, sanitation and dwelling size.

The female employment data are unusually detailed and include: dates of most recent employment; whether currently working; and whether worked in each birth interval. The husband's work location, mode of transport and travelling time to work is ascertained. Additional background information is available on religious beliefs of husband and wife, on newspaper readership and current and childhood language. The current residence of each child (at home/elsewhere) is recorded.

A community survey was conducted in rural @barangays@. This elicited information on accessibility of facilities and services. A re-interview survey was also conducted, with fieldwork starting at least one month after the main interview.

Release Conditions

Data may be used for academic research, provided that credit is given in any publication resulting from the research to the agency that conducted the survey and that two copies of any publication are sent to:

Public Use Files

Available files include the individual standard recode data and dictionary, and the supplemental survey data and dictionary, in the original WFS format. In addition, the individual standard recode data and dictionary dictionary are available in ISSA format. The table below lists the file names and descriptions.

Key References

1. National Census and Statistics Office; University of the Philippines, Population Institute; National Economic and Development Authority, Republic of the Philippines Fertility Survey, 1978: First Report, Manila, 1979.

2. National Census and Statistics Office, Proceedings of the National Seminar on the 1978 Republic of the Philippines Fertility Survey, Manila, Aug 1980.

3. Reyes, F.L., Evaluation of the Republic of the Philippines Fertility Survey 1978, WFS Scientific Reports no 19, 1981.

4. Engracia, L.T., C. Mejia and J.B. Casterline, eds Fertility in the Philippines: Further Analysis of the Republic of the Philippines Fertility Survey 1978, ISI, 1984.