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VITACALCMO
Duration took calcium, past 12 months: Months
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Codes and Frequencies



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Description

For sample adults who had taken any calcium in the past 12 months (VITACALC), VITACALCMO reports the number of months that respondents had taken calcium. The survey question did not require that the months be consecutive.

VITACALCMO is one of a series of variables reporting how often and over what period of time respondents had taken calcium. For VITACALCMO, interviewers asked respondents directly about the number of months in the past 12 they had taken calcium.

Related Variables 

In 2000 and 2005 only, for months during which they had taken calcium, respondents reported how often they had taken this nutrient (VITACALCNO), answering as they desired in terms of days per week or days per month (VITACALCTP).

For 2000 only, the National Center for Health Statistics recoded data from VITACALCNO and VITACALCTP to create two new variables with consistent time units: Number of days per week took calcium during the relevant months of the past 12 months (VITACALCDWK), and number of days per month took calcium during the relevant months of the past 12 months (VITACALCDMO). VITACALCDMO is also available for 1987 and 1992, when it was asked as a direct question.

Variables similar to VITACALCMO are available for the following vitamin/mineral supplements (with years indicating availability):

For more information on the full range of variables related to vitamins, see VITANY.

Comparability

VITACALCMO is largely comparable across all years. Apart from the differences in universe, there is a slight change in the categories over time.

In 1987, interviewers could record responses of "less than one month" as a separate category from "1 month". However, in 1992, 2000, and 2005, the smallest time unit available is 1 month. Thus, to maximize comparability, researchers should treat "less than one month" and "1 month" as one category across years, because in 1992, 2000, and 2005, "1 month" includes responses that would have been coded "less than one month" if such a category had been available in those years.

Universe

  • 1987: Half of sample persons age 18+ (excluded from CACT supplement) who took vitamin/mineral supplements and took calcium in the past 12 months.
  • 1992: Half of sample persons age 18+ in quarters 1 and 2, and in 2 weeks of quarter 3 (excluded from CAEP supplement) who took calcium in past 12 months.
  • 2000; 2005: Sample adults age 18+ who took calcium in past 12 months.

Availability

  • 1987, 1992, 2000, 2005

Weights