Codes and Frequencies
Description
For sample adults who had taken any vitamin A in the past 12 months (VITAMINA), VITAMINAMO reports the number of months that respondents had taken vitamin A. The survey question did not require that the months be consecutive.
VITAMINAMO is one of a series of variables reporting how often and over what period of time respondents had taken vitamin A. For VITAMINAMO, interviewers asked respondents directly about the number of months in the past 12 they had taken vitamin A.
Related Variables
In 2000 only, for months during which they had taken vitamin A, respondents reported how often they had taken this nutrient (VITAMINANO), answering as they desired in terms of days per week or days per month (VITAMINATP).
The National Center for Health Statistics recoded data from VITAMINANO and VITAMINATP to create two new variables with consistent time units: Number of days per week took vitamin A during the relevant months of the past 12 months (VITAMINADWK), and number of days per month took vitamin A during the relevant months of the past 12 months (VITAMINADMO). VITAMINADMO is also available for 1987 and 1992, when it was asked as a direct question.
Variables similar to VITAMINAMO are available for the following vitamin/mineral supplements (with years indicating availability availability):
- Beta carotene (VITABETAMO, 2005)
- Calcium (VITACALCMO, 1987, 1992, 2000, 2005)
- Vitamin C (VITAMINCMO, 1987, 1992, 2000)
- Vitamin E (VITAMINEMO, 1987, 1992, 2000, 2005)
- Multi-vitamins (VITAMULTVMO, 1987, 1992, 2000, 2005)
- Selenium (VITASELNMO, 2005)
For more information on the full range of variables related to vitamins, see VITANY.
Comparability
VITAMINAMO 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 and 2000, 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 and 2000, "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 vitamin A 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 CACT supplement) who took vitamin A in past 12 months.
- 2000: Sample adults age 18+ who took vitamin A in past 12 months.
Availability
- 1987, 1992, 2000
Weights
- 1987, 1992, 2000 : SAMPWEIGHT