Codes and Frequencies
Description
For sample persons under age 18, DIARRHEAFEV indicates if the child ever had frequent or repeated diarrhea or colitis. The inquiry did not require the problem(s) to be diagnosed by a doctor or health professional, and definitions of the terms "frequent or repeated " or "colitis" were not provided in the survey text or Field Representative's Manual and assumed to be respondent-defined. According to the National Library of Medicine, colitis is a "swelling (inflammation) of the large intestine (colon)."
The Manual instructed interviewers to circle the state (frequent or repeated) and condition (diarrhea or colitis) for future reference, but the NHIS and IPUMS NHIS do not provide additional variables on these conditions.
The question for DIARRHEAFEV was part of a series of questions on child health conditions in the 1988 Supplement on Child Health.
Related Variables
Along with DIARRHEAFEV, respondents were asked if the child ever had any of 33 conditions, and respondents could also specify up to three conditions not directly included in the inquiry.
The condition list also included:
BOWELNONDEV, ever had bowel trouble other than diarrhea.
From 1997 forward, the variable DIARRHEAYR, had frequent diarrhea in the past 12 months, is available for all sample children.
Universe
- 1988: Sample persons under age 18.
Availability
- 1988
Weights
- 1988 : SAMPWEIGHT
