Interviewer instructions
In column 6, enter only the code for marital status. The categories for marital status and their corresponding codes are as follows:
1 - Single 2 - Married
3 - Widowed
4 - Divorced/Separate 5 - Unknown
A person is single if he has never been married.
Married is the marital status of a person who has been united in matrimony with another person of opposite sex through a religious or civil rites, or who lives together consensually with another as husband or wife. To be considered married, the couple must still be living together; or, if living apart from each other, the separation must only be temporary.
Report as widowed a person who has been married before; whether formally or consensually, if his marital partner has died; or as separated if the partner has left permanently, with or without legal sanctions.
Avoid antagonizing the respondent; do not refute the reported marital status of any member.
