Abstract

The 2022 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) was implemented by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Data collection took place from May 2 to June 22, 2022.

The primary objective of the 2022 NDHS is to provide up-to-date estimates of basic demographic and health indicators. Specifically, the NDHS collected information on fertility, fertility preferences, family planning practices, childhood mortality, maternal and child health, nutrition, knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS, violence against women, child discipline, early childhood development, and other health issues.

The information collected through the NDHS is intended to assist policymakers and program managers in designing and evaluating programs and strategies for improving the health of the country’s population. The 2022 NDHS also provides indicators anchored to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the new Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

• Household
• Individual
• Children age 0-5
• Woman age 15-49

Universe

The survey covered all de jure household members (usual residents), all women aged 15-49, and all children aged 0-4 resident in the household.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The sampling scheme provides data representative of the country as a whole, for urban and rural areas separately, and for each of the country’s administrative regions. The sample selection methodology for the 2022 NDHS was based on a two-stage stratified sample design using the Master Sample Frame (MSF) designed and compiled by the PSA. The MSF was constructed based on the listing of households from the 2010 Census of Population and Housing and updated based on the listing of households from the 2015 Census of Population. The first stage involved a systematic selection of 1,247 primary sampling units (PSUs) distributed by province or HUC. A PSU can be a barangay, a portion of a large barangay, or two or more adjacent small barangays.

In the second stage, an equal take of either 22 or 29 sample housing units were selected from each sampled PSU using systematic random sampling. In situations where a housing unit contained one to three households, all households were interviewed. In the rare situation where a housing unit contained more than three households, no more than three households were interviewed. The survey interviewers were instructed to interview only the preselected housing units. No replacements and no changes of the preselected housing units were allowed in the implementing stage in order to prevent bias. Survey weights were calculated, added to the data file, and applied so that weighted results are representative estimates of indicators at the regional and national levels.

All women age 15–49 who were either usual residents of the selected households or visitors who stayed in the households the night before the survey were eligible to be interviewed. Among women eligible for an individual interview, one woman per household was selected for a module on women’s safety.

For further details on sample design, see APPENDIX A of the final report.

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]

Research instrument

Two questionnaires were used for the 2022 NDHS: the Household Questionnaire and the Woman’s Questionnaire. The questionnaires, based on The DHS Program’s model questionnaires, were adapted to reflect the population and health issues relevant to the Philippines. Input was solicited from various stakeholders representing government agencies, academe, and international agencies. The survey protocol was reviewed by the ICF Institutional Review Board.

After all questionnaires were finalized in English, they were translated into six major languages: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Bikol, Hiligaynon, and Waray. The Household and Woman’s Questionnaires were programmed into tablet computers to allow for computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) for data collection purposes, with the capability to choose any of the languages for each questionnaire.

Cleaning operations

Processing the 2022 NDHS data began almost as soon as fieldwork started, and data security procedures were in place in accordance with confidentiality of information as provided by Philippine laws. As data collection was completed in each PSU or cluster, all electronic data files were transferred securely via SyncCloud to a server maintained by the PSA Central Office in Quezon City. These data files were registered and checked for inconsistencies, incompleteness, and outliers. The field teams were alerted to any inconsistencies and errors while still in the area of assignment. Timely generation of field check tables allowed for effective monitoring of fieldwork, including tracking questionnaire completion rates. Only the field teams, project managers, and NDHS supervisors in the provincial, regional, and central offices were given access to the CAPI system and the SyncCloud server.

A team of secondary editors in the PSA Central Office carried out secondary editing, which involved resolving inconsistencies and recoding “other” responses; the former was conducted during data collection, and the latter was conducted following the completion of the fieldwork. Data editing was performed using the CSPro software package. The secondary editing of the data was completed in August 2022. The final cleaning of the data set was carried out by data processing specialists from The DHS Program in September 2022.

Response rate

A total of 35,470 households were selected for the 2022 NDHS sample, of which 30,621 were found to be occupied. Of the occupied households, 30,372 were successfully interviewed, yielding a response rate of 99%. In the interviewed households, 28,379 women age 15–49 were identified as eligible for individual interviews. Interviews were completed with 27,821 women, yielding a response rate of 98%.

Sampling error estimates

The estimates from a sample survey are affected by two types of errors: (1) nonsampling errors and (2) sampling errors. Nonsampling errors are the results of mistakes made in implementing data collection and in data processing, such as failure to locate and interview the correct household, misunderstanding of the questions on the part of either the interviewer or the respondent, and data entry errors. Although numerous efforts were made during the implementation of the 2022 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey (2022 NDHS) to minimize this type of error, nonsampling errors are impossible to avoid and difficult to evaluate statistically.

Sampling errors, on the other hand, can be evaluated statistically. The sample of respondents selected in the 2022 NDHS is only one of many samples that could have been selected from the same population, using the same design and identical size. Each of these samples would yield results that differ somewhat from the results of the actual sample selected. Sampling errors are a measure of the variability between all possible samples. Although the degree of variability is not known exactly, it can be estimated from the survey results.

A sampling error is usually measured in terms of the standard error for a particular statistic (mean, percentage, etc.), which is the square root of the variance. The standard error can be used to calculate confidence intervals within which the true value for the population can reasonably be assumed to fall. For example, for any given statistic calculated from a sample survey, the value of that statistic will fall within a range of plus or minus two times the standard error of that statistic in 95% of all possible samples of identical size and design.

If the sample of respondents had been selected as a simple random sample, it would have been possible to use straightforward formulas for calculating sampling errors. However, the 2022 NDHS sample was the result of a multistage stratified design, and, consequently, it was necessary to use more complex formulas. Sampling errors are computed in SAS using programs developed by ICF. These programs use the Taylor linearization method to estimate variances for survey estimates that are means, proportions, or ratios. The Jackknife repeated replication method is used for variance estimation of more complex statistics such as fertility and mortality rates.

A more detailed description of estimates of sampling errors are presented in APPENDIX B of the survey report.

Data appraisal

Data Quality Tables

• Household age distribution
• Age distribution of eligible and interviewed women
• Age displacement at age 14/15
• Age displacement at age 49/50
• Pregnancy outcomes by years preceding the survey
• Completeness of reporting
• Observation of handwashing facility
• School attendance by single year of age
• Vaccination cards photographed
• Population pyramid
• Five-year mortality rates

See details of the data quality tables in Appendix C of the final report.

Abstract

Census of Population and Housing (CPH) refers to the entire process of collecting, compiling, evaluating, analyzing, publishing, and disseminating data about the population and the living quarters in a country. It entails the listing and recording of the characteristics of each individual and each living quarter as of a specified time and within a specified territory. In other words, the CPH offers a “snapshot” of the entire population on a specific date, that is, how many people reside within the national borders, who they are, and where they live during such specified date. Also, included are the characteristics of the housing units where they reside.

The 2010 CPH is designed to take an inventory of the total population and housing units in the Philippines and collect information about their characteristics. The census of population is the source of information on the size and distribution of the population, as well as their demographic, social, economic, and cultural characteristics. The census of housing, on the other hand, provides information on the stock of housing units and their structural characteristics and facilities which have bearing on the maintenance of privacy and health, and the development of normal family living conditions. These information are vital for making rational plans and programs for local and national development.

Specifically, the 2010 CPH aims to: - obtain comprehensive data on the size, composition, and distribution of the population of the Philippines; - gather data on birth registration, literacy, school attendance, place of school, highest grade/year completed, residence 5 years ago, overseas worker, usual occupation, kind of business or industry, class of worker, place of work, fertility, religion, citizenship, ethnic group, disability, and functional difficulty, and determine their geographic distribution; - take stock of the housing units existing in the country and to get information about their geographic location, structural characteristics, and facilities, among others; - obtain information on the characteristics of the barangay, which will be used as basis for urban-rural classification; and - serve as sampling frame for use in household-based surveys.

Data collected in this census were compiled, evaluated, analyzed, published, and disseminated for the use of government, business, industry, social scientists, other research and academic institutions, and the general public. Among the important uses of census data are the following:

In government: - redistricting and apportionment of congressional seats; - allocation of resources and revenues; - creation of political and administrative units; - formulation of policies concerning population and housing; and - formulation of programs relative to the delivery of basic services for health, education, housing, and others

In business and industry: - determination of sites for establishing businesses; - determination of consumer demands for various goods and services; and - determination of supply of labor for the production of goods and services

In research and academic institutions: - conduct of researches on population and other disciplines; and - study of population growth and distribution as basis in preparing projections

Geographic coverage

National coverage Regions Provinces Cities and Municipalities Barangays

Analysis unit

household questionnaire: individuals (household members), households, housing units institutional questionnaire: individuals (institutional population), institutional living quarters barangay questionnaire: barangay

Universe

Census-taking in the Philippines follows a de-jure concept wherein a person is counted in the usual place of residence or the place where the person usually resides. Information on the count of the population and living quarters were collected with 12:01 a.m. of May 1, 2010 as the census reference time and date.

The following individuals were enumerated:

• Those who were present at the time of visit and whose usual place of residence is the housing unit where the household lives.

• Those whose usual place of residence is the place where the household lives but are temporarily away at the time of the census.

• Boarders/lodgers of the household or employees of household-operated businesses who do not usually return/go to their respective homes weekly.

• Overseas workers and who have been away at the time of the census for not more than five years from the date of departure and are expected to be back within five years from the date of last departure.

• Filipino "balikbayans" with usual place of residence in a foreign country but have resided or are expected to reside in the Philippines for at least a year from their arrival.

• Citizens of foreign countries who have resided or are expected to reside in the Philippines for at least a year from their arrival, except members of diplomatic missions and non-Filipino members of international organizations.

• Persons temporarily staying with the household who have no usual place of residence or who are not certain to be enumerated elsewhere.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

In the 2010 CPH, there are basically two types of questionnaires used for the enumeration of household members. These are CPH Form 2 or the Common Household Questionnaire and CPH Form 3 or the Sample Household Questionnaire. CPH Form 3 contains more questions than CPH Form 2.

The 2010 CPH was carried out through a combination of complete enumeration and sampling. For this census, systematic cluster sampling was adopted. This sampling method is designed in such a way that efficient and accurate estimates will be obtained at the city/municipality level.

The sampling rate or the proportion of households to be selected as samples depends on the size of the city/municipality where the Enumeration Area (EA) is located. For the cities/municipalities with estimated number of households of 500 and below, 100 percent sampling rate was used. While for those cities/municipalities with estimated number of households of 501 and above, a sampling rate of 20 percent was implemented.

In this sampling scheme, each city/municipality was treated as a domain. For city/municipality with 100 percent sampling rate, all households in all the EAs within this city/municipality were selected as samples. For those with a 20 percent sampling rate, systematic cluster sampling was adopted. That is, sample selection of one in five clusters with the first cluster selected at random. Thus in effect, the EAs belonging to the city/municipality with 20 percent sampling rate are divided into clusters of size 5. Random start is pre-determined for each EA.

If the sampling rate applied to a city/municipality is 100 percent, it means that all households in that municipality were administered with CPH Form 3. If it is 20 percent, it means that 20 percent of all households used CPH Form 3 while 80 percent used CPH Form 2.

The random start used by EA is a number from 1 to 5 which was used to select the cluster where the first sample households in an EA, and subsequently the other sample households, were included.

Clusters are formed by grouping together households that have been assigned consecutive serial numbers as they were listed in the Listing Booklet. For a 20 percent sampling rate, clusters were formed by grouping together five households.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

CPH Form 1 - Listing Booklet This form is a booklet used to list the buildings, housing units, households, and the Institutional Living Quarters (ILQs) within an EA. This form also records other important information such as the name of household heads and name and type of institutions and their addresses, population totals, and counts of males and females.

CPH Form 2 - Common Household Questionnaire This is the basic census questionnaire, which was used to interview and record information about the common or nonsample households. This questionnaire gathered information on the following demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population: relationship to household head, sex, date of birth, age, birth registration, marital status, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, disability, functional difficulty, highest grade/year completed, residence 5 years ago, and overseas worker. It also contains questions on the type of building/house, construction materials of the roof and outer walls, state of repair of the building/house, year the building/house was built, floor area of the housing unit, and tenure status of the lot.

CPH Form 3 - Sample Household Questionnaire This is the basic census questionnaire, which was used to interview and record information about the sample households. This questionnaire contains ALL questions asked in CPH Form 2 PLUS additional population questions: literacy, school attendance, place of school, usual occupation, kind of business or industry, class of worker, place of work, and some items on fertility. Moreover, there are additional questions on household characteristics: fuel for lighting and cooking, source of water supply for drinking and/or cooking and for laundry, and bathing, tenure status of the housing unit, acquisition of the housing unit, source of financing of the housing unit, monthly rental of the housing unit, tenure status of the lot, usual manner of garbage disposal, kind of toilet facility, and land ownership. It also asked questions on the language/dialect generally spoken at home, residence five years from now, and presence of household conveniences/devices, and access to internet.

CPH Form 4 -

Abstract

The 2017 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2017) is a nationwide survey with a nationally representative sample of approximately 30,832 housing units. The primary objective of the survey is to provide up-to-date estimates of basic demographic and health indicators. Specifically, the NDHS 2017 collected information on marriage, fertility levels, fertility preferences, awareness and use of family planning methods, breastfeeding, maternal and child health, child mortality, awareness and behavior regarding HIV/AIDS, women’s empowerment, domestic violence, and other health-related issues such as smoking.

The information collected through the NDHS 2017 is intended to assist policymakers and program managers in the Department of Health (DOH) and other organizations in designing and evaluating programs and strategies for improving the health of the country’s population.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

• Household
• Individual
• Children age 0-5
• Woman age 15-49

Universe

The survey covered all de jure household members (usual residents) and all women age 15-49 years resident in the sample household.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The sampling scheme provides data representative of the country as a whole, for urban and rural areas separately, and for each of the country’s administrative regions. The sample selection methodology for the NDHS 2017 is based on a two-stage stratified sample design using the Master Sample Frame (MSF), designed and compiled by the PSA. The MSF is constructed based on the results of the 2010 Census of Population and Housing and updated based on the 2015 Census of Population. The first stage involved a systematic selection of 1,250 primary sampling units (PSUs) distributed by province or HUC. A PSU can be a barangay, a portion of a large barangay, or two or more adjacent small barangays.

In the second stage, an equal take of either 20 or 26 sample housing units were selected from each sampled PSU using systematic random sampling. In situations where a housing unit contained one to three households, all households were interviewed. In the rare situation where a housing unit contained more than three households, no more than three households were interviewed. The survey interviewers were instructed to interview only the pre-selected housing units. No replacements and no changes of the preselected housing units were allowed in the implementing stage in order to prevent bias. Survey weights were calculated, added to the data file, and applied so that weighted results are representative estimates of indicators at the regional and national levels.

All women age 15-49 who were either permanent residents of the selected households or visitors who stayed in the households the night before the survey were eligible to be interviewed. Among women eligible for an individual interview, one woman per household was selected for a module on domestic violence.

For further details on sample design, see Appendix A of the final report.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Two questionnaires were used for the NDHS 2017: the Household Questionnaire and the Woman’s Questionnaire. Both questionnaires, based on The DHS Program’s standard Demographic and Health Survey (DHS-7) questionnaires, were adapted to reflect the population and health issues relevant to the Philippines. Input was solicited from various stakeholders representing government agencies, universities, and international agencies.

Cleaning operations

The processing of the NDHS 2017 data began almost as soon as fieldwork started. As data collection was completed in each PSU, all electronic data files were transferred via an Internet file streaming system (IFSS) to the PSA central office in Quezon City. These data files were registered and checked for inconsistencies, incompleteness, and outliers. The field teams were alerted to any inconsistencies and errors while still in the PSU. Secondary editing involved resolving inconsistencies and the coding of openended questions; the former was carried out in the central office by a senior data processor, while the latter was taken on by regional coordinators and central office staff during a 5-day workshop following the completion of the fieldwork. Data editing was carried out using the CSPro software package. The concurrent processing of the data offered a distinct advantage, because it maximized the likelihood of the data being error-free and accurate. Timely generation of field check tables allowed for more effective monitoring. The secondary editing of the data was completed by November 2017. The final cleaning of the data set was carried out by data processing specialists from The DHS Program by the end of December 2017.

Response rate

A total of 31,791 households were selected for the sample, of which 27,855 were occupied. Of the occupied households, 27,496 were successfully interviewed, yielding a response rate of 99%. In the interviewed households, 25,690 women age 15-49 were identified for individual interviews; interviews were completed with 25,074 women, yielding a response rate of 98%.

The household response rate is slightly lower in urban areas than in rural areas (98% and 99%, respectively); however, there is no difference by urban-rural residence in response rates among women (98% for each).

Sampling error estimates

The estimates from a sample survey are affected by two types of errors: nonsampling errors and sampling errors. Nonsampling errors are the results of mistakes made in implementing data collection and data processing, such as failure to locate and interview the correct household, misunderstanding of the questions on the part of either the interviewer or the respondent, and data entry errors. Although numerous efforts were made during the implementation of the Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2017 to minimize this type of error, nonsampling errors are impossible to avoid and difficult to evaluate statistically.

Sampling errors, on the other hand, can be evaluated statistically. The sample of respondents selected in the NDHS 2017 is only one of many samples that could have been selected from the same population, using the same design and expected size. Each of these samples would yield results that differ somewhat from the results of the actual sample selected. Sampling errors are a measure of the variability among all possible samples. Although the degree of variability is not known exactly, it can be estimated from the survey results.

Sampling error is usually measured in terms of the standard error for a particular statistic (mean, percentage, etc.), which is the square root of the variance. The standard error can be used to calculate confidence intervals within which the true value for the population can reasonably be assumed to fall. For example, for any given statistic calculated from a sample survey, the value of that statistic will fall within a range of plus or minus two times the standard error of that statistic in 95% of all possible samples of identical size and design.

If the sample of respondents had been selected as a simple random sample, it would have been possible to use straightforward formulas for calculating sampling errors. However, the NDHS 2017 sample is the result of a multi-stage stratified design, and, consequently, it was necessary to use more complex formulas. Sampling errors are computed in SAS, using programs developed by ICF. These programs use the Taylor linearization method to estimate variances for survey estimates that are means, proportions, or ratios. The Jackknife repeated replication method is used for variance estimation of more complex statistics such as fertility and mortality rates.

A more detailed description of estimates of sampling errors are presented in Appendix B of the survey final report.

Data appraisal

Data Quality Tables - Household age distribution - Age distribution of eligible and interviewed women - Completeness of reporting - Births by calendar years - Reporting of age at death in days - Reporting of age at death in months

See details of the data quality tables in Appendix C of the survey final report.

The 1993 National Demographic Survey (NDS) is a nationally representative sample survey of women age 15-49 designed to collect information on fertility; family planning; infant, child and maternal mortality; and maternal and child health. The survey was conducted between April and June 1993. The 1993 NDS was carried out by the National Statistics Office in collaboration with the Department of Health, the University of the Philippines Population Institute, and other agencies concerned with population, health and family planning issues. Funding for the 1993 NDS was provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development through the Demographic and Health Surveys Program. Close to 13,000 households throughout the country were visited during the survey and more than 15,000 women age 15-49 were interviewed. The results show that fertility in the Philippines continues its gradual decline. At current levels, Filipino women will give birth on average to 4.1 children during their reproductive years, 0.2 children less than that recorded in 1988. However, the total fertility rate in the Philippines remains high in comparison to the level achieved in the neighboring Southeast Asian countries. The primary objective of the 1993 NDS is to provide up-to-date inform ation on fertility and mortality levels; nuptiality; fertility preferences; awareness, approval, and use of family planning methods; breastfeeding practices; and maternal and child health. This information is intended to assist policymakers and administrators in evaluating and designing programs and strategies for improving health and family planning services in 'the country. MAIN RESULTS Fertility varies significantly by region and socioeconomic characteristics. Urban women have on average 1.3 children less than rural women, and uneducated women have one child more than women with college education. Women in Bicol have on average 3 more children than women living in Metropolitan Manila. Virtually all women know of a family planning method; the pill, female sterilization, IUD and condom are known to over 90 percent of women. Four in 10 married women are currently using contraception. The most popular method is female sterilization ( 12 percent), followed by the piU (9 percent), and natural family planning and withdrawal, both used by 7 percent of married women. Contraceptive use is highest in Northern Mindanao, Central Visayas and Southern Mindanao, in urban areas, and among women with higher than secondary education. The contraceptive prevalence rate in the Philippines is markedly lower than in the neighboring Southeast Asian countries; the percentage of married women who were using family planning in Thailand was 66 percent in 1987, and 50 percent in Indonesia in 199l. The majority of contraceptive users obtain their methods from a public service provider (70 percent). Government health facilities mainly provide permanent methods, while barangay health stations or health centers are the main sources for the pill, IUD and condom. Although Filipino women already marry at a relatively higher age, they continue to delay the age at which they first married. Half of Filipino women marry at age 21.6. Most women have their first sexual intercourse after marriage. Half of married women say that they want no more children, and 12 percent have been sterilized. An additional 19 percent want to wait at least two years before having another child. Almost two thirds of women in the Philippines express a preference for having 3 or less children. Results from the survey indicate that if all unwanted births were avoided, the total fertility rate would be 2.9 children, which is almost 30 percent less than the observed rate, More than one quarter of married women in the Philippines are not using any contraceptive method, but want to delay their next birth for two years or more (12 percent), or want to stop childbearing (14 percent). If the potential demand for family planning is satisfied, the contraceptive prevalence rate could increase to 69 percent. The demand for stopping childbearing is about twice the level for spacing (45 and 23 percent, respectively). Information on various aspects of maternal and child health-antenatal care, vaccination, breastfeeding and food supplementation, and illness was collected in the 1993 NDS on births in the five years preceding the survey. The findings show that 8 in 10 children under five were bom to mothers who received antenatal care from either midwives or nurses (45 percent) or doctors (38 percent). Delivery by a medical personnel is received by more than half of children born in the five years preceding the survey. However, the majority of deliveries occurred at home. Tetanus, a leading cause of infant deaths, can be prevented by immunization of the mother during pregnancy. In the Philippines, two thirds of bitlhs in the five years preceding the survey were to mothers who received a tetanus toxoid injection during pregnancy. Based on reports of mothers and information obtained from health cards, 90 percent of children aged 12-23 months have received shots of the BCG as well as the first doses of DPT and polio, and 81 percent have received immunization from measles. Immunization coverage declines with doses; the drop out rate is 3 to 5 percent for children receiving the full dose series of DPT and polio. Overall, 7 in 10 children age 12-23 months have received immunization against the six principal childhood diseases-polio, diphtheria, ~rtussis, tetanus, measles and tuberculosis. During the two weeks preceding the survey, 1 in 10 children under 5 had diarrhea. Four in ten of these children were not treated. Among those who were treated, 27 percent were given oral rehydration salts, 36 percent were given recommended home solution or increased fluids. Breasffeeding is less common in the Philippines than in many other developing countries. Overall, a total of 13 percent of children born in the 5 years preceding the survey were not breastfed at all. On the other hand, bottle feeding, a widely discouraged practice, is relatively common in the Philippines. Children are weaned at an early age; one in four children age 2-3 months were exclusively breastfed, and the mean duration of breastfeeding is less than 3 months. Infant and child mortality in the Philippines have declined significantly in the past two decades. For every 1,000 live births, 34 infants died before their first birthday. Childhood mortality varies significantly by mother's residence and education. The mortality of urban infants is about 40 percent lower than that of rural infants. The probability of dying among infants whose mother had no formal schooling is twice as high as infants whose mother have secondary or higher education. Children of mothers who are too young or too old when they give birth, have too many prior births, or give birth at short intervals have an elevated mortality risk. Mortality risk is highest for children born to mothers under age 19. The 1993 NDS also collected information necessary for the calculation of adult and maternal mortality using the sisterhood method. For both males and females, at all ages, male mortality is higher than that of females. Matemal mortality ratio for the 1980-1986 is estimated at 213 per 100,000 births, and for the 1987-1993 period 209 per 100,000 births. However, due to the small number of sibling deaths reported in the survey, age-specific rates should be used with caution. Information on health and family planning services available to the residents of the 1993 NDS barangay was collected from a group of respondents in each location. Distance and time to reach a family planning service provider has insignificant association with whether a woman uses contraception or the choice of contraception being used. On the other hand, being close to a hospital increases the likelihood that antenatal care and births are to respondents who receive ANC and are delivered by a medical personnel or delivered in a health facility.