IFSS_INTENDN: How many more babies intended (or midpoint of range)

The GAF survey in 1955 asks how many children respondents "expect" to have. All subsequent surveys used "intend" in the question. In the 1955 GAF and the 1965 NFS, follow up questions for respondents who had difficulty responding used phrases like "how many you are likely to have" or "how many you might decide to have." Theoretically, expectations and intentions could be different. In practice, survey respondents appear not to distinguish between these concepts. Perhaps in response to the blurring of these concepts, the question text in the 2002 NSFG specified to the respondent that "intend refers to what you are actually going to try to do."

There is variation in whether IFSS_INTENDN measures the respondent's individual intentions or joint intentions with a husband or partner. Most surveys ask the respondent about her intentions. In 1988, there is a single question that asks what "you and your husband/partner" intend for married and cohabiting women and what "you" intend for women not living with a partner. In 1995 and 2002, separate questions are asked for women living with a husband or partner and women not living with a partner. Women living with a partner are asked about joint intentions with that partner, while women living alone are asked about individual intentions. The variation in how joint intentions are treated may produce inconsistencies if women intend to have children with someone other than their current partners. This situation may be more common in the 1988, 1995, and 2002 NSFG when women are asked about joint intentions with cohabiting partners, since cohabiting partners are more likely than husbands to be considered temporary partners.

In all years, respondents are allowed to list a range of values, either as a part of the initial question or as a set of follow-up questions. In these cases, the harmonized value for IFSS_INTENDN is the midpoint of the range and may be a fractional value. The high and low ends of the range are provided in IFSS_INTENDN_MAX and IFSS_INTENDN_MIN. "Don't know" responses are treated as separate categories in the harmonized variable. Women who list "don't know" responses are instead asked how many children they intend to have. In the 1970 NFS, responses like "as many come" and "as many as God sends" are also a separate category.

Women who are sterile or otherwise unable to have children are ruled inapplicable between 1973 and 1995; while they are not explicitly excluded in 2002, the universe for that year consists of respondents who intend to have more children, which likely achieves the same result. Starting in 1970, respondents who do not intend to have more children are ruled ineligible; prior to then, they are coded as zero.

Interested users should note that questions about the expected number of children were asked in the 1960 GAF. However, because of missing documentation, we were unable to determine the exact question text or respondent universe for the existing variables. IFSS_INTENDN is therefore not defined for the 1960 survey.

See also:
IFSS_ADEXP5YR
IFSS_AGEXPECT
IFSS_EXPECT_MAX
IFSS_EXPECT_MIN
IFSS_IDEALCH
IFSS_IDEALCH_MAX
IFSS_IDEALCH_MIN
IFSS_INTEND
IFSS_INTENDN_MAX
IFSS_INTENDN_MIN
IFSS_PWANT
IFSS_RWANT
IFSS_SUREINT