The questionnaire design methodologies for recording the data vary considerably across countries in the region. A comprehensive study analyzing survey questionnaires from 100 low- and middle-income countries noted the large variation in the way surveys are designed in each country (Smith, Dupriez, and Troubat 2014). This variation is also apparent across the South Asian household survey questionnaires. Table 5 lists the contents of the questionnaires from South Asian countries, which show significant differences in the way food consumption data are collected.
Summary of the Consumption Questionnaire Design
| . | Afghanistan . | Bangladesh . | Bhutan . | India . | Maldives . | Nepal . | Pakistan . | Sri Lanka . |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food expenditures (No. of items) | 91 | 141 | 130 | 143 | 92 | 74 | 69 | 227a |
| Diary versus recall | Recall | Recall | Recall | Recall | Diary | Recall | Recall | Diary and recall |
| Reference period (Food consumption) | Daily and 7 days | Daily and weekly (for 2 weeks) | 7 days, 1 month, and 1 year | 1 month | 1 month | 1 week per typical month | 2 weeks per month | 1 week |
| Food quantities available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yesb |
| Nonfood expenditures (No. of items) | 38 | 221 | 122 | 338 | 483 | 95 | 99 | 97c |
| Reference period (Nonfood expenditures) | 1 and 12 months | 1, 3, and 12 months | 1 and 12 months | 1 and 12 months | 1 and 12 months | 1 and 12 months | 1 and 12 months | 1, 6, and 12 months |
| . | Afghanistan . | Bangladesh . | Bhutan . | India . | Maldives . | Nepal . | Pakistan . | Sri Lanka . |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food expenditures (No. of items) | 91 | 141 | 130 | 143 | 92 | 74 | 69 | 227a |
| Diary versus recall | Recall | Recall | Recall | Recall | Diary | Recall | Recall | Diary and recall |
| Reference period (Food consumption) | Daily and 7 days | Daily and weekly (for 2 weeks) | 7 days, 1 month, and 1 year | 1 month | 1 month | 1 week per typical month | 2 weeks per month | 1 week |
| Food quantities available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yesb |
| Nonfood expenditures (No. of items) | 38 | 221 | 122 | 338 | 483 | 95 | 99 | 97c |
| Reference period (Nonfood expenditures) | 1 and 12 months | 1, 3, and 12 months | 1 and 12 months | 1 and 12 months | 1 and 12 months | 1 and 12 months | 1 and 12 months | 1, 6, and 12 months |
COICOP = classification of individual consumption according to purpose.
aThis includes six liquor and tobacco COICOP codes among food expenditures.
bUnits of measure are specified in the questionnaire but not in the datasets.
cTobacco and drugs excluded.
Source: Authors’ estimates based on South Asia Harmonized Micro Dataset (accessed September 15, 2017).