Interviewer instructions
The focus of this question is on the union status of the person and not on the marital status. Wherever these two concepts conflict the present union status takes precedence over the marital status. For example, a lady may be legally married yet is being visited by or is visiting another person. In this case you must record the person as being in a visiting relationship (option 3). What is important is the relationship from which this lady is most likely going to be exposed to becoming pregnant.
Persons who are recorded as legally married (option 1) must have obtained a legal marital certificate from a religious denomination or through another appropriate legal means; they must also be in a present union with their spouse. Two persons living together in present union but who are not legally married are to be classified as having a common law union (option 2). A person who is legally married and not in present union with any partner is to be recorded as Married but not in a union (option
4). A person who is not in a union (option 8) has never been married and is not
engaged in a sexual (intimate) relationship.
Legally separated applies to married persons are living apart and separated by a court order. After Q5.1 has been answered all male respondents must skip to Section 6.
