A data quality study investigating the fieldworker’s impact on the reporting discrepancies of pre-marital sexual relationships among unmarried men and women in India

Although we believe that NFHS surveys are a potentially valuable source of information on pre-marital sexual behavior, especially in the absence of proven alternatives, the evidence from this study suggests that fieldworker effects may bias reporting of ever-had sexual intercourse. Therefore, estimates from these surveys should be evaluated carefully and interpreted in the context of other available information, given their wide use in policy formulation and monitoring in India.