Demography: child-woman ratio: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Demography: child-woman ratio

Sample item

In a district with incomplete birth registration, a planner wants a rough index of fertility derived only from the age-sex tables of the census. Which measure fits?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Child-woman ratio

The child-woman ratio is the number of children aged 0 to 4 years per 1,000 women aged 15 to 49 years. It needs only census age-sex counts, so it is useful where birth registration is poor.

Option by option

  • A. Pearl index

    The Pearl index measures contraceptive failure per 100 woman-years of exposure.

  • B. Age-specific fertility rate

    Age-specific fertility rates need registered births by maternal age, which this district lacks.

  • C. Net reproduction rate

    The net reproduction rate requires age-specific fertility and survival data, which come from birth records.

  • D. Child-woman ratio (correct)

    Correct. It uses only the census count of young children and women of reproductive age.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is D, Child-woman ratio. The child-woman ratio is the number of children aged 0 to 4 years per 1,000 women aged 15 to 49 years.

Why is "Pearl index" not the answer?

The Pearl index measures contraceptive failure per 100 woman-years of exposure.

Why is "Age-specific fertility rate" not the answer?

Age-specific fertility rates need registered births by maternal age, which this district lacks.

Why is "Net reproduction rate" not the answer?

The net reproduction rate requires age-specific fertility and survival data, which come from birth records.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Demography: child-woman ratio in PSM. It needs only census age-sex counts, so it is useful where birth registration is poor.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Demography: child-woman ratio?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.