# IMICSSTRATUM not available for selected samples
**URL:** https://forum.ipums.org/t/imicsstratum-not-available-for-selected-samples/6292
**Category:** GLOBAL HEALTH
**Created:** [January 18, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/imicsstratum-not-available-for-selected-samples/6292 "2025-01-18T15:07:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Janet\_Rosenbaum](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Janet_Rosenbaum)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/imicsstratum-not-available-for-selected-samples/6292/1 "2025-01-18T15:07:23Z")
I am analyzing MICS child data ages 0-4 from 4 countries: Central African Republic in 2010, Ghana in 2011, Mali 2009, and Sierra Leone 2017. When I tried to add the variable IMICSSTRATUM to my data extract, I saw that it was not available for my samples. Do I need to download household data as well and merge with the child data in order to get that variable?
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### Author:  [@Ivan\_Strahof](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Ivan_Strahof)
#### Post date: [January 29, 2025, 3:35am UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/imicsstratum-not-available-for-selected-samples/6292/2 "2025-01-29T03:35:39Z")
The [STRATUM](https://mics.ipums.org/mics-action/variables/STRATUM) variable used in the construction of [IMICSSTRATUM](https://mics.ipums.org/mics-action/variables/IMICSSTRATUM#description_section) is only available for the household unit of analysis in the original MICS dataset. We have not created a stratum variable for other units of analysis. As you suggest, to obtain this variable you will need to download a separate household data extract using the _Household Characteristics_ unit of analysis. Once you have both files, you can follow [the instructions in this guide](https://mics.ipums.org/mics/linking.shtml) to merge the data together.