35 Years of DHS…and 5 More to Come

Written by: The DHS Program

26 Dec, 2018

What was happening in the world in 1984?

  • The AIDS virus was identified
  • Indira Gandhi was assassinated
  • Michael Jackson moonwalked and won awards for his “Thriller” album
  • Apple released the first MacIntosh computer
  • Famine in Ethiopia sparked worldwide attention

And…

A lot has changed in 35 years in the world and at the DHS project; what has not changed is that The DHS Program at ICF remains USAID’s flagship project for collecting data on population and health around the world. In September 2018, USAID awarded ICF and partners the 8th iteration of The Demographic and Health Surveys Program, which will run from 2018-2023.  Six internationally experienced organizations are partnering with ICF to expand access to and use of the DHS data including Avenir Health, Blue Raster, EnCompass, Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, PATH, and Vysnova.

DHS-8 will build on the long history of DHS surveys, focusing on the collection of quality population and health data in approximately 50 countries while helping to strengthen the capacity of local implementing agencies to conduct population-based surveys.  DHS-8 also offers several enhancements, including a new Science Advisor position, who will focus on innovations in data collection and biomarkers (stay tuned for a new blog series on innovation!), an expanded virtual learning portfolio, and additional emphasis on sub-national dissemination to support evidence-based decision making.

“We are honored and eager to continue The Demographic and Health Surveys Program,” says Project Director, Dr. Sunita Kishor.  “Our staff are incredibly proud of the work we do, and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue to evolve by pursuing even greater data quality, new innovations, and deepening relationships with our valued colleagues across the globe.”

Author

  • The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program has collected, analyzed, and disseminated accurate and representative data on population, health, HIV, and nutrition through more than 400 surveys in over 90 countries. The DHS Program is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Contributions from other donors, as well as funds from participating countries, also support surveys. The project is implemented by ICF.

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Anthropometry measurement (height and weight) is a core component of DHS surveys that is used to generate indicators on nutritional status. The Biomarker Questionnaire now includes questions on clothing and hairstyle interference on measurements for both women and children for improved interpretation.