Category Archives: Nutrition

Hemoglobin Collection at The DHS Program: Impact of Updated WHO Guidelines on DHS Program Anemia Data

Written by: The DHS Program

18 Sep, 2024

Anemia occurs when there are not enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to tissues in the body. Anemia is estimated to affect more than 250 million children under age 5 and more than half a billion women of reproductive age worldwide. When severe, anemia can lead to impaired cognitive and motor development in […]


Nouveau Cours en Ligne Disponible en Français : Cours sur les indicateurs de Nutrition des Enquêtes EDS

Written by: The DHS Program

14 Nov, 2023

La nutrition est le fondement de la santé de du développement. Le suivi des indicateurs nutritionnels est essentiel pour atteindre l’objectif de développement durable n° 2, faim « zéro », assurer la sécurité alimentaire et une meilleure nutrition et promouvoir l’agriculture durable. Le cours sur les indicateurs de nutrition des enquêtes EDS est le dernier cours ouvert […]


DHS Data Support Breastfeeding among Working Parents

Written by: The DHS Program

01 Aug, 2023

Breastfeeding provides a range of benefits to children and their mothers. Benefits of breastfeeding include protecting children from disease, supporting their healthy growth and development, and reducing the risk of some cancers for mothers. Protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding requires data to inform and drive action. The first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week. […]


New Online Course: Introduction to DHS Nutrition Indicators

Written by: The DHS Program

26 Jan, 2022

Nutrition is a cornerstone of health and development. Tracking nutrition indicators is key to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.  Introduction to Nutrition Indicators in DHS Surveys, the latest open course offered on The DHS Program Learning Hub, is available for free with […]


The DHS Program and the International Year of Fruit and Vegetables

Written by: The DHS Program

08 Dec, 2021

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables. The consumption of fruit and vegetables supports healthy growth and development in young children by providing important nutrients. Regular fruit and vegetable consumption throughout life can also help prevent noncommunicable diseases during adulthood.  In 2021 the World Health Organization (WHO) and United […]


New Resources Provide Updated Guidance on Biomarker Collection in DHS-8

Written by: The DHS Program

28 Sep, 2021

The DHS Program is pleased to announce the availability of the Biomarker Manual: Training Program for Measuring and Testing for Biomarkers and the DHS Height Standardization Tool on The DHS Program website. The Biomarker Manual aligns with DHS-8 standard materials and policies representing the most up-to-date procedures. Standard measures in DHS surveys include height/length, weight, and […]


Collecting Quality Anthropometric Data in The DHS Program

Written by: The DHS Program

14 May, 2020

The DHS Program has been a leading source of anthropometric (height and weight) data for more than 30 years. Measurements are collected from children, women, and men in some surveys. This information enables countries to make data-driven decisions and to monitor their progress in improving nutritional status and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The DHS […]


Meeting Emerging Nutrition Data Needs in DHS-8

Written by: The DHS Program

11 Dec, 2019

Nutrition is central to the health, well-being, and economic development of individuals, communities, and nations. Comprehensive and credible data are needed to capture the current state of nutrition and track the implementation of nutrition interventions. The DHS Program is a leading source of nutrition data in low and middle-income countries. The DHS Program has standard […]


Nutrition in the Health System: Linking SPA and DHS Surveys

Written by: The DHS Program

10 Sep, 2019

Global momentum on quality of care in the health system continues to expand. The United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025) recognizes that the health system is a key pillar in providing universal coverage of essential nutrition actions. Reliable data for monitoring is central to understanding and improving the health system for nutrition. In […]


Luminare: Field Testing Solutions to Anthropometry Data Collection in Nigeria

Written by: The DHS Program

23 May, 2019

© 2018 Hanna Useem/ICF This blog post is part of Luminare, our new blog series exploring innovative solutions to data collection, quality assurance, biomarker measurement, data use, and further analysis. This is the first post in the series that focuses on innovations to improve the quality of anthropometry data.   Anthropometry, the measurement of the human body, gives a snapshot of the malnutrition situation in a country. Yet, […]