When users of The DHS Program’s survey data request access to our geospatial data, they usually do so with the intention of linking survey cluster location data to outside datasets – such as rainfall measurements, population density, and distance to road networks. These additional data, when coupled with geographic location, are known as spatial covariates […]
A lot can change in 20 years. For The DHS Program, it’s the difference between over 250 datasets for 70 separate surveys to more than 10,000 datasets from over 300 surveys. The contents of the model survey questionnaires changed radically, as did the media used for data distribution. And two decades ago, the internet had only […]
Many DHS countries have completed 3, 4, or 5 surveys, and look forward to their next DHS to examine trends and assess progress. But the 2015-16 Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) was the first DHS conducted, providing, for the first time ever, internationally comparable and nationally representative DHS data. For Myanmar, this is an […]
Have you ever formatted what you thought were your final models only to discover that: The survey question you used for your dependent variable had five rather than four variations across surveys? There are two other samples (not in your analysis) in which respondents were asked precisely the question that interests you? There is a […]
How well do you know your population pyramids? Celebrate World Population Day with The DHS Program’s Guess the Population Pyramid Quiz! See how you stack up against others and share your results below in the comment section, on Facebook, or Twitter! We are also having a live version of Guess the #PopPyramid on Twitter July 11 at 10AM […]
DHS-7 surveys are using a more precise method to calculate children’s age. The change, though far-reaching, has very little impact on interpretation and use of DHS data for program managers and policymakers. It does, however, have major implications for researchers doing secondary analysis of DHS data. If you are working with DHS datasets, a full […]
This is Part 3 in the DHS-7 questionnaire blog series that explores the new data that are available in DHS reports resulting from changes made to the DHS questionnaires in 2014. This week’s post focuses on changes made to gather additional information about DHS respondents. Part 3: Respondents’ Characteristics Understanding DHS survey respondents is critical […]
So, you’re new to DHS and you’ve registered as a DHS data user, downloaded the free available datasets, but now what? We have the perfect resources to get you started. The following videos provide an overview of DHS data answering key questions such as, what is a data file or dataset? What is the difference between De […]
This is Part 2 in the New Data Available from DHS-7 Questionnaire blog series that explores the new data that are available in DHS reports resulting from changes made to the DHS-7 questionnaire in 2014. This post focuses on changes made to improve the quality and quantity of data collected about water and sanitation. Part […]
The DHS Program research team at the 2016 PAA Annual Meeting We are pleased to announce that The DHS Program and staff will be attending this year’s Population Association of America (PAA) Annual Meeting in Chicago from April 27-29. PAA is a nonprofit, scientific, professional organization established to promote the improvement, advancement, and progress of […]
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.