Putting Values into Practice: The DHS Program’s Capacity Strengthening Approach of Equitable Partnership

Written by: EnCompass

30 Aug, 2023

Given the scale, complexity, and standardized nature of survey operations, how does The DHS Program center local priorities, strengthen local capacity, and build equitable partnerships throughout the survey process? Looking into the mirror: recognizing our positionality As the capacity strengthening partners on The DHS Program, EnCompass staff spend time thinking about how to reinforce the […]


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. […]


How SPA Surveys Support Countries to Prevent Child and Maternal Death

Written by: The DHS Program

26 Jul, 2023

USAID recently released the Framework for Preventing Child and Maternal Death 2023-2030, building on the achievements and lessons learned from the past decade to provide a roadmap for the future: a world where all women, newborns, and children survive, are healthy, and are able to develop and reach their full potential. The new Service Provision […]


Fertility, Mortality, & Migration Round-up in Honor of World Population Day 2023

Written by: The DHS Program

11 Jul, 2023

July 11th is World Population Day. To celebrate, we are going back to basics with highlights from the main drivers of population change: births, deaths, and migration. How did The DHS Program evolve from the World Fertility Survey and how have we tracked the quality of fertility data over the last 50 years?  What changes […]


New in DHS-8: Updates to WASH Indicators

Written by: The DHS Program

28 Jun, 2023

Safe and sufficient quantities of drinking water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene (WASH) are vital for human health and well-being. WASH indicators have been included in demographic and health surveys since The DHS Program was launched in 1984. WASH indicators have been updated for DHS-8 surveys to align with WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, […]


Cours pour les utilisateurs de bases de données EDS : nouveau cours en ligne maintenant disponible en français

Written by: The DHS Program

09 May, 2023

Don’t read French? You can use the translate feature at the top of the page! (English speakers: You may need to set the language to French first, before you can see the English language option.) Le DHS Program a ajouté un nouveau cours en ligne maintenant disponible en français parmi la liste des cours disponibles gratuitement […]


Linking Climate Change and Women’s Health using DHS Program Data

Written by: The DHS Program

21 Apr, 2023

April 22nd is Earth Day, when we take time to reflect on how our actions affect our planet. But how does our environment affect us? In an interview, Dr. Kathryn Grace details how she uses DHS Program data to explore the impact of geography and climate on women’s and children’s health outcomes such as fertility, […]


Inclusive Survey Design: Collecting Data on Sexual and Gender Minorities

Written by: The DHS Program

12 Apr, 2023

In response to interest from country-level stakeholders around the inclusion of sexual and gender minorities in DHS surveys, The DHS Program has been documenting the experiences of surveys that have included adaptations to account for and measure topics related to gender and sexual minorities. On March 28, 2023, The DHS Program held a webinar to […]


The DHS Program API: A Cornerstone of Inclusion

Written by: Blue Raster

29 Mar, 2023

What is an Application Programming Interface (API)?   An Application Programming Interface (API) is a way for computers to communicate with each other by providing a common set of language for connecting systems. The DHS Program Indicator Data API simplifies access to the robust database of 35+ years of DHS Program data from 90+ countries. How […]


International Women’s Day 2023

Written by: The DHS Program

08 Mar, 2023

The DHS Program collects data for Sustainable Development Goal #5 to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.   The theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is “Embrace Equality.” According to the UN, gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. There […]


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.