The days and weeks following childbirth are the postnatal period, a vulnerable phase in the lives of mothers and newborns. Postnatal care (PNC) refers to the care provided to the mother and newborn immediately after birth and during the first six weeks of life. DHS Program surveys collect information on three key components of PNC: […]
DHS Program data are collected so they can be used to guide programs and policies to improve health and well-being. In addition to making DHS Program data publicly available free of charge, The DHS Program also provides tools to help data users better understand, interpret, and use DHS Program data. The recently released Guide to […]
Since the beginning of 2022, The DHS Program has been celebrating USAID’s 50-year commitment to high-quality data collection, evidence-based decision making, and local country ownership of health and demographic information, first through the World Fertility Survey (WFS), 1972-1984, and since 1984 through The DHS Program. Throughout the year, we are proud to feature a selection […]
2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the World Fertility Survey (WFS). The World Fertility Survey program was established in 1972 with funding from USAID and the United Nations Population Fund. The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program was created in 1984 as a follow-on project to the WFS. To date, more than 400 surveys have been […]
2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the World Fertility Survey (WFS). Since the beginning of the year, we have been celebrating USAID’s commitment to high-quality data collection, evidence-based decision making, and host-country ownership by featuring a selection of 50 program managers, policy makers, journalists, researchers, and others from across the globe who use WFS and […]
DHS data users come from all over the world. Click on a marker on the map below to learn more about the first 10 featured data users. Lifelong user of WFS and DHS Program data Jacob A. Adetunji Current role: Deputy Director for Data (FP), Global Development Division, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation How I have […]
Every year, hundreds of papers are published using DHS Program data. Datasets for individual DHS surveys are available for download from The DHS Program website by completing a simple registration form. Researchers and students can also access the IPUMS DHS data collection to facilitate comparative analysis of DHS Program data. Harmonized across time and space, […]
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.