Journal Articles
Search our database of 1000's of peer-reviewed journal articles that feature DHS data.
Featured Studies
Featured research topics go beyond a single research paper and often include multiple publications and user-friendly summaries and dissemination materials.
The DHS Fellows Program
Researchers in DHS countries work with DHS analysts to design, analyze, and write a publishable paper.
DHS Analysis Blogs
Read more about our recent research, innovative methods, and success stories.
Research and Further Analysis

The DHS Program's in-house Research and Analysis team conducts rigorous, timely, and innovative mixed-methods research on topics related to global public health, demography, and social epidemiology. Our team also trains, mentors, and closely collaborates with fellow researchers and stakeholders who are driven to utilize DHS Program surveys and other survey data to inform programs and policies in various countries and contexts.
Visit the publications search for a full list of publications. Also, go to the journal articles search for a full list of published journal artilcles that feature The DHS Program data.
DHS Research Reports
Sep 2022
Equity in Effective Coverage of Antenatal and Sick Child CareCountries are increasingly using measures of effective coverage to evaluate the performance of their health care system.
Topics: Child Health and Development, Health facilities/SPA surveys
Sep 2022
The Relationship between Digital Access and Use and Health Outcomes: Evidence from Demographic and Health SurveysInformation and communication technologies (ICT) have become an integral part of people’s lives in most parts of the world, influencing politics, social interactions, economic systems and health for billions of people.
Topics: Adult Health Issues
Aug 2022
Urban Poverty and Child Health Indicators in Six African Countries with DHS DataThere has been a rapid growth in urban areas, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Topics: Child Health and Development, Nutrition, Wealth/Socioeconomics
Aug 2022
Collective Gender and Fertility Norms and Modern Contraceptive UseEvidence shows that collective fertility and gender norms affect the use of contraceptives, especially women’s use of modern contraception.
Topics: Family Planning, Fertility and Fertility Preferences, Gender
Aug 2022
Modeling Interviewer Effects in DHS SurveysA previous DHS methodological report (MR24) examined the effects of interviewer characteristics on data quality in DHS surveys.
Topics: Survey Methodology, Data Quality, Analysis
Jun 2022
Patterns of Reproductive Health among Women with DisabilitiesWomen with disabilities may experience disproportionately high unmet need for sexual and reproductive health services and face excessive barriers to accessing these services.
Topics: Disability
May 2022
Profile and Correlates of Persons Living with DisabilityIt is estimated that approximately 15% of the global population live with a disability and this can vary greatly by country and by population subgroups.
Topics: Disability, Domestic Violence, Wealth/Socioeconomics
Sep 2021
Guidance and Recommendations for the Use of Indicator Estimates at Subnational Administrative Level 2The Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) are designed to provide reliable estimates of survey indicators primarily at the national level, as well as the first subnational administrative level.
Topics: Geographic Information
Sep 2021
Spatial Modeling for Subnational Administrative Level 2 Small-Area EstimationSubnational estimates of the health and demographic indicators recorded in the Demographic and Health Surveys Program are of great importance for prioritizing resources and assessing if target levels for indicators are being attained.
Topics: Geographic Information
Sep 2021
Supplementary Appendices: Supplementary Information for Spatial Modeling for Subnational Administrative Level 2 Small-Area EstimationSpatial Analysis combines the detailed geographic data collected in the DHS surveys with other DHS or 3rd party data to provide geographic analysis of key demographic and health topics..
Topics: Geographic Information