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 2023
The Effect of Fertility Behavior on Child Survival: Evidence from the Demographic and Health Surveys, 2012–2022Reducing child mortality is a major public health concern.
Topics: Fertility and Fertility Preferences, Infant and Child Mortality
Apr 2020
Using Health Management Information Systems Data to Contextualize Survey-based Estimates of Fertility, Mortality, and Wasting..
Topics: Child Health and Development, Family Planning, Fertility and Fertility Preferences, Health facilities/SPA surveys, Infant and Child Mortality, Maternal Health, Maternal Mortality, Nutrition, Survey Methodology, Data Quality, Analysis
Sep 2018
The Effect of Interviewer Characteristics on Data Quality in DHS SurveysAs part of a continuous effort to maintain and improve the quality of data in DHS surveys, this report examines whether variation in 25 indicators of data quality, in 15 recent DHS surveys, can be attributed to interviewers and their characteristics.
Topics: Household and Respondent Characteristics, Infant and Child Mortality
Sep 2018
Thermal Care and Umbilical Cord Care Practices and Their Association with Newborn MortalityAlthough child mortality has decreased considerably in the last several decades, newborn mortality has declined less substantially and its share of all under-5 mortality consequently has grown.
Topics: Child Health and Development, Infant and Child Mortality
Aug 2018
The Association of Deforestation and Other Environmental Factors with Child Health and MortalityThis report uses data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean to study the associations between environmental variables and child health outcomes, including child mortality.
Topics: Anemia, Child Health and Development, Geographic Information, Infant and Child Mortality, Malaria, Nutrition
Aug 2017
Comparisons of DHS Estimates of Fertility and Mortality with Other EstimatesDHS surveys provide many indicators that are used for program planning and monitoring.
Topics: Fertility and Fertility Preferences, Infant and Child Mortality, Maternal Mortality
Aug 2016
Urban Child Poverty, Health, and Survival in Low- and Middle-Income CountriesThis report examines levels and trends in poverty, health status, and use of health services among children under age 5 living in large cities in low- and middle-income countries, and compares their health status and use of services to those of their other urban, rural, and non-poor counterparts.
Topics: Child Health and Development, Infant and Child Mortality, Nutrition, Wealth/Socioeconomics
Aug 2016
Levels and Trends in Newborn Care Service Availability and Readiness in Bangladesh, Haiti, Malawi, Senegal, and TanzaniaThis study examines levels and trends in two dimensions of newborn care quality—service availability and service readiness—in Bangladesh, Haiti, Malawi, Senegal, and Tanzania, the five USAID maternal and child health (MCH) priority countries with Service Provision Assessment (SPA) surveys conducted since 2011.
Topics: Infant and Child Mortality
Aug 2016
Geospatial Modeling of Child Mortality across 27 Countries in Sub-Saharan AfricaPreventable mortality of children has been targeted as one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for the 2015-30 period.
Topics: Geographic Information, Infant and Child Mortality
Sep 2015
Contraception Needed to Avoid High-Fertility-Risk Births, and Maternal and Child Deaths That Would Be AvertedThis report estimates the number of maternal and child deaths that could be averted by satisfying the unmet need for contraception based on four high-risk fertility behavior categories, i.
Topics: Family Planning, Fertility and Fertility Preferences, Infant and Child Mortality, Maternal Mortality