DHS in the News

Journalists worldwide write about The DHS Program results. The dissemination of DHS, SPA and HIV data is often widely covered by media in survey countries, but journalists also use The DHS Program data throughout the year as background information for their stories, or to compare health and development indicators across countries. These data are also used by journalists in the United States and other developed countries, as it is considered the gold standard of population, health and nutrition data. Below are some examples of recent news coverage. Please note: The links below are to websites outside The DHS Program.

Aug 04, 2020
No link identified between COVID-19 and breastfeeding

SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT NEWS AGENCY (South Africa)

"...The 2016 Demographic Health Survey South Africa has an estimated  27.4% (1 in 4 children) under the age of five being stunted, or low height for age and 3% wasted or low weight for height.  Stunting is a result of chronic undernutrition. Stunting during the first two years of life is particularly damaging and may be irreversible..."

https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/no-link-identified-between-covid-19-and-breastfeeding
Jul 30, 2020
Help stop the silent pandemic - Philippine hotlines to call for domestic violence victims during lockdown

THE PHILIPPINE STAR (Manila, Philippines)

"...Institutions like the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) have sounded the alarm on the rising incidences of domestic violence during the pandemic, especially in a country like the Philippines where three out of 20 women and girls aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, one out of 20 has suffered from sexual violence, and one out of 4 married Filipinas has experienced spousal violence (based on the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey)..."

https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/health-and-family/2020/07/30/2031838/help-stop-silent-pandemic-philippine-hotlines-call-domestic-violence-victims-during-lockdown
Jul 29, 2020
Pandemic to double deaths from malaria says Fed Govt

Moses Emorinken
THE NATION ONLINE (Nigeria)

"...It, however, revealed that malaria prevalence in the country has dropped from 42 per cent to 23 per cent, according to the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) report. Also, key indicators such as intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp), net use, seeking care during fever and use of the appropriate anti-malarial have improved..."

https://thenationonlineng.net/pandemic-to-double-deaths-from-malaria-says-fed-govt/
Jul 29, 2020
Ghana sustains prior gains in malaria prevention

GHANAWEB (Ghana)

"...Malaria prevalence according to microscopy among children age 6-59 months has declined from 27% in 2014 to 14% in 2019. Malaria prevalence is more than three times higher among rural children (20%) than urban children (6%). By region, malaria prevalence ranges from a low of 2% in Greater Accra region to a high of 27% in Western region. Overall, 4% of children in Ghana have low haemoglobin. The prevalence of low haemoglobin has decreased by half since 2014, from 8% to the current level..."

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Ghana-sustains-prior-gains-in-malaria-prevention-1019929
Jul 13, 2020
Liberia Maternal Health Services Under Stress Amidst COVID-19

DAILY OBSERVER (Liberia)

"...But the Liberia Demographic and Health Survey 2019-20 released in May this year, speaks of some improvements in the country’s health data as about 80 percent of births occurred at health facilities; and 87 percent of women had four or more prenatal care visits..."

https://www.liberianobserver.com/news/liberias-maternal-health-services-under-stress-amidst-covid-19/