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.

Apr 29, 2020
Use of the Demographic and Health Survey framework as a population surveillance strategy for COVID-19

SV Subramaniam and KS James (The Lancet Global Health Correspondence)

"...In the absence of universal testing, a random-sample-based population surveillance framework is urgently needed. We propose using the well established Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) framework as a solution to ascertain the true prevalence of COVID-19..."

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X%2820%2930213-8/fulltext#%20
Apr 16, 2020
4.6 million Nepalis are food-insecure and 10 percent have severe need

Shree Ram Subedi (My Republica, Nepal)

"...and 10 percent severely food-insecure, according the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey. Overall, households in rural areas —where food prices tend to be higher—are more likely to be food-insecure than people living in urban areas, according to the survey..."

https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/4-6-million-nepalis-are-food-insecure-and-10-have-severe-need/
Mar 22, 2020
Without clean water, fighting diseases is a pipe dream

KumKum Dasgupta
Hindustan Times (India)

...The enumerators could find a designated place for washing hands in about 97% of households surveyed, but not all of them with adequate cleaning facilities. Water was not available in 14% of these households at the place where hands were washed. In urban areas, the share of such households was only 6% compared to 18% in rural areas. To be sure, among the households that had water, about 19% had no cleaning agent such as soap, ash, mud or sand...

https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/without-clean-water-fighting-diseases-is-a-pipe-dream/story-6HeqrUnk2uCMtNy2MTNHiK.html
Mar 17, 2020
Addressing Stunting Through Exclusive Breastfeeding

Patience Ivie Ihejirika (Leadership Nigeria)

"...Also, the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS-2018) describes stunting, or low height-for-age, as a sign of chronic under-nutrition that reflects failure to receive adequate nutrition over a long period of time. The survey outlines the most direct causes of stunting as inadequate nutrition (not eating enough or eating foods that lack growth-promoting nutrients) and recurrent infections or chronic diseases that cause poor nutrient intake and absorption..."

https://leadership.ng/2020/03/17/addressing-stunting-through-exclusive-breastfeeding/
Mar 08, 2020
Report: Building alliances for gender equality

Dr. Tara Patricia Cookson, Dr. Julia Zulver, Dr. Lorena Fuentes, and Dr. Melissa Langworthy
LADYSMITH (Seattle, Washington, USA)

"...They have begun using DHS data on mortality and access to care, and layering this with rainfall data, elevation data, land-use data, time-use data, and Open Street Maps data that show all foot trails in the district. This mapping reveals barriers to care in a much more precise manner than would be possible with GPS data alone..."

https://ladysmithcollective.com/report-building-alliances-for-gender-equality/