The DHS Program

Calverton, MD. A new MACRO International/MEASURE DHS Comparative Report based on survey data from 22 developing countries, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, finds substantial differences in the extent of HIV infection according to individual social and economic characteristics. Overall, HIV prevalence is higher among people who have more education and with more household wealth.

Majuro, Marshall Islands. This information is essential for informed policy decisions, planning, monitoring, and evaluation of programs on health in general and reproductive health in particular at both the national level as well as in the urban and rural areas. A long-term objective of the survey is to strengthen the technical capacity of government organizations to plan, conduct, process, and analyze data from complex national population and health surveys.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Almost one in five (18 percent) children under age 5 in Tanzania has malaria according to the recently released 2007-08 Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey (THMIS). Malaria is one of the largest killers of children in Tanzania and also compromises the health of pregnant women. Prevention practices are increasing throughout Tanzania, the report shows, but more significant efforts are needed to reduce the burden of malaria nationwide.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Fewer men are HIV-positive now than four years ago according to the just released 2007-08 Tanzania Malaria and HIV/AIDS Indicator Survey (THMIS). Currently 4.6% of men are HIV-positive compared to 6.3% reported in the 2003-04 Tanzania HIV/AIDS Indicator Survey. Over 8,700 women and 6,300 men were tested during the 2007-08 THMIS.

Calverton, MD – A family history of domestic violence and husbands’ alcohol use increase the risk that women will be abused by their husbands or partners, according to a new study from Demographic and Health surveys in 10 countries. The study found that women are significantly more likely to experience intimate partner violence if their husbands or partners got drunk very often compared to women whose partners never drank alcohol or never got drunk.