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
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
Jul 2021
Young Women's Empowerment and Fertility IntentionsFertility intentions among young women are important drivers of future fertility trends.
Topics: Family Planning, Youth
Aug 2020
Variations in Health Outcomes with Alternative Measures of Urbanicity, Using Demographic and Health Surveys 2013-18The literature has firmly established the link between urban/rural place of residence and health indicators, and the association of poor health outcomes and health services in rural areas.
Topics: Child Health and Development, Family Planning, Geographic Information, Maternal Health, Nutrition, Wealth/Socioeconomics
Aug 2020
Contraceptive Use, Method Mix, and Method Availability: A Multilevel AnalysisAccess to a range of contraceptives affords women greater opportunity to find a method that meets their unique reproductive needs, possibly leading to greater diversity in the method mix and increased contraceptive use at population levels.
Topics: Family Planning, Health facilities/SPA surveys
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 2019
Women's Contraceptive Profiles throughout the Life Course in Burundi and NepalThis study uses sequence and cluster analysis to identify profiles that characterize women’s dynamic contraceptive use and pregnancy experiences by using 5-year, retrospective, longitudinal data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) contraceptive calendars.
Topics: Family Planning, Fertility and Fertility Preferences, Survey Methodology, Data Quality, Analysis
Aug 2019
Regional Disparities in Fertility Preferences and Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern Methods across Levels of PovertyResearch has highlighted disparities in family planning outcomes by wealth and by region separately.
Topics: Family Planning, Fertility and Fertility Preferences
Sep 2018
Potential Implications of the Ghana and Nepal Follow-Up Studies for DHS Questionnaires and Fieldwork ProceduresRecent follow-up mixed-methods studies undertaken by The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program in Ghana and Nepal sought to better understand the reasons behind unmet need and barriers to contraceptive use.
Topics: Family Planning, Fertility and Fertility Preferences, Gender, Maternal Health
Sep 2018
Consistency of Reporting of Terminated Pregnancies in DHS CalendarsThis study examines the consistency of reporting of terminated pregnancies in DHS reproductive calendars.
Topics: Family Planning, Fertility and Fertility Preferences
Aug 2018
Absolute Poverty, Fertility Preferences, and Family Planning Use in FP2020 Focus CountriesBroad gains in contraceptive access and use have been made in low-income countries over the past decade while poverty has declined, but the trends have been uneven.
Topics: Family Planning, Fertility and Fertility Preferences, Wealth/Socioeconomics