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Measuring Coverage in MNCH: Tracking Progress in Health for Women and Children Using DHS and MICS Household Surveys

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  • Attila Hancioglu
  • Fred Arnold

Abstract

In a PLOS Medicine Review, Attila Hancioglu and Fred Arnold describe the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and highlight the methodological principles and challenges involved in using household survey data to measure reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health intervention coverage.Household surveys are the primary data source of coverage indicators for children and women for most developing countries. Most of this information is generated by two global household survey programmes—the USAID-supported Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and the UNICEF-supported Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). In this review, we provide an overview of these two programmes, which cover a wide range of child and maternal health topics and provide estimates of many Millennium Development Goal indicators, as well as estimates of the indicators for the Countdown to 2015 initiative and the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women's and Children's Health. MICS and DHS collaborate closely and work through interagency processes to ensure that survey tools are harmonized and comparable as far as possible, but we highlight differences between DHS and MICS in the population covered and the reference periods used to measure coverage. These differences need to be considered when comparing estimates of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health indicators across countries and over time and we discuss the implications of these differences for coverage measurement. Finally, we discuss the need for survey planners and consumers of survey results to understand the strengths, limitations, and constraints of coverage measurements generated through household surveys, and address some technical issues surrounding sampling and quality control. We conclude that, although much effort has been made to improve coverage measurement in household surveys, continuing efforts are needed, including further research to improve and refine survey methods and analytical techniques.

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  • Attila Hancioglu & Fred Arnold, 2013. "Measuring Coverage in MNCH: Tracking Progress in Health for Women and Children Using DHS and MICS Household Surveys," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-8, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pmed00:1001391
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001391
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    2. Felicity T Cutts & Hector S Izurieta & Dale A Rhoda, 2013. "Measuring Coverage in MNCH: Design, Implementation, and Interpretation Challenges Associated with Tracking Vaccination Coverage Using Household Surveys," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-11, May.
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    4. Tabish Hazir & Khadija Begum & Shams el Arifeen & Amira M Khan & M Hamidul Huque & Narjis Kazmi & Sushmita Roy & Saleem Abbasi & Qazi Sadeq-ur Rahman & Evropi Theodoratou & Mahmuda Shayema Khorshed & , 2013. "Measuring Coverage in MNCH: A Prospective Validation Study in Pakistan and Bangladesh on Measuring Correct Treatment of Childhood Pneumonia," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-12, May.
    5. Allisyn C Moran & Kate Kerber & Deborah Sitrin & Tanya Guenther & Claudia S Morrissey & Holly Newby & Joy Fishel & P Stan Yoder & Zelee Hill & Joy E Lawn, 2013. "Measuring Coverage in MNCH: Indicators for Global Tracking of Newborn Care," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-9, May.
    6. Christa L Fischer Walker & Olivier Fontaine & Robert E Black, 2013. "Measuring Coverage in MNCH: Current Indicators for Measuring Coverage of Diarrhea Treatment Interventions and Opportunities for Improvement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-6, May.
    7. Li Liu & Mengying Li & Li Yang & Lirong Ju & Biqin Tan & Neff Walker & Jennifer Bryce & Harry Campbell & Robert E Black & Yan Guo, 2013. "Measuring Coverage in MNCH: A Validation Study Linking Population Survey Derived Coverage to Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Care Records in Rural China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(5), pages 1-10, May.
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    9. Aluísio J D Barros & Cesar G Victora, 2013. "Measuring Coverage in MNCH: Determining and Interpreting Inequalities in Coverage of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Interventions," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-9, May.
    10. Cynthia K Stanton & Barbara Rawlins & Mary Drake & Matias dos Anjos & David Cantor & Lidia Chongo & Leonardo Chavane & Maria da Luz Vaz & Jim Ricca, 2013. "Measuring Coverage in MNCH: Testing the Validity of Women's Self-Report of Key Maternal and Newborn Health Interventions during the Peripartum Period in Mozambique," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(5), pages 1-11, May.
    11. Elizabeth Hazel & Jennifer Requejo & Julia David & Jennifer Bryce, 2013. "Measuring Coverage in MNCH: Evaluation of Community-Based Treatment of Childhood Illnesses through Household Surveys," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-7, May.
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    1. Allisyn C Moran & Kate Kerber & Deborah Sitrin & Tanya Guenther & Claudia S Morrissey & Holly Newby & Joy Fishel & P Stan Yoder & Zelee Hill & Joy E Lawn, 2013. "Measuring Coverage in MNCH: Indicators for Global Tracking of Newborn Care," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-9, May.
    2. Christa L Fischer Walker & Olivier Fontaine & Robert E Black, 2013. "Measuring Coverage in MNCH: Current Indicators for Measuring Coverage of Diarrhea Treatment Interventions and Opportunities for Improvement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-6, May.

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