Anatomy of a Global Health Survey

Abstract

The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program collects some of the most widely used global health data. Since 1984, this USAID flagship program carries out dozens of national surveys each year all over the world. The surveys, representing countries and their regions, capture population-level data on a wide range of demographic indicators, determine the prevalence of disease, and implement optional country-specific “modules.” Surveys occur in partnership with “implementing agencies” like ministries of health or statistics. The result is a comprehensive data set and country report that drives the strategic priorities and programmatic decisions of governments, international organizations, and NGOs in more than 90 different nations. In this article, I explain the process for producing these surveys from an anthropologist’s perspective. Language, cultural awareness, and regional expertise are skills that can contribute to better data quality and a successful survey.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

In this article I discuss working with a U.S. government program that conducts international health research. The cultural, language, and teaching skills that anthropologists possess are useful in these settings. I share what happens behind the scenes and why other social scientists might be interested in this work. It involves critical thinking, creative problem-solving and exposure to new places, people and ideas. I explain how the program works, what type of data it collects, and its use in the real world. Research results are published and available for free as statistical data sets and government reports. Anthropologists add value to global health projects. Opportunities to collaborate with other experts and scientists broaden and sharpen our own research questions, methods and theories.

Keywords:

• global health
• The DHS Program
• survey research

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joel Christian Reed

Joel Christian Reed obtained a PhD in medical anthropology from Michigan State University and a master’s in public health and applied anthropology from the University of South Florida. Interests include global health, chronic illness, and human rights. He was in Peace Corps/Zambia, Crisis Corp/Zambia, and MSF/Tanzania. He is a Fulbright Fellow with 15+ years of fieldwork and research experience. His master’s degree research with the CDC’s Global AIDS Program was based in South Africa. He has implemented DHS surveys on malaria and nutrition in multiple African countries. He is currently a writer, editor and research consultant. He is the author of “Landscapes of Activism: Civil Society, HIV and AIDS Care in Northern Mozambique” (Rutgers).