The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) says data collection for the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) begins this Friday.
By Kuda Pembere
The data collection to be conducted across Zimbabwe’s ten provinces for the latest and much awaited national Demographic and Heath Survey (DHS) ends in April next year.
This survey comes with new variables such as prevalence of anemia as well as Gender Based Violence amongst others.
“In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC), the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency will be conducting the 2023 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS).
“The survey aims to provide up-to-date information on fertility and mortality levels, education, employment, child care, prevalence of anaemia, maternal health care, family planning practices, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, and violence against women, among others,” said Zimstat in a statement.
Over 11 000 households are to be randomly selected, Zimstat said, with data collection focusing on women, men and children.
“The survey will be conducted on a nationally representative sample of 11,200 households randomly selected across the country’s ten provinces. Demographic and health data will be collected with respect to women, men and children,” said Zimstat.
Zimstat said the results are meant to guide Government in evaluating its policies and programmes tailored to improve the health of Zimbabweans.
“Statistics produced through the ZDHS are key to the Government as they inform the design and evaluation of policies and programmes aimed at improving the health and well-being of Zimbabweans while moving towards equitable growth in which no one and no place is left behind. Other stakeholders also use the statistics in their decision-making processes, programming and research, among other uses,” said Zimstat.
Zimstat also said a modular approach will be used in undertaking the 2023 ZDHS to which four questionnaires will be administered as follows:
“a) Household questionnaire Information collected through this questionnaire relates to households and their respective members. This includes age, sex, marital status, highest educational attainment, employment status, source of water, type of toilet facility, ownership of various durable goods and availability of electricity. In addition, salt used for cooking by the households will be tested for the presence of iodine.
“b) Questionnaire for women aged 15-49 The questionnaire is designed to collect information from women 15-49 years old. The information to be collected includes but is not limited to knowledge of contraception, maternal health care, breastfeeding and other feeding practices, vaccinations and childhood illnesses, children born in the last five years and domestic violence among other areas of interest to the survey.
“c) Questionnaire for men aged 15-54 The questionnaire will be administered to men in the 15-54 age group. Information will be collected with respect to reproduction, fertility preferences, marriage and sexual activity, knowledge of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, among others.
“d) Biomarker questionnaire In addition to data collected through interviews during the 2023 ZDHS, the nutrition status of individual respondents will be assessed through anaemia testing and anthropometric measurements with respect to height and weight. The anthropometric measurements will be taken from individuals in 50% of survey households and focus on children under 5 years, women 15-49 years, and men 15-54 years. The blood test will be performed on children 6-59 months old, women aged 15-49 and men aged 15-54,” said Zimstat.
Added Zimstat, “In view of the foregoing, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), is requesting maximum cooperation from members of households selected for the 2023 ZDHS across the provinces.
