DHS - 2007
Demographic Health Survey - 2007
The Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office (EPPSO) just completed a Demographic and Health Survey in late June of this year. The survey covered over 1,200 households in eight atolls around the Marshall Islands.
RMI was part of a pilot project with Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Nauru because this type of survey (DHS) has only been attempted in the larger Pacific Island Countries (Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Fiji). Funding for this project was provided by the Asian Development Bank, AusAid and NZAid with technical assistance from Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The survey dealt with various aspects of men’s and women’s health as well as household questions. Areas covered included reproductive health, family planning, general health, health histories of families, environmental health (water and sanitation) and domestic violence.
With the enumeration and data entry completed, EPPSO is now awaiting final editing and tabulations being currently carried out by Macro, the contracted Developers of the DHS. Analysis and report writing of the household and demographic results are expected to commence 6th of November 2007 and completed by the end of November. Two consultants from the SPC will be coming to assist EPPSO staff. The Health information will be analyzed and reported on early next year with assistance from UNFPA. The final report and analysis of the DHS will be completed by March/April of next year, 2008.
Upon completion of the analysis and report writing of the results, the RMI should have the most extensive and detailed health information about the general health of the people and the nation than ever before and hopefully we will be able to use the results and findings to improve existing programs and look at the need to establishing new programs/service provider relationships with non-governmental organizations for health care and social services delivery in the future.