OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the public health literature to assess trends in the use of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data for research from 1984 to 2010 and to describe the relationship between data availability and data utilization. METHODS: The MEASURE DHS web site was searched for information on all population-based surveys completed under the DHS project between 1984 and 2010. The information collected included the country, type of survey, survey design, fieldwork period and certain special features, such as inclusion of biomarkers. A search of PubMed was also conducted to identify peer-reviewed articles published during 2010 that analysed DHS data and included an English-language abstract. Trends in data availability and in the use of DHS data for research were assessed through descriptive, graphical and bivariate linear regression analyses. FINDINGS: In total, 236 household surveys under the DHS project were completed across 84 countries during 2010. The number of surveys per year has remained constant, although the scope of the survey questions has expanded. The inclusion criteria were met by 1117 peer-reviewed publications. The number of publications has increased progressively over the last quarter century, with an average annual increment of 4.3 (95% confidence interval, CI: 3.2-5.3) publications. Trends in the number of peer-reviewed publications based on the use of DHS data were highly correlated with trends in funding for health by the Government of the United States of America and globally. CONCLUSION: Published peer-reviewed articles analysing DHS data, which have increased progressively in number over the last quarter century, have made a substantial contribution to the public health evidence base in developing countries.
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the public health literature to assess trends in the use of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data for research from 1984 to 2010 and to describe the relationship between data availability and data utilization. METHODS: The MEASURE DHS web site was searched for information on all population-based surveys completed under the DHS project between 1984 and 2010. The information collected included the country, type of survey, survey design, fieldwork period and certain special features, such as inclusion of biomarkers. A search of PubMed was also conducted to identify peer-reviewed articles published during 2010 that analysed DHS data and included an English-language abstract. Trends in data availability and in the use of DHS data for research were assessed through descriptive, graphical and bivariate linear regression analyses. FINDINGS: In total, 236 household surveys under the DHS project were completed across 84 countries during 2010. The number of surveys per year has remained constant, although the scope of the survey questions has expanded. The inclusion criteria were met by 1117 peer-reviewed publications. The number of publications has increased progressively over the last quarter century, with an average annual increment of 4.3 (95% confidence interval, CI: 3.2-5.3) publications. Trends in the number of peer-reviewed publications based on the use of DHS data were highly correlated with trends in funding for health by the Government of the United States of America and globally. CONCLUSION: Published peer-reviewed articles analysing DHS data, which have increased progressively in number over the last quarter century, have made a substantial contribution to the public health evidence base in developing countries.
Authors: Margaret C Hogan; Kyle J Foreman; Mohsen Naghavi; Stephanie Y Ahn; Mengru Wang; Susanna M Makela; Alan D Lopez; Rafael Lozano; Christopher J L Murray Journal: Lancet Date: 2010-04-09 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Julie Knoll Rajaratnam; Jake R Marcus; Alison Levin-Rector; Andrew N Chalupka; Haidong Wang; Laura Dwyer; Megan Costa; Alan D Lopez; Christopher J L Murray Journal: Lancet Date: 2010-04-29 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Julie Knoll Rajaratnam; Jake R Marcus; Abraham D Flaxman; Haidong Wang; Alison Levin-Rector; Laura Dwyer; Megan Costa; Alan D Lopez; Christopher J L Murray Journal: Lancet Date: 2010-05-27 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Nirmala Ravishankar; Paul Gubbins; Rebecca J Cooley; Katherine Leach-Kemon; Catherine M Michaud; Dean T Jamison; Christopher J L Murray Journal: Lancet Date: 2009-06-20 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Abdul-Aziz Seidu; Edward Kwabena Ameyaw; Francis Sambah; Linus Baatiema; Joseph Kojo Oduro; Eugene Budu; Francis Appiah; Bright Opoku Ahinkorah Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-06-04 Impact factor: 4.135
Authors: Carine Van Malderen; Irene Ogali; Anne Khasakhala; Stephen N Muchiri; Corey Sparks; Herman Van Oyen; Niko Speybroeck Journal: Int J Equity Health Date: 2013-01-07