Journal Articles
Search our database of 1000's of peer-reviewed journal articles that feature DHS data.
Featured Studies
Featured research topics go beyond a single research paper and often include multiple publications and user-friendly summaries and dissemination materials.
The DHS Fellows Program
Researchers in DHS countries work with DHS analysts to design, analyze, and write a publishable paper.
DHS Analysis Blogs
Read more about our recent research, innovative methods, and success stories.
Research and Further Analysis
The DHS Program's in-house Research and Analysis team conducts rigorous, timely, and innovative mixed-methods research on topics related to global public health, demography, and social epidemiology. Our team also trains, mentors, and closely collaborates with fellow researchers and stakeholders who are driven to utilize DHS Program surveys and other survey data to inform programs and policies in various countries and contexts.
Visit the publications search for a full list of publications. Also, go to the journal articles search for a full list of published journal artilcles that feature The DHS Program data.
DHS Research Reports
Aug 2016
Urban Child Poverty, Health, and Survival in Low- and Middle-Income CountriesThis report examines levels and trends in poverty, health status, and use of health services among children under age 5 living in large cities in low- and middle-income countries, and compares their health status and use of services to those of their other urban, rural, and non-poor counterparts.
Topics: Child Health and Development, Infant and Child Mortality, Nutrition, Wealth/Socioeconomics
Aug 2016
Levels and Trends in Maternal and Child Health Disparities by Wealth and Region in Eleven Countries with DHS SurveysThis report describes recent levels and trends in 11 maternal and child health (MCH) indicators in 11 countries, using the two most recent DHS surveys from each country.
Topics: Child Health and Development, Family Planning, Maternal Health, Nutrition, Wealth/Socioeconomics
Sep 2015
An Assessment of the Quality of DHS Anthropometric Data, 2005-2014This methodological report examines the quality of anthropometric data from 52 DHS surveys conducted between 2005 and 2014.
Topics: Child Health and Development, Nutrition
Sep 2014
Potential Bias and Selectivity in Analyses of Children Born in the Past Five Years Using DHS DataThis paper investigates potential biases in analysis of data for only last-born children or non-last-born children instead of all children, and in the analysis of succeeding birth or pregnancy intervals, in both the five-year period preceding The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program surveys and for longer periods of time.
Topics: Child Health and Development, Infant and Child Mortality, Nutrition
Feb 2014
The Effects of Fertility Behavior on Child Survival and Child Nutritional Status: Evidence from the Demographic and Health Surveys, 2006 to 2012This study analyzes the effect of inter- pregnancy spacing, age at birth and birth order on child mortality and nutritional status, using multivariate methods.
Topics: Child Health and Development, Family Planning, Fertility and Fertility Preferences, Infant and Child Mortality, Nutrition
Jul 2011
Trends in Nutritional Status of Adult Women in Sub-Saharan AfricaThe study investigates long-term trends in nutritional status (height and BMI) of African women, using data from 70 DHS Surveys.
Topics: Nutrition
Dec 2008
An Assessment of the Quality of Data on Health and Nutrition in the DHS Surveys, 1993-2003The purpose of this methodological report is to provide an overview of the quality of the maternal and child health data collected during DHS III and MEASURE DHS+.
Topics: Child Health and Development, Maternal Health, Nutrition
Sep 2008
HIV and Nutrition among Women in Sub-Saharan AfricaIn the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-positive people will lose weight and eventually become wasted or severely underweight.
Topics: HIV/AIDS, Nutrition
Dec 2005
Nutritional Status of Children: Results from the Demographic and Health Surveys 1994 - 2001This report reviews the nutritional status of children under 3 years of age in 41 developing countries.
Topics: Nutrition
Dec 2005
The Context of Women's Health: Results from the Demographic and Health Surveys, 1994-2001This report describes the context of women’s health in developing countries by reporting on key indicators found in the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 46 countries in 5 regions around the world.
Topics: Nutrition