Islamabad, August 9, 2006: Parliamentary
Secretary, Donya Aziz and Federal Secretary Ministry
of Population Welfare, Mr. Shahzado Sheikh, today
announced the implementation of a $2.75 million Demographic
and Health Survey (DHS) of Pakistani households on
maternal and child health, fertility, and care for
pregnant women. The study is being funded by the U.S.
Agency for International Development and will be conducted
by the National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS),
the research arm of the Ministry of Population Welfare.
The objective of the DHS will be to produce reliable
estimates on key health and demographic indicators
in Pakistan, including causes of maternal mortality,
the percentage of births attended by skilled medical
providers, childhood immunizations, data on infant
and child sickness and deaths, information on fertility
levels and family planning usage.
Ten thousand households will be questioned for the
PDHS primary questionnaire. One hundred thousand households
will be questioned for the maternal mortality component
of the study: 44,000 in Punjab, 26,000 in Sindh, 18,000
in NWFP, 10,000 in Balochistan and 2,000 in FATA.
The sample has been selected using the 1998 population
census frame by the Federal Bureau of Statistics.
The information from this benchmark survey will be
used to evaluate the effectiveness of health programs
and describe the health status of Pakistanis. The
survey will also be instrumental in identifying new
directions for health policies in national and provincial
health programs.
“Having up to date knowledge of demographic
change and health status is essential,” said
USAID Mission Director Jonathan Addleton. “The
survey findings serve as an important tool to assess
progress and highlight some of the health challenges
facing the population, especially among Pakistani
women and children. This survey is an important element
of the $1.5 billion in development assistance that
USAID is providing to Pakistan over the next five
years to improve education, health, governance and
economic growth.”
In her speech to launch the survey, Ms. Donya Aziz
said, “In order to improve population welfare
and health services to Pakistanis, you need to know
the current demographic and
health situation. This survey will be a vital tool
in the design of our future population and health
policies and programs, particularly those that improve
the health of mothers and their children.”
The last Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey was
carried out in 1990-91.
A three-week training of surveyors will precede field
work that begins in September. The survey should take
up to six months to complete. The preliminary report
on its findings will be made in June, 2007.
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