Demographic and health household survey in Afghanistan : Wardak Province

Three hundred and ten households were surveyed for which 98% were within 2 km of a health facility. Women in the childbearing age group were significantly more prone to illness than other age groups. Infectious diseases led the morbidity list; acute respiratory infection and acute diarrhea were high. Hospitals and clinics were the most frequently used source of medical care; private doctors and pharmacies were the most expensive source of care. Of the women who had delivered in the past year, only one-third had sought prenatal care. Of the children under five, 60% had had no supplemental food or fluids by 6 months. The report contains 12 tables and 19 figures of survey results. The study provided that household surveys can be conducted in Afghanistan by a project based in Pakistan, and that selected Basic Health Workers can be used as surveyors if properly trained and supervised. (Author abstract, from PN-ABR-487)