The context of women"s health : results from the demographic and health surveys, 1994-2001

The findings are based on the results from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in 46 countries in five regions around the world: sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa/West Asia/Europe, Central Asia, South/Southeast Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Over the past 20 years, DHS surveys have been conducted in more than 70 countries around the world, and in some countries, two or more surveys have been conducted at intervals of three to six years. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided most of the funding for these surveys. Because of funding priorities, surveys are conducted in selected countries. Of the 46 countries included in this report, most are in sub-Saharan Africa (25), followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (8), South/Southeast Asia (6), North Africa/West Asia/Europe (4), and Central Asia. Since the data are not representative in all regions, this report can provide only limited comparisons within and across regions. The main purpose of this report is to provide a comparative update on key indicators that reflect the context of women"s health and nutrition in regions of the developing world. Policies and programs can benefit from the data to identify areas in need of intervention, to monitor progress, and to compare the status of indicators for countries in the same region. This report is also useful for advocacy, demonstrating the need for further investments to improve the context of women"s health. (Author abstract, modified)