OVERVIEW

In 2015, Afghanistan launched its first-ever nationwide effort to gather comprehensive demographic and health information on its citizens. The Demographic and Health Survey provides rigorous data on fertility levels, marriage rates, awareness and use of family planning methods, breastfeeding practices, nutritional status of mothers and young children, childhood and maternal health and mortality, as well as information on social indicators, such as domestic violence. The study was conducted across all 34 provinces of the country. Data collected provided the government of Afghanistan, development partners, policymakers, and non-governmental organizations with high-quality provincial and national-level data for use by researchers, policy makers, and the general public. Results are compiled according to international standards and, consequently, are easily comparable with results collected in other countries.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provides funding for the survey. USAID also provides direct guidance and technical support to the National Statistics and Information Authority and the Ministry of Public Health, the two Afghan agencies leading the survey.

ACTIVITIES

• Increase Afghanistan’s commitment to rigorous, evidence-based decision making: Support efforts to strengthen the government’s ability to conduct nationally representative surveys and increase analysis standards and use of hard, confirmable data to improve policies and programs
• Help the government of Afghanistan conduct future scientific studies: Develop methodology, adapt survey tools, train field staff, ensure data quality, collect and analyze data, and disseminate results
• Facilitate the effective dissemination of findings: Help the government of Afghanistan use the findings to assess the performance of non-governmental organizations contracted to deliver health services, support the development of Afghanistan’s Health National Strategic Plan with hard data, and help officials identify key health priorities

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• In 2016, released the final report of the first Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey in 2016
• Established the Steering Committee with representatives from Afghan ministries, United Nations agencies, the government of Afghanistan, and USAID to review the Afghanistan Services Provision Assessment (AfSPA) in 2018
• Field-tested all survey tools for AfSPA in Kabul to ensure reliability and validity in 2018
• Completed data collection in seven regions – Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, Jalalabad, Mazar, Kunduz and Gardez – for AfSPA in 2018
• Finalized and distributed the Key Indicator Report to partners and Afghan health stakeholders in 2019