WHAT IS GENDER?

Gender is a socially constructed derivative of sex and encompasses the different roles, rights, expectations, and obligations that culture and society attach to men and women. These different roles and rights translate into women's unequal access and control over knowledge and resources.

WHY IS GENDER A FOCUS AREA OF DHS?

Gender inequality and gender-based violence are violations of the human rights of women and have significant public health consequences, including effects on:

• Maternal health
• Unwanted fertility and contraceptive use
• The spread of HIV and other STIs
• Infant, child, and maternal mortality, and
• Children’s access to immunization and other health care.

Disempowerment of women and gender-based violence have significant economic costs, including low educational attainment, loss of women's labor hours, and increased health-care costs, among others.

Gender data are needed to:

• Understand the context and correlates of demographic, health, and nutrition outcomes
• Monitor countries' progress toward MDG goals and compliance with international agreements
• Better understand the roles and responsibilities of women and men in achieving desired demographic, health, and nutrirional outcomes

WHAT DOES DHS DO IN THE GENDER AREA?

Collects gender data with the core DHS questionnaires and special questionnaire modules.

Provides gender indicators in its country reports and on its website.

Disseminates gender data through national seminars, gender workshops, special outreach publications, and other activities.

Conducts research on gender topics and gender analyses of demographic and health data. The research is published in special DHS reports and as journal and book articles.

Works with gender groups to meet their data needs.

WHAT GENDER DATA ARE AVAILABLE IN DHS SURVEYS?

Gender data available in most DHS countries include data on gender differentials in educational attainment, age at marriage, and age at first sex.

Women's empowerment data available in most DHS countries include questions on participation in household decisionmaking, employment, control over earnings, attitudes toward wife beating, and sexual autonomy LEARN MORE>>

Gender data available in selected countries:

• Domestic violence data usually collected using the DHS Domestic Violence module including data relating to women’s experience of physical, emotional, and sexual violence. In some countries, similar data are also collected for men.
• Additional data collected using the DHS Women’s Status module, including data on spouse selection and control over assets and resources.
• Data on female genital cutting collected using the DHS Female Genital Cutting module including data on prevalence, knowledge, and opinions about FGC. LEARN MORE>>

HOW CAN THESE DATA BE USED TO INFORM PROGRAMS AND POLICIES?

• Measure progress in equality in education
• Identify vulnerable regions for program intervention
• Monitor program effectiveness
• Measure changes in community attitudes
• Focus advocacy efforts on research-based decisions
• Justify programs in women's education and literacy
• Monitor progress towards the elimination of violence against women