MEASURE DHS collects data on various nutrition indicators for both women and children.

Infant and young child (IYCF) practices play an important role in determining the health and development of children. DHS surveys assess the breastfeeding status of infants, with special attention to exclusive breastfeeding, which is recommended for the first six months of life along with the complementary feeding of children 6-23 months with three key IYCF practices i.e., continued breastfeeding or feeding of milk or milk products (non-breastfed child) and feeding children solid foods the minimum number of times and minimum number of food groups according to WHO guidelines for age-appropriate feeding of the breastfed and non-breastfed child.

Nutritional status is a reflection of health as well as the level of a society's development, and malnutrition is one of the most critical health and development problems facing women and children in developing regions of the world. Demographic and Health Surveys collect height and weight measurements, allowing for an analysis of nutritional status (stunting, wasting and underweight) for children as well as underweight and overweight for women.

Micronutrient deficiencies are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality among women and children. MEASURE DHS examines correlates and determinants of malnutrition through standard survey results, including micronutrient deficiencies (vitamin A and anemia) and supplementation, and fortification of salt (iodized salt).

Anemia testing can also be carried out through Demographic and Health Surveys through a simple blood test. For more information, see Anemia.

Related Indicators

• Initial breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding status
• Median duration and frequency of breastfeeding
• Percentage of children breastfed six or more times
• Percentage of children 6-23 months who are fed according to three infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices
• Nutritional status by demographic and background characteristics
• Anthropometric indicators for women
• Antropometric indicators of maternal nutritional status
• Iodization of household salt
• Micronutrient intake among children and mothers
• Prevalence of anemia in children and women
• Prevalence of anemia in children by anemia status of mother

Related Publications

Nutrition Chart Books are available for:

• Senegal 2005
• Malawi 2004
• Cameroon 2004
• Mozambique 2003
• Madagascar 2003-04
• Burkina Faso 2003
• Ghana 2003
• Benin 2001
• Zambia 2001-02
• Mali 2001
• Eritrea 2002
• Uganda 2000-2001
• Malawi 2000
• Tanzania 1999
• Rwanda 2000
• Ethiopia 2000
• Zimbabwe 1999
• Burkina Faso 1998-99
• Guinea 1999

Final DHS reports: All DHS final reports contain information on breastfeeding practices and basic nutrition indicators.  For reports on anemia, visit Anemia.

Comparative Studies

• Nutritional Status of Children: Results from the Demographic and Health Surveys 1994 - 2001 (CR10)
• The Context of Women's Health: Results from the Demographic and Health Surveys, 1994-2001 (CR11)
• Children’s Nutritional Status (CS12)
• Maternal Nutritional Stauts (CS24)
• Breastfeeding and Complementary Infant Feeding/Postpartum Effects (CS30)

Qualitative Research Studies:

• Introducing Complementary Foods to Infants in Central Mali (QRS3)
• Complementary Feeding Practices in Kumasi, Ghana (QRS6)

Other Nutrition Reports

• Micronutrient Update 2007 (NUT2)
• Infant and Young Child Feeding Update, 2006 (NUT1)
• Micronutrient Update, 2002 (NUT0)

Other Documents

• Anemia Testing in Population-Based Surveys, 2000 (OD22)
• Anemia testing Manual for Population-Based Surveys (2000) (OD13)

Nutrition Fact Sheets

• East and Southern Africa Nutrition Fact Sheet (OF1)
• West and Central Africa Nutrition Fact Sheet (OF2)