The BDHS, 2014 is the seventh DHS in Bangladesh, following the implemented DHS of 1993-94, 1996-97, 1999-2000, 2004, 2007, and 2011. It is conducted under the authority of the National Institute for Population Research and Training (NIPORT), which will oversee and coordinate the survey, as well as liaising with departments of the Government of Bangladesh. USAID will be the principal funding partner for the BDHS. ICF Macro, Inc is the USAID-designated implementing agency for the MEASURE DHS program, and it will provide technical support to NIPORT and other organizations involved in the BDHS survey. BDHS 2014 took place over a total of 14 months, from October 2014-December 2015.

 

Project Description: As with the prior surveys, the main objective of the BDHS 2014 is to provide information to address the monitoring and evaluation needs of health and family planning programs and to provide managers and policy makers involve in these programs with the information that they need to effectively plan and implement future interventions.

 

More specifically:

 

• collect data to calculate demographic rates, particularly the total fertility rate and under-five mortality rate;
• analyze the direct and indirect factors that determine the level and trends of fertility;
• measure the level of contraceptive knowledge and practice by method;
• collect data on childhood immunizations;
• assess the prevalence of diarrhea, acute respiratory infection (ARI) and fever among children under five and treatment patterns for these illnesses, particularly ARI;
• obtain basic measures of antenatal care and assistance at delivery and an expanded set of post natal care indicators;
• obtain data on infant feeding practices and child nutrition;
• collect data on knowledge and attitudes of women about HIV/AIDS;
• obtain anthropometric measurements (height and weight) of ever-married women age15-49 as well as children under age six.

 

Tasks carried out by Mitra and Associates:

 

Methodology (sample design & tools): Sampling experts from ICF in collaboration with NIPORT, Mitra and Associates and by support from the BBS has been designed the sample and oversee the selection of the final household sample. In order to achieve the BDHS objectives, a stratified national sample of around 18,000 households had been selected. All ever-married women of reproductive age (15-49) who are usual residents or spent the night before the survey in these households have interviewed in the BDHS. The sample is two-staged, stratified, non-self-weighting sample. Approximately 600 sample points is selected. Sample points is distributed equally among the seven divisions; roughly 30 households selected in each sample point.

 

Questionnaires: There are three questionnaires: a household questionnaire, an individual questionnaire for ever-married women age 15-49, and a community questionnaire. The first two instruments based on the model questionnaires developed for the international DHS program, adapted to the situation and needs in Bangladesh and taking into account the content of the instruments employed inprior DHS surveys in Bangladesh. Development of the questionnaires in English has done by NIPORT and ICF and Mitra.

 

Translation of Questionnaires and Preparation of Other Survey Manuals/Forms: Translate the English questionnaires into Bangla and arranging for back-translations from Bangla into English in order to verify the accuracy of the Bangla translation. Along with prepare Household listing forms; Interviewers’ and Supervisors’ Manuals; Interviewer and Supervisor Assignment Sheets for management of fieldwork.

 

Training: In household part there was 20 days training including the field practice, and in listing part it was 5 days.

 

Data collection & quality control: It may need approximately 4 months. Each supervisor (team leader) is responsible for the performance of his team. In addition, trainers as well as other senior project staff are spent time in the field to assure all activities are carried out as planned. 4 teams of quality control investigators is randomly selecting a certain number of sample points assigned to each team and is revisiting the sample points soon after the original interviewing has been completed. The teams revisits elected households to verify if, in fact, they have been interviewed and fill out a short schedule to check on the data that were collected (e.g., number of household members by age and sex, etc.). Finally, a set of field control tables being run periodically during fieldwork to check the data that are entered. Any problems that appear from review of these tables are discussed with the appropriate teams, and attempts are made to ensure that they do not persist.

 

Data processing: Questionnaires are logged in and supplementary editing prior to data entry. All data will be entered twice (100 percent verification) to resolve discrepancies through referral to the original questionnaire. Data entry and editing, and tabulation programs will be done by using CSPro software.

 

Client Reference: ICF Macro, Inc, 530 Gather Road, Suite 500, Rock Ville MD 20850.

 

Contact Person: Ms. Sri Poedjastoeti, Program Manager, Tel: +1 (301) 572-0384, Email: sri.poedjastoeti@icfi.com& Mr. S Omar Zobair, Subcontracts Administrator, Contracts Department, Tel: +1 (703) 225-2994, E-mail: omar.zobair@icfi.com