Duration:
January, 2011- September 2014

Implementing Partner:
ICF International

Funding Level:
$2,150,000

Key Partners:
The National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, The Ministry of Health

Activity Locations:
Nationwide

Activity Goal

Collect and disseminate national and regional population and health data to support national governments, civil society, researchers, and donor organizations develop and monitor programs and policies

Activity Major Focus Areas

Conduct a national survey; disseminate survey findings; strengthen local capacity in data interpretation and use

Activity Expected Impact and Accomplishments

The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) are nationally representative household surveys that provide data for a wide range of monitoring and impact evaluation indicators in population, health, and nutrition. DHS surveys are known worldwide as the gold standard for public health information and are used by national and international agencies.

The 2012 Kyrgyz Republic Demographic and Health Survey (2012 KgDHS), was carried by the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and with technical assistance from the USAID-funded DHS Program.  Funded by USAID with additional support from UNFPA for printing, the 2012 KgDHS collected data from a nationally representative sample of more than 8,000 households. In addition to gathering information on health and population, the KgDHS assessed height, weight, and anemia among women and children under five and blood pressure among women and men.

To ensure that these data will be widely used to improve national and local programs, The DHS Program and UNFPA printed and distributed about 2000 survey reports, fact sheets, and an Atlas in English, Russian, and Kyrgyz. The DHS Program also helped launch a national seminar in Bishkek in January 2014 and a second regional seminar in Osh in June 2014. The US Ambassador, Pamela Spratlen attended the Osh workshop along with the Mayor of Osh, the Deputy Minister of Health, and the Director of the Statistical Agency. 

In April 2014 a workshop on data processing for using CSPro software to analyze large datasets was held for 14 participants. A second workshop in June 2014 focused on increasing skills among print and electronic media journalists to report on public health issues and DHS results.  A third workshop included public health professionals from the National Statistical Committee, the Ministry of Health, and the Medical Information Center and focused on writing national policy briefs based on the Kg DHS results. In September 2014 policy briefs on domestic violence, child nutrition, adult nutrition, and blood pressure will be published in English, Russian, and Kyrgyz languages.