The 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) is the sixth survey of its kind conducted in Bangladesh. This survey was implemented through a collaborative effort of the National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT), ICF International (USA), and Mitra and Associates. The financial support for the survey was provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bangladesh.
The 2011 BDHS is a nationwide sample survey of men and women of reproductive age that provides information on childhood mortality levels; fertility preferences; use of family planning methods; and maternal, child, and newborn health. Included are breastfeeding practices; nutrition levels, including the presence of anemia and iodine deficiency; knowledge and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections; and community-level data on accessibility and availability of health and family planning services. The special feature of this survey is its provision of biomarker indices of adult male and female populations, which are instrumental in determining the increasing risk of noncommunicable diseases.
Members of the Technical Review Committee (TRC), consisting of experts from government, nongovernment, and international organizations as well as researchers and professionals working in the health, nutrition, and population sectors, contributed their expert opinion in various phases of the survey implementation. A Technical Working Group (TWG) was also formed with the representatives from NIPORT; ICDDR,B; USAID, Bangladesh; ICF International; and Mitra and Associates for designing the survey questionnaires and implementing the survey. I would like to put on record my sincere appreciation to TRC and TWG members for their efforts in different stages of the survey.
The preliminary results of the 2011 BDHS, with its key indicators, were released through a dissemination seminar in April 2012. This final report brings more comprehensive analysis of the survey results. Along with the key results, detailed findings and possible interpretations are presented. I hope this information will give a hand to the policymakers and program managers as they monitor and design programs and strategies for improving health and family planning services in the country. It is worth mentioning that this report is an outcome of contributions from professionals at NIPORT, NIPSOM, Mitra and Associates, Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, ICDDR,B, MEASURE Evaluation, Population Council, SMC, Save the Children, and Eminence. I would like to acknowledge with great appreciation the contributions of the individual authors for their contributions to 2011 BDHS final report.
I am deeply indebted and grateful to all the professionals of the Research Unit of NIPORT for the successful completion of the survey. I also extend my thanks to ICF International and Mitra and Associates for completing the task in time. USAID, Bangladesh, deserves special thanks for providing technical and financial support for the survey.
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