MEASURE DHS+ assists developing countries worldwide in the collection and use of data to monitor and evaluate population, health, and nutrition programs. Demographic and health surveys provide information on family planning, maternal and child health, child survival, HIV/AIDS/STIs (sexually transmitted infections), and reproductive health. In addition, DHS+ can assist with improving on-going data collection efforts, such as health information systems, to efficiently meet information needs in a cost-effective manner

The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) program has a long tradition of providing data and analysis on the population, health, and nutrition of women and children in developing countries. For more than 15 years, DHS has been developing its reputation as a leader in the field of demographic and health research.

1972-1984	The need for comparative data on a global scale spurs the creation of the World Fertility Survey (WFS). The WFS conducts surveys of fertility, family planning, and infant and child mortality in more than 60 countries.
1977-1985	Contraceptive Prevalence Surveys (CPS), a more focused survey program, is designed to quickly provide basic indicators on family planning and fertility.
1984-1999	The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) program is established at The Institute for Resource Development, Inc. (IRD), a subsidiary of the Westinghouse Electric Company. The DHS combines the qualities of the WFS and the CPS and adds important questions on maternal and child health and nutrition. DHS I (1984-1989) DHS II (1988-1993) DHS III (1992-1999)
1989	The Institute for Resource Development, Inc. (IRD) is acquired by Macro International Inc.
1997-Present	DHS changes its name to DHS+ to reflect a new mandate under the MEASURE program. MEASURE DHS+ incorporates traditional DHS features with expanded content on maternal and child health.

To date, the DHS+ program has provided technical assistance for more than 100 surveys in Africa, Asia, the Near East, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

The U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Bureau for Global Programs, Field Support and Research, Center for Population, Health and Nutrition (PHN Center) supports a 10-year results package entitled Monitoring and Evaluation to ASsess and Use REsults (MEASURE). The strategic objective of MEASURE is to improve and institutionalize the collection and utilization of data by host countries for program monitoring and evaluation of and for policy development decisions.

MEASURE activities support family planning, reproductive health, maternal health, child survival, and HIV/AIDS/STI control/prevention through data collection, analysis, and evaluation designed to improve program performance and to better understand program impact in these areas.

As a key participant in this new MEASURE program, DHS+ is specifically charged with the task of collecting and analyzing reliable demographic and health data for regional and national family planning and health programs. The DHS+ approach to data collection emphasizes integration, coordination, and cost-effectiveness.

The Demographic and Health Surveys program is funded by USAID and implemented by Macro International Inc.

MEASURE DHS+ seeks to increase the utilization of population, health, and nutrition data for the monitoring and evaluation of programs. This is achieved through:

• building data collection systems in developing countries through formal and on-the-job training in research design and implementation, sampling, data processing, analysis, and dissemination;
• integrating data collection and data processing with new technology, such as the use of global positioning system (GPS) units and computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) techniques;
• disseminating research results through awareness-raising seminars and audience-centered materials.

DHS+ provides decision-makers with information necessary to plan, monitor, and evaluate population, health, and nutrition programs. In this way, DHS+ plays a major role in furthering international understanding of global population and health trends.