Survey Process
Many steps are required to ensure that the data properly reflect the situations they intend to describe and that data are comparable across countries. MEASURE DHS has developed standard procedures, methodologies, and manuals to guide the survey process.

Questionnaires
standard model questionnaires have been developed, along with a written description of why certain questions or sections have been included.

Geographic Information System (GIS)
MEASURE DHS routinely collects geographic information in all surveyed countries.  Using GIS, researchers can link DHS data with routine health data, health facility locations, local infrastructure such as roads and rivers, and environmental conditions.

Biomarkers
Biomarkers are objective physical or biologic measures of health conditions. For years, DHS surveys have gathered data on height and weight to evaluate nutritional status of women and children.

DHS Toolkit
The standard Demographic and Health Surveys methodology documentation is also available in the Demographic and Health Surveys toolkit.  The toolkit provides working documents, organized by survey stage.