Demographic and Health Survey 2000
Namibia, 2000
Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)
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Identification
Title
Demographic and Health Survey 2000
Countries
| Name | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Namibia | NAM |
idno
NAM_2000_DHS_v01_M
Study notes
The 2000 Namibia Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) was implemented to assess the progress made in the health sector since the 1992 NDHS. It therefore focused on measuring achievements related to the same indicators as in 1992, but also included new aspects, e.g. HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, the 2000 NDHS was designed to obtain reliable data for all 13 administrative regions, which had not been established at the time of the 1992 NDHS. In addition, data for the four MOHSS Regional Directorates are included, which provide comparison to the 1992 NDHS results at the sub-national level.
A nationally representative sample of 6,755 women age 15-49 and a sub-sample of about 2,954 men age 15-59 were interviewed in the 2000 NDHS. Twenty mobile teams conducted the interviews from late September to mid-December 2000.
The primary objective of the 2000 NDHS was to provide up-to-date information on fertility and mortality, family planning, fertility preferences, maternal and child health, and knowledge and behaviour regarding HIV/AIDS. The 2000 NDHS was patterned after the 1992 NDHS so as to maximise the ability to measure trends on similar indicators between 1992 and 2000. The ultimate intent is to use this information to evaluate existing programmes and design new strategies in order to ensure delivery of health and social welfare services to the population in a cost effective and efficient manner.
MAIN RESULTS
- Household Characteristics : As part of the 2000 NDHS, households were assessed as to the availability of various amenities. The survey found that 79 percent of households have access to safe drinking water, compared to only 68 percent in 1992.Nationally, 45 percent of households have sanitary means of excreta disposal, compared to 40 percent in 1992. There are large disparities by residence, with 85 percent of households in urban areas having sanitary toilets, compared to only 19 percent of rural households. Overall, some 63 percent of households consume adequately iodised salt. The disparity between urban and rural areas is small at 68 percent and 60 percent, respectively.
- Fertility : The total fertility rate (TFR) for the three-year period before the survey is 4.2 births per woman. This represents a sharp decline from 5.4 births per woman for the 3-year period prior to 1992, a net reduction of 1.2 children or a 22 percent decline over the past eight years.
- Family planning : Some knowledge of family planning is nearly universal among Namibian women, 97 percent of whom have heard of at least one method. Knowledge of methods is only slightly higher among married women than all women.
- Fertility Preferences : Overall, close to half (48 percent) of all women age 15-49 either do not want any more children or have already been sterilised. Forty-five percent of women would like to have a child in the future; however, half of these women (22 percent) would like to wait two or more years before having another child.
- Maternal Health : Survey results show that the vast majority of pregnant women in Namibia (93 percent) receive antenatal care. More than 9 in 10 women receive antenatal care from a medical professional (91 percent), mostly from nurses and midwives (78 percent). Doctors provide 13 percent of antenatal care services, while traditional birth attendants provide only 2 percent of antenatal care.
- Child Health : According to the health passport and mothers' reports, 65 percent of children 12-23 month have received all the recommended vaccinations, and only 5 percent have not received any vaccinations. When compared to the 1992 NDHS, the percentage of children aged 12-23 months who had received all vaccinations has improved, from 58 percent in 1992 to 65 percent in 2000.
- HIV/AIDS : Awareness of AIDS is almost universal in Namibia, with 98 percent of women and over 99 percent of men saying they had heard of AIDS. It is very encouraging to note that large majorities of both women (81 percent) and men (87 percent) spontaneously mention condoms as a means of avoiding HIV.
In conclusion, the 2000 NDHS provides a valuable source of data on a wide variety of indicators, which permit the assessment of progress achieved over the past 8 years. In general, considerable improvements have occurred in the health sector. However, many challenges remain to further improve the health of the Namibian nation.
A nationally representative sample of 6,755 women age 15-49 and a sub-sample of about 2,954 men age 15-59 were interviewed in the 2000 NDHS. Twenty mobile teams conducted the interviews from late September to mid-December 2000.
The primary objective of the 2000 NDHS was to provide up-to-date information on fertility and mortality, family planning, fertility preferences, maternal and child health, and knowledge and behaviour regarding HIV/AIDS. The 2000 NDHS was patterned after the 1992 NDHS so as to maximise the ability to measure trends on similar indicators between 1992 and 2000. The ultimate intent is to use this information to evaluate existing programmes and design new strategies in order to ensure delivery of health and social welfare services to the population in a cost effective and efficient manner.
MAIN RESULTS
- Household Characteristics : As part of the 2000 NDHS, households were assessed as to the availability of various amenities. The survey found that 79 percent of households have access to safe drinking water, compared to only 68 percent in 1992.Nationally, 45 percent of households have sanitary means of excreta disposal, compared to 40 percent in 1992. There are large disparities by residence, with 85 percent of households in urban areas having sanitary toilets, compared to only 19 percent of rural households. Overall, some 63 percent of households consume adequately iodised salt. The disparity between urban and rural areas is small at 68 percent and 60 percent, respectively.
- Fertility : The total fertility rate (TFR) for the three-year period before the survey is 4.2 births per woman. This represents a sharp decline from 5.4 births per woman for the 3-year period prior to 1992, a net reduction of 1.2 children or a 22 percent decline over the past eight years.
- Family planning : Some knowledge of family planning is nearly universal among Namibian women, 97 percent of whom have heard of at least one method. Knowledge of methods is only slightly higher among married women than all women.
- Fertility Preferences : Overall, close to half (48 percent) of all women age 15-49 either do not want any more children or have already been sterilised. Forty-five percent of women would like to have a child in the future; however, half of these women (22 percent) would like to wait two or more years before having another child.
- Maternal Health : Survey results show that the vast majority of pregnant women in Namibia (93 percent) receive antenatal care. More than 9 in 10 women receive antenatal care from a medical professional (91 percent), mostly from nurses and midwives (78 percent). Doctors provide 13 percent of antenatal care services, while traditional birth attendants provide only 2 percent of antenatal care.
- Child Health : According to the health passport and mothers' reports, 65 percent of children 12-23 month have received all the recommended vaccinations, and only 5 percent have not received any vaccinations. When compared to the 1992 NDHS, the percentage of children aged 12-23 months who had received all vaccinations has improved, from 58 percent in 1992 to 65 percent in 2000.
- HIV/AIDS : Awareness of AIDS is almost universal in Namibia, with 98 percent of women and over 99 percent of men saying they had heard of AIDS. It is very encouraging to note that large majorities of both women (81 percent) and men (87 percent) spontaneously mention condoms as a means of avoiding HIV.
In conclusion, the 2000 NDHS provides a valuable source of data on a wide variety of indicators, which permit the assessment of progress achieved over the past 8 years. In general, considerable improvements have occurred in the health sector. However, many challenges remain to further improve the health of the Namibian nation.
Kind of data
Sample survey data
Unit of analysis
- Household
- Women age 15-49
- Men age 15-59
- Children under five
- Women age 15-49
- Men age 15-59
- Children under five
Coverage
Geographic coverage
The 2000 NDHS sample was designed to produce reliable estimates of most of the major survey variables for the country as whole; for urban and rural areas separately; and for each of the 13 regions.
Unit of analysis
- Household
- Women age 15-49
- Men age 15-59
- Children under five
- Women age 15-49
- Men age 15-59
- Children under five
Universe
The population covered by the 2000 NDHS is defined as the universe of all women age 15-49 in Namibia and all men age 15-54 living in the household.
Producers and sponsors
Producer(s)
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Central Bureau of Statistics of the National Planning Commission | Collaboration | |
| ORC Macro | Technical assistance |
Funding agencies
| Name | Abbreviation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Health - Namibia | Funding | |
| Health and Social Sector Support Programme | HSSSP | Funding |
| National Social Marketing Programme | NaSoMa | Funding |
| United Nations Children's Fund | UNICEF | Funding |
| United Nations Population Fund | UNFPA | Funding |
| French Cooperation | Funding | |
| European Union | EU | Funding |
| Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit | GTZ | Funding |
| World Health Organization | WHO | Funding |
| Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation | AECID | Funding |
Sampling
Sampling procedure
The 2000 NDHS sample was designed to produce reliable estimates of most of the major survey variables for the country as whole; for urban and rural areas separately; and for each of the 13 regions. The design called for a nationally representative probability sample of 6,500 women age 15-49 and a subsample of about 3,000 men age 15-59.
The 2000 NDHS sample was largely based on the Central Bureau of Statistics' master sample, drawn from the list of enumeration areas (EAs) created for the 1991 census. In 1997, new EAs were demarcated in Walvis Bay, which was not part of Namibia at the time of the 1991 census. The new EAs were incorporated into the 1991 census frame and the number of primary sampling units (PSUs) in the master sample was increased. A PSU corresponds to an entire EA or a group of EAs.
Due to considerable rural-urban migration, extensive peripheral development and intensive development of previously rural areas has taken place since 1991, particularly in Windhoek. At the time of the 2000 NDHS sample design, new EAs were being demarcated for the upcoming population census. A list of the new EAs in the urban areas of Caprivi, Hardap, Kunene, Omaheke, Oshana, and Otjozondjupa Regions was made available for the sample selection. Finally, in Khomas Region, a quick count of dwellings both in the old EAs within Windhoek and in the newly demarcated EAs in the informal settlement zones on the outskirts of Windhoek was implemented in order to get an up-to-date measure of size for the capital city.
The sampling frame for the 2000 NDHS was obtained by supplementing the master sample with the list of the new EAs in urban areas in selected regions and the updated EAs in Khomas Region. It should also be noted that the urban-rural classification of EAs was changed in the master sample so as to reflect the recent proclamation of municipalities, towns and villages. Some of the EAs were also shifted from one region to another following changes in regional boundaries.
The 2000 NDHS sample was selected in two stages. In the first stage, 260 PSUs (106 urban and 154 rural) were selected with probability proportional to the number of households within the PSU. Each selected PSU was divided into segments, one of which was retained in the sample. All households residing in the selected segment were included in the sample and all women age 15-49 listed in these households were eligible for individual interview. In one-half of the households, all men age 15-59 were also eligible.
The 2000 NDHS sample was largely based on the Central Bureau of Statistics' master sample, drawn from the list of enumeration areas (EAs) created for the 1991 census. In 1997, new EAs were demarcated in Walvis Bay, which was not part of Namibia at the time of the 1991 census. The new EAs were incorporated into the 1991 census frame and the number of primary sampling units (PSUs) in the master sample was increased. A PSU corresponds to an entire EA or a group of EAs.
Due to considerable rural-urban migration, extensive peripheral development and intensive development of previously rural areas has taken place since 1991, particularly in Windhoek. At the time of the 2000 NDHS sample design, new EAs were being demarcated for the upcoming population census. A list of the new EAs in the urban areas of Caprivi, Hardap, Kunene, Omaheke, Oshana, and Otjozondjupa Regions was made available for the sample selection. Finally, in Khomas Region, a quick count of dwellings both in the old EAs within Windhoek and in the newly demarcated EAs in the informal settlement zones on the outskirts of Windhoek was implemented in order to get an up-to-date measure of size for the capital city.
The sampling frame for the 2000 NDHS was obtained by supplementing the master sample with the list of the new EAs in urban areas in selected regions and the updated EAs in Khomas Region. It should also be noted that the urban-rural classification of EAs was changed in the master sample so as to reflect the recent proclamation of municipalities, towns and villages. Some of the EAs were also shifted from one region to another following changes in regional boundaries.
The 2000 NDHS sample was selected in two stages. In the first stage, 260 PSUs (106 urban and 154 rural) were selected with probability proportional to the number of households within the PSU. Each selected PSU was divided into segments, one of which was retained in the sample. All households residing in the selected segment were included in the sample and all women age 15-49 listed in these households were eligible for individual interview. In one-half of the households, all men age 15-59 were also eligible.
Response rate
In all, 6,849 households were selected for the 2000 NDHS, of which 6,594 were reported occupied at the time of the interview. The primary reasons for the difference were households that were away for an extended period of time and dwellings that were vacant.
Interviews were completed in 6,392 households or 97 percent of the occupied households. In the interviewed households, 7,308 women were identified as eligible for the individual interview, of which 6,755 (92 percent) were successfully interviewed. Of the 3,551 men identified as eligible in every second household, 2,954 (83 percent) were interviewed. The principal reason for non-responses among eligible women and men was the failure to find them at home despite repeated visits to the household.
Interviews were completed in 6,392 households or 97 percent of the occupied households. In the interviewed households, 7,308 women were identified as eligible for the individual interview, of which 6,755 (92 percent) were successfully interviewed. Of the 3,551 men identified as eligible in every second household, 2,954 (83 percent) were interviewed. The principal reason for non-responses among eligible women and men was the failure to find them at home despite repeated visits to the household.
Data Collection
Dates of collection
| Start | End | Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| 2000-09 | 2000-12 |
Mode of data collection
Face-to-face
Questionnaires
The 2000 NDHS involved three questionnaires: a) a household questionnaire, b) a questionnaire for individual women 15-49, and c) a questionnaire for individual men 15-59. These instruments were based on the model questionnaires developed for the international DHS program, as well as on the questionnaires used in the 1992 NDHS.
The questionnaires were developed in English and translated into six local languages-Afrikaans, Damara/Nama, Herero, Kwangali, Lozi, and Oshiwambo. People other than the initial translators did back translations into English with the goal of verifying the accuracy of the translations.
a) The household questionnaire was used to list all the usual members and visitors in the selected households. Some basic information was collected on the characteristics of each person listed, including his/her age, sex, education, and relationship to the head of the household. The main purpose of the household questionnaire was to identify women and men eligible for individual interview and children under five who were to be weighed and measured. In addition, information was collected about the dwelling itself, such as the source of water, type of toilet facilities, materials used to construct the house, ownership of various consumer goods, use of iodised salt, and household expenditures on health care.
b) The Woman's Questionnaire was used to collect information from all women aged 15-49 and covered the following topics:
- Background characteristics (age, education, religion, etc.);
- Reproductive history;
- Knowledge and use of contraceptive methods;
- Antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care (including tetanus toxoid testing);
- Breastfeeding and weaning practices;
- Child health and immunisation;
- Marriage and recent sexual activity;
- Fertility preferences;
- Knowledge of HIV/AIDS (condom use, number of partners, etc.);
- Maternal mortality;
- Husband's background and respondent's work.
c) In every second household, in addition to the women, all men age 15-59 were eligible to be interviewed with the Man's Questionnaire, which covered:
- Background characteristics (age, education, religion, etc.);
- Knowledge and use of contraceptive methods;
- Marriage and recent sexual activity;
- Fertility preferences;
- Knowledge of HIV/AIDS (condom use, number of partners, etc.);
- Respondent's work.
The survey instruments were pretested in three areas (one urban and two rural) outside the segments drawn in the sample. About 200 women and 200 men were interviewed in the pretest, the results of which were used to modify the survey instruments as necessary.
The questionnaires were developed in English and translated into six local languages-Afrikaans, Damara/Nama, Herero, Kwangali, Lozi, and Oshiwambo. People other than the initial translators did back translations into English with the goal of verifying the accuracy of the translations.
a) The household questionnaire was used to list all the usual members and visitors in the selected households. Some basic information was collected on the characteristics of each person listed, including his/her age, sex, education, and relationship to the head of the household. The main purpose of the household questionnaire was to identify women and men eligible for individual interview and children under five who were to be weighed and measured. In addition, information was collected about the dwelling itself, such as the source of water, type of toilet facilities, materials used to construct the house, ownership of various consumer goods, use of iodised salt, and household expenditures on health care.
b) The Woman's Questionnaire was used to collect information from all women aged 15-49 and covered the following topics:
- Background characteristics (age, education, religion, etc.);
- Reproductive history;
- Knowledge and use of contraceptive methods;
- Antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care (including tetanus toxoid testing);
- Breastfeeding and weaning practices;
- Child health and immunisation;
- Marriage and recent sexual activity;
- Fertility preferences;
- Knowledge of HIV/AIDS (condom use, number of partners, etc.);
- Maternal mortality;
- Husband's background and respondent's work.
c) In every second household, in addition to the women, all men age 15-59 were eligible to be interviewed with the Man's Questionnaire, which covered:
- Background characteristics (age, education, religion, etc.);
- Knowledge and use of contraceptive methods;
- Marriage and recent sexual activity;
- Fertility preferences;
- Knowledge of HIV/AIDS (condom use, number of partners, etc.);
- Respondent's work.
The survey instruments were pretested in three areas (one urban and two rural) outside the segments drawn in the sample. About 200 women and 200 men were interviewed in the pretest, the results of which were used to modify the survey instruments as necessary.
Data collector(s)
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) | ||
| Central Bureau of Statistics of the National Planning Commission |
Data Processing
Data editing
After field editing and correction in the field, all completed questionnaires were sent to the Multisdisciplinary Research Centre at the University of Namibia in Windhoek for logging in and supplementary editing prior to data entry. The processing operation consisted of office editing, coding of open-ended questions, initial data entry and subsequent re-entry (verification) of all questionnaires to ensure correct capturing of data, and editing of inconsistencies found by the computer programs. ORC Macro staff provided assistance in developing the programs for data entry, training of data processing personnel and editing in the Integrated System for Survey Analysis (ISSA) computer package. A team of two supervisors and 16 data entry operators, working in two six-hour shifts, completed data processing activities in February 2001.
Data Appraisal
Other forms of data appraisal
Nonsampling errors are the results of mistakes made in implementing data collection and data processing, such as failure to locate and interview the correct household, misunderstanding of the questions on the part of either the interviewer or the respondent, and data entry errors. Although numerous efforts were made during the implementation of the 2000 Namibia Demographic and Health Survey to minimise this type of error, nonsampling errors are impossible to avoid and difficult to evaluate statistically.
Data access
Access authorities
| Name | Affiliation | URI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEASURE DHS | ICF International | archive@measuredhs.com | www.measuredhs.com |
Citation requirements
Use of the dataset must be acknowledged using a citation which would include:
- the Identification of the Primary Investigator
- the title of the survey (including country, acronym and year of implementation)
- the survey reference number
- the source and date of download
- the Identification of the Primary Investigator
- the title of the survey (including country, acronym and year of implementation)
- the survey reference number
- the source and date of download
Disclaimer and copyrights
Disclaimer
The user of the data acknowledges that the original collector of the data, the authorized distributor of the data, and the relevant funding agency bear no responsibility for use of the data or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses.
contacts
Contact(s)
| Name | Affiliation | URI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Inquiries | info@measuredhs.com | www.measuredhs.com | |
| Data and Data Related Resources | archive@measuredhs.com | www.measuredhs.com | |
| Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) | doccentre@mhss.gov.na | http://www.healthnet.org.na/ |