The Lao PDR Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2006 is the third Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey undertaken by the Department of Statistics (Former NSC) of the Ministry of Planning and Investment in close collaboration with the Hygiene and Prevention Department of Ministry of Health. For the purposes of MICS3 a number of additional nutrition indicators were included, with the aim of strengthening the planning and management of the national nutrition programme. A separate National Nutrition Survey report has been produced to document the findings from the nutrition component of the survey. The 2006 Lao PDR Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey has as its primary objectives: • To provide up-to-date information for assessing the situation of children and women in the Lao PDR; • To furnish data needed for monitoring progress toward goals established in the Millennium Declaration, the goals of A World Fit For Children (WFFC), and other internationally agreed upon goals, as a basis for future action; • To contribute to the improvement of data and monitoring systems in the Lao PDR and to strengthen technical expertise in the design, implementation, and analysis of such systems. The 2006 Lao PDR MICS is a nationally representative sample survey which was conducted between March and June 2006. In the 5,894 households successfully interviewed nationally in the survey, 33,100 household members were listed. Of these, 16,467 were males and 16,633 were females. The average household size found in the survey was 5.6.
