The Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) is an important link in a chain of surveys carried out in Sri Lanka in the past decade or so. Having been designed as part of an international survey program and modelled on the lines of the well renowned World Fertility Survey (WFS) program, the DHS provides an exceptionally valuable source of data for the estimation of trends over time within Sri Lanka as well as for cross national comparison. The survey focussed primarily on fertility, contraception and child mortality as did WFS but. also measured several indicators of child health, particularly immunization coverage and nutrition status. The inclusion of health sector information has been welcome and fruitful, for improve- ment of nutrition status is a subject to which the Government of Sri Lanka has accorded high priority. The Sri Lanka Demographic and Health Survey has the following objectives: 1. To provide policymakers and administrators with current and accurate data on fertility, morbidity, family planning and selected indicators of health status which could be used for planning new strategies for the wellbeing of the population; etc. 2. To provide data which can be used to analyze trends over time. The SLDHS examines many of the same fertility, mortality, and health issues that were addressed in earlier surveys, most notably the SLWFS and the more recent SLCPS; and 3. To add to the international body of data which can be used for comparative studies.
