The 2007 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) is a national sample survey designed to provide up-to-date information on background characteristics of the respondents, fertility levels, nuptiality, sexual activity, fertility preferences, awareness and use of family planning methods; breastfeeding practices; nutritional status of mothers and young children; early childhood mortality and maternal mortality; maternal and child health; and awareness, behaviour, and prevalence regarding HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. The target groups were men age 15-59 and women age 15-49 in randomly selected households across Zambia. Information about children age 0-5 was also collected, including weight and height. The survey collected blood samples for syphilis and HIV testing in order to determine national prevalence rates. While significantly expanded, the 2007 ZDHS is a follow-up to the 1992, 1996, and 2001-2002 ZDHS surveys and provides updated estimates of basic demographic and health indicators covered in the earlier surveys. The 2007 ZDHS is the second DHS that includes the collection of information on violence against women, and syphilis and HIV testing. In addition, data on malaria prevention and treatment were collected. The ZDHS was implemented by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Tropical Disease Research Centre (TDRC), and the Demography Division at the University of Zambia (UNZA) from April to October 2007. The TDRC provided technical support in the implementation of the syphilis and HIV testing. Macro International provided technical assistance as well as funding to the project through MEASURE DHS, a USAID-funded project providing support and technical assistance in the implementation of population and health surveys in countries worldwide. The main objective is to provide information on levels and trends in fertility, childhood mortality, use of family planning methods, and maternal and child health indicators including HIV/AIDS. This information is necessary for programme managers, policymakers, and implementers to monitor and evaluate the impact of existing programmes and to design new initiatives for health policies in Zambia. The primary objectives of the 2007 ZDHS project are: To collect up-to-date information on fertility, infant and child mortality, and family planning. To collect information on health-related matters such as breastfeeding, antenatal care, children’s immunisations, and childhood diseases. To assess the nutritional status of mothers and children. To support dissemination and utilization of the results in planning, managing, and improving family planning and health services in the country. To enhance the survey capabilities of the institutions involved in order to facilitate the implementation of surveys of this type in future. To document current epidemics of STIs and HIV/AIDS through use of specialized modules. For HIV/AIDS and syphilis in particular, the testing component of the 2007 Zambia DHS was undertaken to provide information to address the monitoring and evaluation needs of government and non-governmental organization programmes addressing HIV/AIDS and syphilis, and to provide programme managers and policy makers with the information that they need to effectively plan and implement future interventions. The overall objective of the survey was to collect high-quality and representative data on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding HIV/AIDS and other STIs, and on the prevalence of HIV and syphilis infection among women and men.
