The 2019-20 Liberia Demographic and Health Survey (2019-20 LDHS) is a nationwide survey with a nationally representative sample of residential households. All women age 15-49 who are usual members of the selected households or who spent the night before the survey in the selected households were eligible for individual interviews. The primary objective of the 2019-20 LDHS is to provide up-to-date estimates of key demographic and health indicators necessary for program managers, policymakers, and implementers to monitor and evaluate the impact of existing policies and programs and to design new initiatives for health policies in Liberia. This survey is considered a key resource for the new sixth National Health Strategic Plan (NHSP) 2017-2021.
Specifically, the main objectives of the survey are:
- To collect high-quality data on fertility levels and preferences; contraceptive use; maternal and child health; neonatal, infant, and child mortality levels; maternal mortality; and other health issues relevant to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (e.g., gender, nutrition, awareness regarding HIV/AIDS)
- To provide information on availability of, access to, and use of mosquito nets as part of national malaria control programs
- To assess protection of children from violence and exploitation
- To provide information on other health issues, such as tobacco use, tuberculosis, and health insurance
- To obtain data on women’s empowerment, domestic violence, and female genital cutting
- To test household salt for the presence of iodine
- To obtain data on child feeding practices, including breastfeeding, and collect anthropometric measures to assess the nutritional status of children under age 5 and women age 15-49
- To conduct anemia testing of women age 15-49 and children age 6-59 months
- To measure HIV prevalence levels among men age 15-59 and women age 15-49
- To measure hepatitis B and C prevalence levels among men age 15-59 and women age 15-49
- To measure the seroprevalence of Ebola virus disease (EVD) antibodies among men age 15-59 and women age 15-49 and collect data on risk factors related to Ebola