When health data go dark: the importance of the DHS Program and imagining its future
We call for immediate action on multiple fronts. In the short term, universal access to existing data and survey materials should be restored, and surveys which were planned or in progress should be completed. In the long term, this crisis should serve as a tipping point for transforming these vital surveys. We call on national governments, regional organisations, and international partners to develop sustainable alternatives that preserve the principles (standardised questionnaires, backward compatibility, open access data with rigorous documentation) which made the DHS Program an invaluable global health resource.
Authors
- Chido Dziva Chikwari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1617-3603)
- Amani Kikula (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1130-9279)
- Peter M. Macharia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3410-1881)
- Onikepe Owolabi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4150-9976)
- Manuela Straneo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2464-1633)
- Andrea B. Pembe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8090-3298)
- Aline Semaan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8348-1206)
- Jovanny Tsuala Fouogue (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0055-0902)
- Jessie Jane Khaki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5202-5339)
- David Lagoro Kitara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7282-5026)
- Jil Molenaar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4154-6478)
- Aliki Christou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9525-8255)
- Kerry LM Wong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4400-2257)
- Bosede Bukola Afolabi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7511-7567)
- Fassou Mathias Grovogui (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7356-9677)
- Adama Baguiya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1016-4896)
- Anteneh Asefa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4470-1848)
- Bernadette Hensen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6719-6720)
- Mwelwa Muleba Phiri (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6029-9372)
- Emelda A. Okiro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9543-8360)
- Lenka Beňová (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8595-365X)
- Emmanuel Olal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3841-5896)
- M. Ouédraogo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7938-8639)
- Oumar Aly Ba (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5894-0029)
- Abioye Amodu
- Sulata Karki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2141-1517)
- Marie Alice Mosuse
- Angèle Musau Nkola
- Martin Kavao Mutua
- Rukundo Athanase
Institutions
- University of Geneva (CH)
- Guttmacher Institute (US)
- Gulu University (UG)
- University of Lubumbashi (CD)
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (TZ)
- Université de Dschang (CM)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- University of Lagos (NG)
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme (MW)
- Lagos University Teaching Hospital (NG)
- Kamuzu Central Hospital (MW)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KE)
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB)
- Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry (GN)
- Nepal Development Research Institute (NP)
- Biomedical Research and Training Institute (ZW)
- Public Health Ontario (CA)
- Zambart (ZM)
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (BF)
- Ministry of Health (RW)
- Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (MW)
- Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde (BE)
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMC Medicine
- Published
- 2025-04-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-04062-6
- Citations
- 35
- Primary Topic
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 122.29