Ghana - Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2006, MICS Round 1

v01

2008-08-01

No changes have been made to the version. This is the first time that the survey is been documented

Introduction

The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2006 is a national sample survey designed to provide information on population, maternal and child health, child survival, reproductive health, nutrition, AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Ghana. MICS 2006 has different target population and involved interviewing a randomly selected group of men and women who are between 15 and 49 years of age. The women were asked questions about their background, the children they have given birth to, their knowledge and use of family planning methods, the health of their children, reproductive health, and other information that are helpful to policy makers and administrators in health and family planning fields. The men were asked questions about their background, the children they have fathered, their marriage status and sexual behaviour, and other information which were helpful to policymakers and administrators in health fields.

The questionnaires are based on the MICS model questionnaires and modified to fit the Ghanaian survey standards and conditions. The questionnaires were pre-tested in the Greater Accra Region in June 2006. The training for the pre-test was conducted by GSS staff for 22 interviewers for 13 days. This was followed by the formation of four teams consisting of a supervisor and four interviewers that conducted the pilot survey in four selected localities (2 urban and 2 rural) in the same region to test the entirety of survey procedures. Based on the results of the pre-test and pilot, further modifications were made to wording and flow of the questions and the survey plan. A copy of MICS 2006 questionnaires is provided in Appendix F.

In addition to the administration of questionnaires, fieldwork teams tested the salt used for cooking in the households for iodine level, and measured the heights and weights of all children less than 5 years (0-59 months).

Survey objectives

The MICS is part of a worldwide survey program, originally developed to measure progress towards an internationally agreed set of goals that emerged from the 1990 World Summit for Children. The MICS 2006 has the following primary objectives:

§ To provide up-to-date information for assessing the health situation of women and children in Ghana;

§ To present the current level of knowledge and behavioural indicators regarding HIV/AIDS and malaria;

§ To furnish data needed for monitoring progress toward the Millennium Development Goals, and the goals of A World Fit for Children (WFFC) as a basis for future action; such as the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

§ To contribute to the formation of baselines for the GPRS II and the Ministry of Health (MoH) Plan of Work 2007-2011, and to provide progress monitoring for other policies and programmes in Ghana;

§ To contribute to the improvement of data and monitoring systems in Ghana and to strengthen technical expertise in the design, implementation, and analysis of such systems.

This report is based on the Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, conducted in 2006 by Ghana Statistical Service and the Ministry of Health. The survey provides valuable information on the situation of women, men and children in Ghana. It was based largely on the need to monitor progress towards goals and targets emanating from recent international agreements, the Millennium Declaration, adopted by all 191 United Nations Member States in September 2000 and the Plan of Action of A World Fit for Children, adopted by 189 Member States at the United Nations Special Session on Children in May 2002.

Content

Four sets of questionnaires were used in the survey to solicit the appropriate responses:

§ ·household questionnaire which was used to collect information on all de jure household members, and dwelling, and household characteristics and to identify eligible individuals;

§ ·women's questionnaire administered in each household to all women aged 15-49 years;

§ men's questionnaire administered in every third selected household to all men aged 15-49 years;

§ ·under-5 questionnaire, administered to mothers or caretakers of all children under five years living in the household.

The questionnaires included the following modules:

§ Household Questionnaire:

§ Household Listing

§ Education

§ Water and Sanitation

§ Durability of Housing

§ Malaria-related questions

§ Child Labour

§ Child Discipline

§ Disability

§ Salt Iodization

Women Questionnaire:

§ Child Mortality

§ Tetanus Toxoid

§ Maternal and Newborn Health

§ Marriage and Union

§ Security of Tenure

§ Contraception

§ Attitudes towards Domestic Violence

§ Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

§ Sexual Behaviour

§ HIV knowledge

Men Questionnaire:

§ Marriage and Union

§ Sexual Behaviour

§ Contraception

§ HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Under-five Questionnaire:

§ Birth Registration and Early Learning

§ Child Development

§ Vitamin A

§ Breastfeeding

§ Care of Illness

§ Malaria

§ Immunization

§ Anthropometry

Sample survey data [ssd]

Individuals