Data used in this report
Data used in this report The data used in this report were derived from a range of sources, which are summarized below.
Childhood diarrhoea burden Estimates of the global and regional number of diarrhoea cases and deaths are based on the Global Burden Disease project, and are for the year 2004 (the latest year estimates are available). The project provides a comprehensive assessment of mortality and loss of health due to diseases, injuries and risks for all regions of the world. When reviewing these estimates, it is important to note that the distribution of under-five deaths by cause refers to the primary cause of death. The estimated percentage distribution of cause-specific mortality for the year 2004 was applied in this report to the 2008 envelope of total under-five deaths worldwide (8.8 million in 2008) to arrive at the number of under-five deaths due to diarrhoea globally.
Prevention and treatment coverage Data on prevention and treatment interventions were derived largely from national-level household surveys, notably the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), supported by UNICEF, and the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Information from the surveys are compiled by UNICEF Headquarters and made available in a series of public-access databases found at www. childinfo.org, which are also published annually in The State of the World’s Children report.
Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys are nationally representative, standardized sample surveys to which UNICEF provides financial and technical support. Since their inception in 1995, nearly 200 MICS have been carried out globally. The latest round of surveys (MICS3) was conducted in more than 50 countries between 2005 and 2006. The next round is scheduled for 2009-2010. More information is available at www.childinfo.org. Demographic and Health Surveys are also nationally representative, standardized surveys that are usually implemented every five years with funding from USAID. The DHS is designed to collect a variety of data on a broad range of demographic and health issues and to be comparable over time and across countries. More information is available at www. measuredhs.com.
Indicators Prevention indicators The indicators to monitor prevention coverage (such as immunization, nutrition, and water and sanitation) presented in this report are based on well known and long-standing child survival indicators that are regularly used to monitor progress towards global goals and commitments. For example, data on water supply and sanitation are based on the work of the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (www.wssinfo.org). Further information on these prevention indicators, such as definitions and data sources, are available at www.childinfo.org.
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