The Egyptian Ministry of Health has published the findings of the 2014 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). This survey was completed in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), UNICEF, and the United Nations Population Fund to enhance health and nutrition among Egyptians.
"This survey provides critical data to detect health trends and identify issues to address," stated Sherry F. Carlin, USAID/Egypt Mission Director. She noted that Egypt now has nearly three decades of data on women's and children's health, covering aspects like child mortality, vaccination rates, nutritional status, and maternal healthcare due to American support.
Findings indicate widespread coverage of childhood vaccinations and antenatal care in Egypt, alongside a high percentage of births overseen by skilled healthcare professionals.
Globally, USAID has facilitated over 300 demographic and health surveys across 90 countries. Since 1988, it has backed ten rounds of DHS in Egypt. The recent results stem from the first phase involving over 28,000 households and interviews with 22,000 women aged between 15 to 49 years old. This phase provides detailed information on population health at national and governorate levels. The ongoing second phase focuses on specific Egyptian health concerns such as viral hepatitis and non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
For forty years, USAID has partnered with Egyptians for substantial improvements in public welfare. Contributions have included eradicating polio, reducing infant mortality by 80%, creating jobs for over 40,000 individuals in two years, and improving infrastructure with investments nearing $30 billion since 1975.