Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, MICS

Tool Name: Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, MICS

Origin / Source: UNICEF

Technical Area: Maternal and Newborn Health

To Tool (http://www.childinfo.org/MICS2/Gj99306k.htm)

Basic Description: The MICS is a cross-sectional household survey, implemented by UNICEF, ministries of health, statistical offices and other partners. This methodology was developed to support governments in measuring progress for women and children at the end of the decade. There are 27 "World Summit for Children" goals, 8 of them are focussed specifically on Maternal and Newborn Health. The MICS has been designed as a series of modules that allow countries to adapt the survey to suit their individual needs.

Country Applications: between 1998 and 2001 the survey was implemented in about 70 developing countries around the world.

Language(s) Available: English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian

Purpose: Monitoring/Evaluation

Technical Scope/Purpose: This tool collects information on knowledge, attitudes and behaviors as well as maternal and newborn health outcome including mortality and morbidity.

Design: Cross-sectional

Method: Quantitative

Frequency of Administration: now every decade; it is planned to increase the number of surveys to every five years.

Key Users of the Information: Governments, NGOS, International Organizations, Donors, Etc.

Objectives and Scope of the Tool: UNICEF developed the MICS as a household survey tool for countries to adopt to fill data gaps in order to measure the country's progress towards meeting "World Summit for Children" goals.

Key Indicators:

  • Antenatal coverage: Proportion of women aged 15-49 attended at least once during pregnancy by skilled health personnel
  • Childbirth care: Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel
  • Low birth weight: Proportion of live births that weigh below 2,500 grams
  • Mothers receiving vitamin A supplements: Proportion of mothers who received a high-dose vitamin A supplement before infant was 8 weeks old.
  • Night blindness in pregnant women: Proportion of women who had night blindness during the last pregnancy. (optional)
  • Exclusive breastfeeding: Proportion of infants under 4 months (120 days) who are exclusively breastfed.
  • Neonatal tetanus protection: Proportion of one-year-old children protected against neonatal tetanus through immunization of their mother.
  • DPT immunization coverage: Proportion of one-year-old children protected against neonatal tetanus through immunization of their mother.
  • Maternal mortality ratio (MMR): Annual number of deaths of women from pregnancy-related causes, when pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, per 100,000 live births.
  • Knowledge of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: Proportion of women who correctly identify means of transmission of HIV from mother to child.

 

Tool Design: MICS is a household survey questionnaire consisting of 3 different parts:

1) household, 2) individual women (15-49 years old), 3) children under five.

The first part contains questions to obtain data on household composition, socio-economic characteristics and facilities, and education levels of adults and school-age children.

The second part measures indicators of contraceptive use; access to antenatal and delivery care; HIV/Aids knowledge, prevalence of low birth weight; maternal vitamin A deficiency; and tetanus toxoid coverage of infants. The third part measures different indicators related to health and nutrition status of children under five.

The MICS is a multistage cluster survey.

Before designing a new sample, it should be determined if an existing suitable sample can be found. An excellent candidate is the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). The measurement objectives are quite similar to the MICS and it has been conducted recently in many countries.

The cluster sizes should be between 10 to 40, and depending on the cluster size the overall sample size should be in the range of 2,500 to 14,000 households.

Implementation and Training: Different stages of the survey implementation are: logistic arrangements; preparation of questionnaires and training materials; selection and training of field workers; ordering and preparation of equipment; pilot study; computer set up; return of the questionnaires to headquarters; data entry and processing, data tabulation and analysis; report preparation.

Interviewers and supervisors receive a five-day comprehensive training on interviewing technique and quality fieldwork. Supervisors go through an additional two-day training.

Manuals and Guidelines: The MICS manual accompanies the survey data collection tool and provides clear guidelines on survey design and implementation.

Data Processing and Analysis: Data processing personnel should have previous experience in this field. A highly qualified data processing specialist with programming experience oversees the operation.

Several software programs are used for data entry, editing and processing: EpiInfo, IMPS, ISSA and SPSS.

Reporting and Dissemination of Results: The results from the survey will be used to assess progress during the decade to provide a baseline for the future and to plan and modify programs. The full technical report should be circulated to key government agencies, NGOs, donors, researchers and the press.

Even though MICS is designed primarily for monitoring progress on World Summit Goals and other programmatic objectives, data collected can also be used for statistical analysis beyond that contained in the final technical report.

Contact: Edilberto Loaiza
UNICEF House
3 United Nations Plaza
New York, New York 10017 U.S.A.
Tel: (212) 326 7000; e-mail: eloaiza@unicef.org