Zimbabwe’s 2023-24 Demographic  Health Survey Witnesses Improvement in Child Nutrition and Contraceptive Use

By Wallace Mawire

The 2023-24  Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey  (ZDHS)  findings have  reflected notable progress in several areas of health service delivery.

 The Director-General of the Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (ZIMSTAT),Ms Tafadzwa Bandama said at a recent dissemination meeting of the results that  her organization is  encouraged by improvements in contraceptive use, child nutrition, increased use of insecticide-treated nets  and a reduction in maternal mortality.

 Bandama said the ZDHS has become a cornerstone of the  national statistical calendar, with surveys conducted approximately every five years.

 She said since the first survey in 1988, ZIMSTAT has remained committed to delivering high-quality demographic and health data.

  Bandama said although the most recent round was due in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted their  timeline.

 Preparatory meetings only resumed in 2022  and data collection commenced in December 2023.

   She said the release of the results is timely as they  approach the conclusion of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), the findings from the 2023-24 ZDHS will provide a critical evidence base for assessing the effectiveness of NDS1 and guiding the formulation of NDS2.

  She said beyond  the country’s  borders, the results contribute to Zimbabwe’s reporting on global commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa Agenda 2063.

 She said  ZIMSTAT is proud to continue serving as a key provider of statistical data to inform policy formulation, guide national planning  and support evidence-based decision-making across sectors. 

   ‘These gains are a testament to the collaborative efforts of the Government, partners  and communities. However, we must also confront areas where progress has stagnated. It is concerning that indicators such as childhood mortality and antenatal care coverage have shown little to no improvement compared to the 2015 ZDHS,’Bandama said.

 She said the results underscore the need for a renewed commitment and strategic focus as they  strive to ensure that no one is left behind.

She acknowledged  the Government of Zimbabwe, particularly relevant Ministries and Departments, key funding partners like the USAID, the Global Fund, the Health Resilience Fund  and the United Nations Popilation Fund  (UNFPA)  for their financial and technical support  and ICF International for their unwavering technical guidance.

A representative for the Secretary for Health and Child Care said the primary objective of the 2023–24 ZDHS is to provide current and reliable estimates of key demographic and health indicators.

 He said the survey collected critical data on fertility levels, marriage and sexual activity,fertility preferences,awareness and use of family planning methods,breastfeeding practices,nutritional status of mothers and young children,early childhood mortality,maternal and child health,knowledge and behaviour related to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs),mental health,chronic illnesses and the use of malaria prevention methods.                   

• This data is invaluable to policymakers and programme managers as it supports the design, monitoring, and evaluation of health and development strategies across Zimbabwe. It also contributes essential indicators for assessing progress toward our national objectives and international commitments.

 He said the  data is invaluable to policymakers and programme managers as it supports the design, monitoring  and evaluation of health and development strategies across Zimbabwe.

 He said it also contributes essential indicators for assessing progress toward  national objectives and international commitments.

He said the results provide a critical lens through which they  can evaluate the progress made in health service delivery over recent years.

  He said more importantly, they will support the review process of the National Health Strategy 2021-2025and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

 The results are said to  also inform the development of both the National Health Strategy 2026-2030 and National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).

 He said the results will support tracking progress towards achieving SDGs.

 ‘As the Ministry of Health and Child Care, we are among the key users of this data for planning and policy formulation,’he said.

He said the policy implications of the findings will be applied  to shape impactful, data-driven health strategies that uplift the well-being of all Zimbabweans.