NPC Explains 2008 Demographic Health Survey

The chairman, National Population Commission(NPC), Chief Samu’ila Makama,  has given reasons for the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which was conducted shortly after the 2006 general census.

Making the explanation in a nationwide news conference organised to round off the 2010 World Population Day celebration, the NPC chairman said that the 2008 NDHS was a national sample survey designed to provide an up-to-date information on background behavior and characteristics of those interviewed on fertility level in the country.

He said that the survey also sought to know issues of health and reproduction as concerns nuptiality, sexual activity, fertility preferences, awareness and the use of family planning methods, breastfeeding practices, and nutritional status of mothers and young children.

According to him, the survey also sort information for early childhood and maternal mortality, maternal and child health, awareness and behaviour regarding HIV/AIDS and other sexuality transmitted diseases for reasons of proper and adequate planning for the health of the people and hospitals.

He identified the target groups as women aged between 15 and 49 and men aged 15 and 59 years noting that the respondents (those interviewed) were randomly selected from houses in the country and included information on violence against women, children within 5years of age including their weight and height.

Makama also spoke on the sentinel surveys the commission embarked upon, explaining that it is one of the mechanisms for monitoring the impact of the design to achieve the objective of the National Population Policy of data provision for planning.

The sentinel surveys he said is mainly to  assess the status of fertility behaviour, family planning practices, knowledge and awareness of family health related issues in the country.

The indicators provided in the report he said are to be compared with indicators from other sources to determine if the programme inputs have any effect in terms of changes in infertility and increase acceptance of family planning.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Rivers State NPC Commissioner, Chief Moses Ofori (JP), said there was need to draw the attention of the general public to the implications of rapid population growth and the promotion of attitudes that are consistent with managing the population for sustainable development and  healthy reproductive behaviour.

In his goodwill message the state commissioner for the ministry of budget and economic planning expressed appreciation to NPC in the state for the unalloyed cooperation and support in the running the affairs of the Ministry especially in the provision of accurate and reliable data and statistics for the economic budgeting of the state.

The commissioner, Hon. Gogo Levi Charles lauded NPC for the choice of the theme of the 2010 World Population Day Celebration “Everyone Counts”, and stated that the topic is important for the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS), adding that if everyone counts, every pregnancy must be wanted, every birth should be safe while every Nigerian should be free from the torture of HIV/AIDS.