The National Statistical Office (NSO) has concluded its five-day final pilot test of the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) at Vanapa village in Central province.
This is part of the survey trial phase that gives an insight into how the survey will be rolled out across the country.
With a population of about 300 people in the area, a total of 24 households were sampled, which are projected to represent the entire population.
Apart from Vanapa village, similar surveys were being conducted in both Morobe and Gulf provinces.
So far within Central province, this is the final survey; the third phase was conducted at Roku and Kouderika villages.
Information collected are of the general population, maternal and child health, child survival and reproductive health, nutrition and agriculture.
The survey is the government’s intention or prerogative to assess people’s accessibility to government services, especially in the areas of health and education.
It is geared towards the major DHS survey that will soon be rolled out from September to December of this year.
According to statisticians, the major DHS project will target 800 census units throughout the country, especially those in rural areas.
However, statisticians feared the onus would be on the timing to implement the project and the availability of resources on the ground to carry out the survey.
The department’s main focus would be on remote parts of the country only accessible by plane.
