What is MICS?

The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) is a household survey programme developed by UNICEF to assist countries in filling data gaps for monitoring the situation of children and women. It is capable of producing statistically sound, internationally comparable estimates of these indicators.

Background

The MICS was originally developed in response to the World Summit for Children to measure progress towards an internationally agreed set of mid-decade goals. The first round of MICS was conducted around 1995 in more than 60 countries.

A second round of surveys was conducted in 2000 (around 65 surveys), and resulted in an increasing wealth of data to monitor the situation of children and women. For the first time it was possible to monitor trends in many indicators and set baselines for other indicators.

MICS 3

The current round of MICS is focused on providing a monitoring tool for the World Fit for Children, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as well as for other major international commitments, such as the UNGASS on HIV/AIDS and the Abuja targets for malaria. Data on 21 of the 48 MDG indicators are collected in the third round of MICS, offering the largest single source of data for MDG monitoring. The rationale and need for MICS3 surveys was outlined in an Executive Directive (Ex.Dir. CF/EXD/2004-20) in 2004.

Content

The survey questionnaires are modular tools that can be customized to the needs of a country. They consist of 3 questionnaires: a household questionnaire, a questionnaire for women aged 15-49, and a questionnaire for children under the age of 5 (addressed to the mother or primary caretaker of the child). The surveys cover many of the same topics as the earlier rounds and provide updated estimates and trends for many indicators. In addition, new indicators are included to provide baseline data or estimates of coverage for other priority issues.

The following modules are available:

Household:
Household characteristics, household listing, education, child labour, water and sanitation, salt iodization, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and support to children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS, with optional modules for disability, child discipline, security of tenure and durability of housing, source and cost of supplies for ITNs, and maternal mortality.

Women:
Women's characteristics, child mortality, tetanus toxoid, maternal and newborn health, marriage/union, contraceptive use, HIV/AIDS knowledge, malaria, polygyny, female genital mutilation, and sexual behaviour, with optional modules for unmet need, security of tenure, and attitudes toward domestic violence.

Children:
Children's characteristics, birth registration and early learning, vitamin A, breastfeeding, care of illness, malaria, immunization, and anthropometry, with optional modules for child development, and source and cost of supplies of ORS, antibiotics and antimalarials.

Coordination of data collection

UNICEF is working closely with other household survey programmes, in particular the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) programme to coordinate survey questions and modules and to ensure a coordinated approach to survey implementation. DHS surveys are conducted in around 10 countries a year and besides the MICS are the primary sources of data on many health and household indicators. Coordinating both the countries surveyed and the questions included in the questionnaire modules ensures that there is maximum coverage of countries in the household surveys and provides comparability across surveys.

Survey implementation

MICS surveys are typically carried out by government organizations, with the support and assistance of UNICEF and other partners. Technical assistance and training for the surveys is provided through a series of regional workshops, covering: questionnaire content, sampling and survey implementation, data processing, data quality and data analysis, and report writing and dissemination.

Survey results

Results from the third round of surveys, including national reports and micro level datasets are made available on this site after completion of the surveys. Results of the prior round of MICS can already be found at this site.

Contact information:

Global MICS3 Coordinator
Strategic Information Section
Division of Policy and Planning
UNICEF
3 U.N. Plaza
New York, NY 10017
USA
Tel: 212 303 7982