Health Surveys

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WHS and GSHS

World Health Organization (WHO) launched a survey initiative in 2000, to collect complete information on the health population. Timely and reliable information help decision makers to improve the health of the populations. Strengthening the ability to supervise critical health outputs and outcomes through the fielding of a valid, reliable, and comparable household survey instrument was the prime aim of the survey.

As part of the survey, WHO launched Multi-Country Survey Study (MCSS) in 2000-2001 in 61 countries. Methods used for data collection were face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews and postal surveys. The data were collected from 61 countries across the world.

In 2002-2003, World Health Survey (WHS) was launched. It was designed to address the issue of cross-population. Seventy countries participated in the survey. A sub-set of these surveys was completed in 2004.

Objectives of the WHS

• Provide policy-makers with the needed evidence to adjust their policies, strategies and programmes as necessary


• Develop a means of providing low-cost, valid, reliable and comparable information.


• Build the evidence base to monitor whether health systems are attaining the desired goals.

Random sampling method was adopted for sample selection. Only ages older than 18 years were considered. Sample size between 1,000 and 10,000 was drawn from each country. To use each module as a stand-alone product, data was collected on a modular basis. World Health Survey modules comprises information on health insurance, health expenditures, socio-demographics and income, health state evaluations, health system responsiveness, and health system goals.

The different modules cover:

• The responsiveness of health systems


• Health care expenditures


• The health states of populations


• Coverage, access and utilization of key health services


• Risk factors and their association with health states

Global School-Based Student Health Survey

The objective of Global school-based student health survey (GSHS) was to help countries measure and assess the behavioral risk factors and protective factors in 10 key areas among young people aged 13 to 15. A self-administered questionnaire was used for assessing health behavior and protective factors related to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children and adults worldwide.

GSHS is supposed to provide accurate data on health behaviors and protective factors among students to:

• Establish trends in the prevalence of health behaviors and protective factors by country for use in evaluation of school health and youth health promotion.


• Help countries develop priorities, establish programmes, and advocate for resources for school health and youth health programmes and policies;


• Allow international agencies, countries, and others to make comparisons across countries regarding the prevalence of health behaviors and protective factors; and

The survey addressed topics such as:

• Alcohol and other drug use


• Dietary behaviors


• Hygiene


• Mental health


• Physical activity


• Protective factors


• Respondent demographics


• Sexual behaviors


• Tobacco use


• Violence and unintentional injury

A survey Co-coordinator, nominated by the Ministry of Health or Ministry of Education is in charge of the overall management of the project at country level. Survey implementation workshops will be conducted in 2006 and 2007 for new countries wishing to implement GSHS.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.