John Nott, Blessings N. Kaunda-Khangamwa, Don P. Mathanga, Jil Molenaar, Bertrand Taithe, Chimwemwe Phiri, Jesman Chintsanya, Alister Munthali
The Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) programme was paused at the start of 2025 following deep cuts to the United States’ Agency for International Development (USAID). Since the middle of the 1980s, with financial support coming primarily from USAID, the DHS programme has provided nationally representative surveys of households and health facilities for low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) around the world. Over the course of nearly 40 years, the DHS had grown into a vital source of data for both research and administration. The abrupt cancellation of the DHS contract undermined this pillar of population health while, at the same time, illustrating the fragile foundations on which many national health information systems have been built.