South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 2016

The 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS 2016) is the third DHS survey to be conducted in South Africa in collaboration with the worldwide Demographic and Health Survey Program. A nationally representative sample of over 15,000 dwelling units was selected, and among the approximately 13,000 occupied households, trained teams of interviewers collected data in face-to-face interviews with adults from over 11,000 households. In a subsample of households, nurses took measurements, including blood pressure, height, and weight, and tested for anaemia. Dried blood spot (DBS) specimens were prepared for anonymous testing for HIV and HbA1c, an indicator of diabetes. SADHS data collection was undertaken for the first time using tablet computers rather than paper-based questionnaires. The household response rate was 83%, and 86% of eligible women age 15-49 were interviewed. In a subsample of households selected for the male survey, 73% of eligible men age 15-59 were interviewed. SADHS 2016 provides recent demographic information that will contribute to the understanding of population dynamics in the country. The observed total fertility rate (TFR) for the 3 years preceding the survey was 2.6 children per woman. The age
-specific fertility rate for teenagers was 71 births per 1,000 women age 15-19, showing little change since 1998. The overall use of modern contraception remains relatively high (58%) with a wide range of methods being utilised. However, 18% of women continue to have an unmet family planning need.