DHS OCCASIONAL PAPER NO. 10

SEPTEMBER 2015

This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The report was prepared by Mitsuaki Hirai, Nisha Grover, and Cheng Huang of George Washington University, 

Washington, DC, USA.

The Measurement of Non-Communicable

Diseases in 25 Countries with

Demographic and Health Surveys

DHS Occasional Papers No. 10 

The Measurement of Non-Communicable Diseases 

in 25 Countries with Demographic and Health Surveys

Mitsuaki Hirai1 

Nisha Grover1 

Cheng Huang1 

ICF International 

Rockville, Maryland, USA 

September 2015 

1

Department of Global Health, George Washington University 

Corresponding author: Cheng Huang, Department of Global Health, George Washington University; 

email: chenghuang@email.gwu.edu 

 
Acknowledgments: The authors would like to thank the reviewers of this report, Ann Way and Sunita 

Kishor, for their invaluable comments and inputs, Wenjuan Wang for helping revise the report, and Tom 

Pullum for providing methodological guidance. 

Editor: Sidney Moore 

Document Production: Natalie La Roche 

This study was carried out with support provided by the United States Agency for International 

Development (USAID) through The DHS Program (#AID-OAA-C-13-00095). The views expressed are 

those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. 

The DHS Program assists countries worldwide in the collection and use of data to monitor and evaluate 

population, health, and nutrition programs. For additional information about The DHS Program, contact 

The DHS Program, ICF International, 530 Gaither Road, Suite 500, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; phone: 

301-407-6500; fax: 301-407-6501; email: reports@dhsprogram.com; Internet: www.dhsprogram.com. 

Recommended citation: 

Mitsuaki Hirai, Nisha Grover, and Cheng Huang. 2015. The Measurement of Non-Communicable Diseases 

in 25 Countries with Demographic and Health Surveys. DHS Occasional Papers No. 10. Rockville, 

Maryland, USA: ICF International. 
iii 

Contents 

Tables ......................................................................................................................................................... v 

Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................... vii 

Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................... ix 

1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 

2 Data and Methods ............................................................................................................................ 3 

2.1 DHS Surveys with NCD Data............................................................................................. 3 

2.2 DHS Biomarkers and Self-reported Data on NCDs ............................................................ 5 

2.3 Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 12 

3 Results ............................................................................................................................................ 13 

3.1 Coverage Rates for Blood Pressure Measurement ............................................................ 13 

3.2 Prevalence of Hypertension and Differentials by Selected Socio-demographic 

Characteristics ................................................................................................................... 14 

3.3 Coverage Rates for Blood Glucose Measurement ............................................................ 18 

3.4 Prevalence of Diabetes and Differentials by Selected Socio-demographic 

Characteristics ................................................................................................................... 18 

3.5 Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer in Namibia ................................................................ 19 

4 NCD Data Collection by WHO ..................................................................................................... 21 

4.1 The WHO STEPS Approach ............................................................................................ 21 

4.2 WHO and DHS Surveys: A Comparison .......................................................................... 22 

5 Discussion and Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 25 

5.1 Contribution of DHS to NCD Data Collection ................................................................. 25 

5.2 Opportunities and Challenges in Expanding NCD Data Collection in DHS Surveys ...... 25 

References ................................................................................................................................................... 29 

Appendix ..................................................................................................................................................... 31 

v 

Tables 

Table 1. DHS surveys with data on hypertension, diabetes, prostate cancer, breast cancer, 

and cervical cancer, 1990- 2013 ................................................................................................ 4 

Table 2. DHS biomarkers and questions on hypertension ....................................................................... 6 

Table 3. DHS biomarkers and questions on diabetes .............................................................................. 7 

Table 4. DHS questions on prostate cancer ............................................................................................. 8 

Table 5. DHS questions on breast cancer ................................................................................................ 9 

Table 6. DHS questions on cervical cancer ........................................................................................... 11 

Table 7. Percentage (unweighted) of eligible women and men who had their blood pressure 

measured, and the number of respondents with valid blood pressure measurements 

(weighted), DHS surveys in 10 countries, 2006-2013 ............................................................. 13 

Table 8. Prevalence of hypertension, high blood pressure, and medication taking behavior 

among women and men, DHS surveys in 10 countries, 2006-2013 ........................................ 14 

Table 9. Prevalence of hypertension among women by socio-demographic characteristics, 

DHS surveys in 10 countries, 2006-2013 ................................................................................ 16 

Table 10. Prevalence of hypertension among men by socio-demographic characteristics, 

DHS surveys in 10 countries, 2006-2013 ................................................................................ 17 

Table 11. Percentage of women and men eligible for blood glucose measurement who had valid 

measurements, DHS surveys in Bangladesh and Namibia, 2011-2013 ................................... 18 

Table 12. Prevalence of diabetes, high blood glucose, and medication taking behavior, 

DHS surveys in Bangladesh and Namibia, 2011-2013 ............................................................ 18 

Table 13. Prevalence of diabetes by socio-demographic characteristics, DHS surveys 

in Bangladesh and Namibia, 2011-2013 .................................................................................. 19 

Table 14. Screening questions on breast and cervical cancer in the Namibia 2013 DHS survey ............ 20 

Table 15. Reference indicators used to confirm diagnosis of an NCD .................................................... 22 

Table 16. Example questions on hypertension in WHO surveys ............................................................. 23 

Table 17. Example questions on diabetes in WHO surveys .................................................................... 23

Table 18. Example questions on cervical and breast cancer in WHO surveys ........................................ 24 

Table A1. Results of multiple logistic regression of hypertension among women by demographic 

characteristics in odds ratio ..................................................................................................... 31 

Table A2. Results of multiple logistic regression of hypertension among men by demographic 

characteristics in odds ratio ..................................................................................................... 32 

Table A3. Results of multiple logistic regression of diabetes by demographic characteristics in 

odds ratio. ................................................................................................................................ 33 

vii 

Abstract 

This report provides an overview of NCD data that have been collected by The DHS Program. The main 

objectives of this report are: 1) to describe the procedures and questions used to collect data on NCDs in 

DHS surveys; 2) to present prevalence rates and differentials of hypertension and diabetes; 3) to compare 

NCD data collection efforts of DHS and WHO; and 4) to discuss future NCD data collection by DHS. 

Twenty-five DHS countries were identified as having one or more surveys that collected biomarker or selfreported data on at least one of the following NCDs: hypertension, diabetes, prostate cancer, breast cancer, 

and cervical cancer. Most of the NCD data collected in the 39 surveys examined in this report are selfreported data. Biomarker data are available only for hypertension and diabetes in 13 countries and 3 

countries, respectively. Age ranges of respondents eligible for biomarker testing varied across surveys. 

While earlier surveys focused on respondents in DHS standard age ranges (15-49 for women and 15-54(59) 

for men), recent surveys were designed to collect biomarker data on older adults. Procedures used in 

collecting biomarker measurements in DHS surveys are largely consistent and follow WHO guidelines. 

The analysis results suggest large disparities in prevalence rates of hypertension and diabetes across DHS 

countries by age, wealth, education, and residence. The report concludes that DHS has made a substantial 

contribution to understanding the issue of NCDs in developing countries by collecting data on several 

important NCDs. However, the expansion of NCD data collection must necessarily be judged by weighing 

increased cost against the potential utility of the data. Systematic data collection on NDCs may be more 

relevant in middle-income countries than in low-income countries. 

ix 

Executive Summary 

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are becoming a pandemic for numerous populations around the world. 

While suffering from communicable or infectious diseases, low- and middle-income countries are now 

being afflicted with NCDs and facing the phenomenon known as the “double burden” of disease. 

A key strategy identified as a tactical approach to reducing global NCD rates is enhancing surveillance; 

however, limited efforts on monitoring the trends of NCDs have been carried out in low- and middle-income 

countries. 

Surveys in the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) Program are among the few surveys providing 

nationally representative data on NCDs, including hypertension, diabetes, prostate cancer, breast cancer, 

and cervical cancer for select countries. Of the 25 DHS countries with at least one survey that included 

biomarker or self-report data on NCDs (mostly middle-income countries), only Armenia (2010 DHS), 

Namibia (2013 DHS), and South Africa (1998 DHS) collected data on all five of the listed NCDs in the 

same survey. Most of the DHS data on NCDs are self-reported. DHS collected biomarker data for measuring 

hypertension in 13 countries and biomarkers on diabetes in 3 countries. 

This report begins with a description of how biomarkers for hypertension and diabetes are measured and 

which questions collect self-reported data in each survey. In countries with biomarker data, prevalence rates 

of hypertension and diabetes are estimated. Their associations with socio-demographic characteristics are 

also examined for women and men in each country. Indicators of breast cancer and cervical cancers based 

on self-reported data from the Namibia 2013 data are presented. 

The results of the analysis suggest large disparities in prevalence rates of hypertension and diabetes among 

respondents by age, wealth, education, and urban/rural residence across the countries. As expected, older 

respondents have a higher prevalence of NCDs than younger respondents in both women and men. Diabetes 

is more prevalent among respondents in the higher education groups compared with those with lower 

education, and the same can be seen among those in the upper wealth quintiles compared with the lower 

wealth quintiles, in the majority of the countries. 

The report concludes that DHS has made a substantial contribution to understanding the issue of NCDs in 

developing countries by collecting data on several important NCDs. However, the expansion of NCD data 

collection must necessarily be judged by weighing increased cost against the potential utility of the 

data. Systematic data collection on NDCs may be more relevant in middle-income countries than in lowincome countries. 

1 

1 Introduction 

Over the past decades non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have accelerated into a global epidemic, leading 

to more deaths than all other causes of mortality combined in the world (World Health Organization 

[WHO], 2014). In 2012, the age-standardized mortality rates from NCDs were highest among low- and 

middle-income countries at 673 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to the global NCD mortality rates at 

539 deaths per 100,000 (WHO, 2014). NCD mortality rates in the African, South-East Asian, and Eastern 

Mediterranean regions exceed 650 deaths per 100,000 (WHO, 2014). These mortality rates were 

significantly higher than that of major infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria 

(Murray, Ortblad, Guinovart et al., 2014). Accordingly, numerous populations have suffered from NCDs 

along with communicable diseases in developing countries as the double burden of diseases (Boutayeb, 

2006). 

This report focuses on hypertension, diabetes, and several types of cancer collected by the Demographic 

and Health Survey Program (DHS) in selected countries. As a risk factor for several NCDs, including 

coronary heart disease and stroke, hypertension leads to over 9 million deaths annually and had a global 

prevalence rate of 40% in 2008 (WHO, 2015a). African countries have the highest prevalence of 

hypertension among adults aged 25 and older at 46% (WHO, 2013). As with many other NCDs, the 

mortality rates due to elevated blood pressure have been highest in low- and middle-income countries at 

80% (WHO, 2013). 

Type 2 diabetes or diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major contributor to disease burden worldwide. Over 387 

million people currently live with T2DM, which causes over 5 million deaths each year (International 

Diabetes Federation [IDF], 2015). In 2011, the IDF declared that countries in the Mediterranean and North 

Africa (MENA) region had the highest prevalence of T2DM at 12.5%, closely followed by the North 

America and Caribbean (NAC) region at 11.1% (Whiting, Guariguata, Weil & Shaw, 2011). The largest 

diabetic populations reside in China and India at 98.4 and 65.1 million, respectively (IDF, 2013). 

Projections for prevalence rates over the next 20 years indicate an increase of over 100% in African 

countries and just under 100% in the MENA region (IDF, 2013). At this rate, the global diabetic population 

will increase by 55% to 590 million by 2030 (IDF, 2013). 

In 2008, cancer caused over 7 million deaths globally, of which 75% occurred in low- and middle-income 

countries (Jemal et al., 2011). Although cancer incidence rates in developing countries are lower than 

developed countries, the mortality rates are comparable. (Jemal et al., 2011). For example, despite the 

lowest incidence compared to other cancers, breast cancer has been the leading cause of cancer deaths 
2 

among women in low- and middle-income countries (Jemal et al., 2011). Men who develop prostate cancer 

in African or Asian countries are also more likely to die from the cancer than men in developed countries 

(Haas, Delongchamps, Brawley, Wang & Rosa, 2008). A lack of early detection services, changes in 

reproductive patterns, and physical inactivity could be attributable to the disproportionate burden associated 

with cancer-related mortality in developing countries (Jemal et al., 2011). 

NCDs have been recognized as a major hindrance to economic development in low- and middle-income 

countries (Beaglehole, Bonita, Horton et al., 2011). More specifically, an economic output of 47 trillion 

dollars may be lost by 2030 due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, mental 

health problems, and diabetes (Bloom, Cafiero, Jané-Llopis et al., 2011). This potential economic loss is 

approximately 75% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2010, an amount adequate to eliminate 

poverty from the world (Bloom, Cafiero, Jané-Llopis et al., 2011). A recent study also suggested that HIV 

and NCDs account for the slow progress in health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in lowincome countries (Stuckler, Basu, & McKee, 2010). Reducing the disease burden of NCDs is therefore of 

vital importance to achieve sustainable development after 2015. 

Despite the demonstrated need for addressing NCDs, limited efforts have been made on data collection to 

monitor the levels and trends of NCDs in low- and middle-income countries. The DHS is one of the few 

Programs that have collected NCD data in selected countries for the last two decades. This report provides 

an overview of NCD data that have been collected by The DHS Program. The main objectives of this report 

are: 1) to describe the procedures and questions used to collect data on NCDs in DHS surveys; 2) to present 

prevalence rates and differentials of hypertension and diabetes for which biomarker data are collected in 

DHS; 3) to compare the efforts in NCD data collection by the DHS and WHO; and 4) to make 

recommendations for future data collection on NCDs. 
3 

2 Data and Methods 

2.1 DHS Surveys with NCD Data 

This report assessed NCD data collected by the DHS Program, which has conducted nationally 

representative household surveys that provide detailed, accessible information on the demographic, 

nutritional, and health status of populations in low- and middle-income countries. Funded largely by the 

United States Agency for International Development (USAID), The DHS Program was initiated in 1984 

and has conducted more than 300 surveys in 90 countries. Through implementation of household-based 

surveys The DHS Program collects, analyzes, and disseminates data on a wide range of topics including 

reproductive health, infant and child mortality, nutrition, communicable diseases, and non-communicable 

diseases, among other topics (ICF International, 2012). 

DHS typically employs a two-stage cluster sampling design to select survey respondents. Stratification is 

applied in the sampling design to improve the representativeness of the sample by reducing sampling errors. 

In the first stage, a sample of enumeration areas (EAs) is selected in each stratum with probability 

proportional to size, based on a national master sampling frame that usually comes from the country’s most 

recent census. In the second stage, after a complete household listing is obtained for each of the selected 

EAs, a sample of households is selected by equal probability systematic sampling. All women age 15-49 in 

all the selected households and all men age 15-59 (15-49 or 15-54 in some surveys) in those households 

selected for the man’s interview are eligible to participate in the survey (ICF International, 2012). 

Three types of questionnaires are typically used in DHS surveys—the household questionnaire, the 

woman’s questionnaire, and the man’s questionnaire—to collect data on general household characteristics 

and data on individual characteristics. Based on the household questionnaire, eligible women and men are 

identified to be interviewed with the woman’s questionnaire and man’s questionnaire, respectively. 

The sample size for a standard DHS survey ranges from 5,000 to 30,000 households, and many countries 

conduct a DHS survey every five years, on average. Using cross-sectional data from consecutive surveys, 

trends can be estimated for specific health problems. The findings contribute to identifying priority areas 

for program implementation and policy development (Corsi et al., 2012). 

This report focuses on 25 DHS countries that have collected data on at least one of the following NCDs: 

hypertension, diabetes, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer. Most of the datasets used for 

this report are from standard DHS surveys, with a few exceptions. Guatemala’s data are from an interim 
4 

DHS survey, which collected nationally representative data using a smaller sample size and a narrower 

scope than the standard DHS. Data from Peru are based on the continuous DHS survey conducted annually 

between 2009 and 2012. Uzbekistan conducted a special DHS survey to specifically assess the health status 

of the population. The South African 1998 DHS differed from the standard DHS in that it collected 

information on an expanded set of health measures. Finally, the 2010 Colombia survey was embedded 

within a much broader population and health data collection effort. Table 1 shows the surveys that collected 

NCD data, including biomarkers and/or self-reported data. 

Table 1. DHS surveys with data on hypertension, diabetes, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and 

cervical cancer, 1990- 2013 

Country Year Hypertension Diabetes 

Prostate 

Cancer 

Breast 

Cancer 

Cervical 

Cancer 

Albania 2008/09 ✔ ✔ ✔

Armenia 2000 ✔

 2005 ✔ ✔

 2010 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Azerbaijan 2006 ✔ ✔

Bangladesh 2011 ✔ ✔ 

Benin 2011/12 ✔ ✔

Bolivia 2003 ✔

 2008 ✔

Brazil 1996 ✔

Burkina Faso 2010 ✔

Colombia 1990 ✔

2005 ✔ ✔

2010 ✔ ✔

Côte d’Ivoire 2011/12 ✔ ✔

Dominican Republic 1996 ✔ ✔

2002 ✔ ✔

2007 ✔ ✔

2013 ✔ ✔

Egypt 2008 ✔ ✔ 

Guatemala 1998/99 ✔

Honduras 2005/06 ✔ ✔

 2011/12 ✔ ✔ ✔

Jordan 2002 ✔

2007 ✔ ✔

2012 ✔ ✔

Kyrgyz Republic 2012 ✔ 

Lesotho 2009 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Namibia 2013 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Peru 2009 ✔ ✔

2010 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

2011 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

2012 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Philippines 2003 ✔ ✔

South Africa 1998 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Tajikistan 2012 ✔ ✔

Tanzania 2011 ✔

Ukraine 2007 ✔ 

Uzbekistan 2002 ✔ ✔

Total number of countries 13 10 4 13 18 
5 

The surveys with NCD data were conducted between 1990 and 2013. Of the 25 countries, 13 collected 

information on hypertension, including both self-reported status and blood pressure measurements for 

eligible respondents. Ten surveys collected self-reported data on diabetes and two surveys measured fasting 

blood glucose for eligible respondents. Questions on screening for prostate cancer, breast cancer, and 

cervical cancer were included in 4, 13, and 18 countries, respectively. Seven countries (Armenia, Bolivia, 

Colombia, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Jordan, and Peru) had NCD data for multiple years. Only three 

countries (Armenia, Namibia, and South Africa) collected data on all five NCDs together in one survey. 

2.2 DHS Biomarkers and Self-reported Data on NCDs 

DHS collected most of the NCD data by asking respondents whether they were aware of a specific NCD, 

had screening tests or medical examinations for an NCD, or were diagnosed with an NCD by a health 

professional. In addition to self-reported data, biomarker data were collected in selected surveys for 

hypertension and diabetes only. 

Hypertension 

In all 13 countries, DHS measured systolic and diastolic blood pressure of survey respondents. Table 2 

shows the surveys that collected biomarker data on hypertension and the age ranges of respondents 

measured. Age ranges of respondents eligible for blood pressure measurement varied across the surveys. 

In most of the surveys, women and men eligible for interview (women age 15-49 and men age 15-49 or 59) 

in selected households were measured for blood pressure. The 1998 South Africa survey collected blood 

pressure measurements for all respondents age 15 and above. Several surveys collected blood pressure data 

only from older adults. For example, the 2011 Bangladesh DHS measured blood pressure data for women 

and men age 35 and older while the 2013 Namibia DHS measured those age 35-64. 

In DHS surveys, blood pressure is typically measured with a fully automatic digital blood pressure 

measuring device with automatic upper-arm inflation and automatic pressure release. Field staff received 

training prior to the survey on use of the device according to the manufacturer’s recommended protocol. In 

most countries, blood pressure was measured three times. The first measurement was discarded, and the 

average of the last two measurements was reported as the respondent’s blood pressure, in millimeters of 

mercury (mmHg). The exception is the 2002 Uzbekistan DHS survey, which took two measurements of 

systolic and diastolic blood pressure and used the second measurement to determine if the person was 

hypertensive. 
6 

In addition to biomarker measurements, respondents were asked whether they had ever been told by a doctor 

or other health professional that they had hypertension or high blood pressure. Respondents who gave a 

positive response received a follow-up question on current treatment to control blood pressure. In some 

countries, namely, Albania, Armenia, Benin, Egypt, Kyrgyz Republic, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, 

respondents were also asked if they were diagnosed with hypertension more than once. The specific 

questions asked on hypertension can be found in Table 2. 

Table 2. DHS biomarkers and questions on hypertension 

Biomarkers/questions Age ranges for biomarker collection DHS surveys 

Biomarkers: systolic and diastolic blood 

pressure measurements 

15-49 

15-49 

15-49 

35 and older 

Women: 15-49, men: 30-64 

15-59 

15-49 

Women: 15-49, men: 15-59 

35-64 

40 and older 

40 and older 

40 and older 

15 and older 

15-49 

Women: 15-49, men: 15-59 

Albania 2008/2009 

Armenia 2005 

Azerbaijan 2006 

Bangladesh 2011 

Benin 2011/2012 

Egypt 2008 

Kyrgyz Republic 2012 

Lesotho 2009 

Namibia 2013 

Peru 2010 

Peru 2011 

Peru 2012 

South Africa 1998 

Ukraine 2007 

Uzbekistan 2002 

Have you ever been told by a doctor or other 

health worker that you had hypertension or 

high blood pressure? 

IF YES: Are you currently receiving any of the 

following treatment/advice by a doctor or 

other health worker to control your blood 

pressure1

? 

Albania 2008/2009 

Azerbaijan 2006 

Armenia 2005 

Armenia 2010 

Bangladesh 2011 

Benin 2011/2012 

Egypt 2008 

Kyrgyz Republic 2012 

Lesotho 2009 

Namibia 

Peru 2011 

Peru 2012 

South Africa 1998 

Ukraine 2007 

Uzbekistan 2002 

Have you ever been told by a doctor or other 

health worker that you had hypertension or 

high blood pressure? 

IF YES: Were you told on more than one 

different occasion by a doctor or other health 

professional that you had hypertension or 

high blood pressure? 

Albania 2008/2009 

Azerbaijan 2006 

Armenia 2005, 2010 

Benin 2011/2012 

Egypt 2008 

Kyrgyz Republic 2012 

Ukraine 2007 

Uzbekistan 2002 

1

The wording of this question varied across surveys. 

Diabetes 

Diabetes has been assessed by biomarkers and self-reports in the DHS surveys; however, fasting blood 

glucose was measured as a biomarker for diabetes in only three surveys—the 2010 Bangladesh DHS, the 

2013 Namibia DHS, and the 2002 Uzbekistan DHS. In Bangladesh and Namibia, biomarkers were collected 

only from respondents in households selected for the man’s interview. The Bangladesh DHS tested all 
7 

household members age 35 or older; Namibia restricted the testing to women and men age 35-64 in the 

households selected for testing. In the Uzbekistan, diabetes biomarkers were only collected for women age 

15-49 and men age 15-59 in households selected in Tashkent City. 

A similar procedure was used in Bangladesh and Namibia to measure fasting blood glucose. After an 

overnight fast, a blood sample was obtained from consented respondents from the middle or ring finger and 

analyzed using the HemoCue 201+ blood glucose analyzer. The finger was cleaned with a swab containing 

70 percent isopropyl alcohol, allowed to dry, and pricked with a retractable, non-reusable lancet. The first 

two drops of blood were wiped away, and the third drop was drawn into the glucose microcuvette by 

capillary action after placing the tip of the microcuvette in the middle of the blood drop. The outside of the 

microcuvette was wiped clean with gauze and placed in the analyzer to obtain a glucose measurement. The 

HemoCue 201+ analyzer displays the blood glucose measurements in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), and 

the measurement was converted into millimoles per liter (mmol/L) to compare with the World Health 

Organization’s cutoffs for diabetes. The 2002 Uzbekistan survey measured glycosylated hemoglobin 

(HbA1c) levels in venous blood samples collected after fasting. 

Eight countries included a question on diagnosis with diabetes by a medical professional as a self-reported 

measure of diabetes. Table 3 summarizes biomarkers and questions used in respective surveys for 

estimating the prevalence of diabetes. 

Table 3. DHS biomarkers and questions on diabetes 

Biomarkers and questions Age ranges for biomarkers DHS surveys 

Biomarkers (fasting blood glucose measurement) 35 and older 

35-64 

Bangladesh 2011 

Namibia 2013 

Biomarkers (Hemoglobin A1c measurement) Women: 15-49, men:15-59 Uzbekistan 2002 

Has a doctor or other health professional ever 

told you that you had diabetes? 

Azerbaijan 2006

Bangladesh 2011 

Egypt 2008

Lesotho 2009 

Namibia 2013 

Peru 2011 

Peru 2012

Has a doctor ever told you that you had 

diabetes? 

 Benin 2011-12 

Have you ever, at any time in your life had: 

diabetes? 

IF YES: Was the diabetes diagnosed by a 

doctor?

Uzbekistan 2002

Prostate cancer 

Questions about prostate cancer were included in the most recent DHS surveys in four countries—Armenia, 

Honduras, Namibia, and South Africa. In Armenia and Namibia, the surveys asked if the respondent had 
8 

ever had a prostate cancer examination; however, there was no follow-up question to ascertain the test 

results. Honduras included questions about having any symptoms of prostate cancer, reasons for not taking 

the prostate cancer exam, and intention to take the exam in the future. These questions were not included 

in the other three countries. The 1998 South Africa survey included a question to determine if a respondent 

was ever told by a health professional that they had cancer. If respondents reported being diagnosed with 

cancer, a follow-up question was asked to record the type of cancer. Table 4 summarizes the questions on 

prostate cancer in these four surveys. 

Table 4. DHS questions on prostate cancer 

Questions DHS surveys 

In the past three years since 2007, have you visited a primary health care facility 

to conduct a preventive (prophylactic) health examination? 

IF YES: During this visit, have you been given prostate examination? 

Armenia 2010 

In the past 12 months, have you had any of the following symptoms? 

• Decrease of the urine 

• Increased the number of times of urination 

• Problems when urinating 

• Drips or stains 

• Could not get rid of all the urine 

• Urinates with blood 

Have you ever taken a prostate exam? 

IF YES: Which exam, the blood or the rectal? 

IF YES: When was the last time you had a prostate exam? 

Honduras 2012 

Have you ever heard of prostate cancer? 

IF YES: Have you ever had a test or exam to see if you have prostate cancer? 

Namibia 2013 

Has a doctor or nurse or staff member at a clinic or at hospital told you that you 

had or have any of the following conditions: cancer? 

IF YES: Did the doctor/nurse/staff member at a hospital tell you what kind of 

cancer you have? 

IF YES: What kind of cancer were you told you had or have? 

South Africa 1998 

Breast cancer 

DHS collected data on breast cancer in 13 countries. All of the countries assessed whether respondents had 

ever had a breast exam, except Albania. The Albania DHS only addressed respondent awareness of 

mammogram or breast cancer screening; other screening questions were not included. The screening 

questions in 12 countries asked if respondents have: 1) ever had any breast exam; 2) ever conducted a breast 

self-exam; 3) ever had a breast exam by a medical professional; and 4) ever been diagnosed with breast 

cancer. Table 5 lists all of the DHS questions asked on breast cancer and the respective surveys in which 

they are found. 

Six countries (Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Namibia, Peru, and Philippines) assessed 

whether respondents had received a breast exam over various time periods. In the Dominican Republic, 
9 

respondents were asked about breast cancer screening in the past 12 months while in Peru the time reference 

was the past five years. Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Namibia, and Philippines did not include a specific 

reference period for the breast exam. 

In Armenia, Colombia, Jordan, and Lesotho the DHS survey asked about respondents’ experience with 

breast cancer self-examination. Jordan and Lesotho specifically asked if respondents did a breast cancer 

self-exam in the past 12 months whereas Armenia and Colombia did not include a defined reference period. 

The countries did not have a follow-up question asking respondents if they took any further action based 

on the results of their breast cancer self-exam. 

Nine countries (Armenia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Jordan, Lesotho, Namibia, 

and Tajikistan) included a question on breast cancer screening by a medical professional or equipment (e.g., 

mammography). Of these countries, only Colombia (DHS surveys in 2005 and 2010) ascertained the results 

of mammography and asked respondents (through follow-up questions) if a biopsy was requested. The DHS 

in Colombia and South Africa also assessed if respondents had been diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Table 5. DHS questions on breast cancer 

Questions DHS surveys 

Any breast exam 

Have you ever taken the screening of breast cancer or cervical cancer? 

Have you ever had a breast cancer test? 

Have you taken any breast test in the last 12 months? 

Have you ever examined your breasts to detect or check for breast cancer? 

When was the last time that you took a breast exam? 

Have you ever had a breast test in the last five years? 

Have you ever screened/examined for cancer? 

IF YES: What part of your body was screened: Breast? 

Burkina Faso 2010 

Côte d’Ivoire 2011 

Dominican Republic 1996 

Dominican Republic 2002 

Dominican Republic 2007 

Namibia 2013 

Dominican Republic 2013 

Peru 2009 

Peru 2010 

Peru 2011 

Peru 2012 

Philippines 2003 

(Continued) 
10 

Table 5. − Continued

Questions DHS surveys 

Self-examination 

Have you ever given yourself a breast exam? 

Have you had a breast cancer self-exam or an exam by a health specialist to 

detect breast cancer in the last 12 months? 

Have you had a breast cancer self-exam to detect breast cancer in yourself 

within the last 12 months? 

Armenia 2000 

Armenia 2005 

Armenia 2010 

Colombia 2005 

Colombia 2010 

Jordan 2002 

Jordan 2007 

Lesotho 2009 

Breast exam by a medical professional 

Has a health care provider ever given you a breast exam? 

In the medical or gynecological consultation, have you done a breast exam?

Have you had a breast cancer self-exam or an exam by a health specialist to 

detect breast cancer in the last 12 months? 

Has a doctor or other health professional examined your breasts to detect or 

check for breast cancer? 

Has a health care provider ever given you a breast exam, such as a manual, 

an ultrasound, a mammogram or any other breast exams? 

Have you had a breast cancer clinical exam to detect breast cancer in the last 

12 months? 

Have you ever taken mammography? 

When was the last time that you took mammography? 

Have you ever taken a gynecology exam? 

IF YES: Was mammography a part of the last exam? 

Armenia 2000 

Armenia 2005 

Armenia 2010 

Colombia 2005 

Colombia 2010 

Jordan 2002 

Namibia 2013 

Tajikistan 2012 

Jordan 2012 

Lesotho 2009 

Colombia 2005 

Colombia 2010 

Honduras 2005/2006 

Honduras 2011 

Dominican Republic 2013 

Brazil 1996 

Have you ever been diagnosed with breast tumor? 

Has a doctor or nurse or staff member at a clinic or at hospital told you that 

you had or have any of the following conditions: cancer? 

IF YES: Did the doctor/nurse/staff member at a hospital tell you what kind of 

cancer you have? 

IF YES: What kind of cancer were you told you had or have? 

Colombia 2005 

Colombia 2010 

South Africa 1998 

Cervical cancer 

Data on cervical cancer were collected in DHS surveys in 18 countries. Of these, 15 countries (Armenia, 

Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jordan, Lesotho, 

Namibia, Peru, Philippines, and Tajikistan) addressed whether respondents had received a cervical cancer 

screening test. Most of the countries focused on the pap-smear test, with different recall periods—12 months 
11 

(Dominican Republic), three years (Armenia, Bolivia), and five years (Peru, Philippines). Table 6 lists the 

DHS screening questions on cervical cancer. 

While Tanzania and Albania only assessed respondents’ awareness of cervical cancer screening, South 

Africa collected information on the diagnosis of cervical cancer. The 2010 DHS in Colombia also asked if 

respondents had ever been vaccinated for cervical cancer. Thus, the majority of DHS countries focused on 

people’s behavior regarding cancer testing rather than collecting information on the test results. 

Table 6. DHS questions on cervical cancer 

Questions DHS surveys 

Have you ever had a PAP smear test? 

IF YES: Did you receive the results of the last pap-smear test? 

(Guatemala, Honduras 2005/2006, 2011) 

Have you ever had a PAP smear test to check for cervical cancer? 

Have you ever given a cervical smear for Papanicolau test or Pap 

test, also known as "a cytology smear test"? 

Have you had a PAP smear test in the last 12 months? 

When was the last time that you had a PAP smear test? 

Have you had a PAP smear test in the last 3 years? 

What was the results of the last test? 

Have you had a PAP smear test in the last five years? 

Have you ever taken a gynecology exam? 

Was a PAP smear test a part of the last exam? 

Have you ever had a cervical cancer test? 

Have you ever taken the screening of breast cancer or cervical 

cancer? (Burkina Faso) 

Have you ever had a test or exam to see if you have cervical 

cancer? (Namibia) 

IF YES: What type of exam did you have to see if you have cervical 

cancer? (Namibia) 

Have you ever had a cytology test? (Colombia) 

If YES: Did you receive the results of the last cytology test? 

(Colombia 2005, 2010) 

IF YES: Based on the results, was biopsy requested? (Colombia 

2010) 

Guatemala 1998 

Honduras 2005/2006 

Honduras 2011 

Jordan 2007 

Jordan 2012 

Lesotho 2009 

Armenia 2010 

Tajikistan 2012 

Dominican Republic 1996 

Dominican Republic 2002 

Dominican Republic 2007 

Dominican Republic 2013 

Armenia 2010 

Bolivia 2003 

Bolivia 2008 

Bolivia 2003 

Bolivia 2008 

Peru 2009 

Peru 2010 

Peru 2011 

Peru 2012 

Philippines 2003 

Brazil 1996 

Côte d’Ivoire 2011 

Burkina Faso 2010 

Namibia 2013 

Colombia 1990 

Colombia 2005 

Colombia 2010 

(Continued) 
12 

Table 6. − Continued

Questions DHS surveys 

Have you ever taken a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer? Colombia 2010 

Has a doctor or nurse or staff member at a clinic or at hospital told 

you that you had or have any of the following conditions: cancer? 

IF YES: Did the doctor/nurse/staff member at a hospital tell you 

what kind of cancer you have? 

IF YES: What kind of cancer were you told you had or have? 

South Africa 1998 

2.3 Analysis 

This report first assesses the prevalence rates of hypertension and diabetes for countries in which biomarker 

data are available. Specifically, the analyses summarize: 1) response rates for measuring blood pressure 

and fasting blood glucose; 2) prevalence rates of hypertension and diabetes; 3) differentials in prevalence 

rates by age, education, wealth status, and residence; 4) adjusted effects of age, education, wealth status, 

and residence associated with hypertension and diabetes. 

Prevalence rates of hypertension and diabetes were estimated based on biomarker measurements and selfreported data. Cutoff points recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National 

Institute of Health (NIH) were used for the classification of hypertension. Individuals were considered 

hypertensive if their systolic blood pressure was 140 mmHg or higher or if their diastolic blood pressure 

was 90 mmHg or higher. Individuals were also considered hypertensive if they had a normal blood pressure 

reading but were taking antihypertensive medication. For diabetes, according to WHO recommendations, 

individuals with fasting plasma glucose value of 7.0 mmol/l or higher were classified as diabetic. Similar 

to hypertension, individuals who did not have an elevated level of blood glucose but were taking 

medications to treat diabetes were considered to be diabetic. 

We also assessed behavioral indicators related to breast cancer and cervical cancer to illustrate proxy 

measures to biomarkers collected in the DHS surveys. Data from one of the most recent DHS surveys, the 

2013 DHS in Namibia, was used to illustrate indicators on breast cancer and cervical cancer. 

All analyses were conducted separately for women and men in each country. When multiple surveys are 

available in one country (e.g., Peru), only the most recent survey was analyzed. Sampling weights and the 

effects of the complex DHS sample design were taken into consideration. 
13 

3 Results 

3.1 Coverage Rates for Blood Pressure Measurement 

Coverage rates for blood pressure and diabetes measurements were assessed in 10 DHS countries. Table 7 

shows the percentage of eligible women and men whose blood pressure was measured and the number of 

respondents with valid blood pressure measurements. 

Table 7. Percentage (unweighted) of eligible women and men who had their blood pressure 

measured, and the number of respondents with valid blood pressure measurements (weighted), 

DHS surveys in 10 countries, 2006-2013 

Country/survey Age range 

Percentage 

measured for blood 

pressure 

(unweighted) 

Number of eligible 

respondents 

(unweighted) 

Number of 

respondents with 

valid blood pressure 

measurements 

(weighted) 

Albania 2008/09 

 Women 15-49 96.0 3793 3564 

 Men 15-49 94.0 3069 2829 

Azerbaijan 2006 

Women 15-49 99.0 8444 8391 

Men 15-59 94.0 2717 2547 

Bangladesh 2011 

 Women 35 and older 92.3 4311 3959 

 Men 35 and older 86.3 4524 3869 

Benin 2011/12 

 Women 15-49 93.4 5494 5132 

 Men 30-64 91.1 2876 2625 

Egypt 2008 

 Women 15-59 99.4 6290 6237 

 Men 15-59 99.9 5718 5702 

Kyrgyz Republic 2012 

 Women 15-49 99.0 8208 8105 

 Men 15-49 97.0 2413 2328 

Lesotho 2009 

 Women 15-49 96.0 4017 3857 

 Men 15-59 96.0 3317 3167 

Namibia 2013 

Women 35-64 80.7 2584 2048 

Men 35-64 70.7 2163 1406 

Peru 2012 

 Women 40 and older 96.5 16543 16821 

 Men 40 and older 93.8 15226 14457 

Ukraine 2007 

 Women 15-49 74.0 6841 5379 

 Men 15-49 74.0 3178 2452 

The number of respondents with valid blood pressure measurements was obtained by removing 

observations without measurements for any of the following reasons: refused, don’t know, technical 

problems, other problems, and missing. The response rates for blood pressure measurements ranged from 

70.7% among men in Namibia to 99.9% among men in Egypt. Ukraine had the lowest response rate for 

both women and men primarily because respondents refused to be measured. In Namibia, refusal and 

participants’ absence in the household were the two main reasons for the low response rate. The estimated 
14 

prevalence of hypertension from biomarker measures in these two countries could be biased by the 

nonresponse. 

3.2 Prevalence of Hypertension and Differentials by Selected Socio-demographic Characteristics 

The estimated prevalence of hypertension, high blood pressure, and intake of antihypertensive medicine is 

summarized in Table 8. The results indicate that prevalence of hypertension is highest among women and 

men in Namibia, 44.0% and 44.6%, respectively. However, blood pressure data in Namibia were collected 

from older respondents (age 35 to 64) while other countries collected data from younger respondents 

(usually, age 15 to 49). These differences in the age range of respondents within and between countries 

render comparative analysis difficult at this time. 

Table 8. Prevalence of hypertension, high blood pressure, and medication taking behavior among 

women and men, DHS surveys in 10 countries, 2006-2013 

Country/survey Age range 

High blood pressure 

(systolic 140 or 

higher/diastolic 90 

or higher) 

Normal blood 

pressure and taking 

antihypertensive 

medication 

Prevalence of 

hypertension 

Number of 

respondents 

Albania 2008/09 

 Women 15-49 19.5 0.5 20.1 3564 

 Men 15-49 27.6 0.3 27.9 2829 

Azerbaijan 2006 

 Women 15-49 12.2 3.7 15.8 8391 

 Men 15-59 19.0 0.8 19.8 2547 

Bangladesh 2011 

 Women 35-96 25.5 6.3 31.8 3959 

 Men 35-95 16.2 3.2 19.5 3869 

Benin 2011/12 

 Women 15-49 7.7 2.0 9.6 5132 

 Men 30-64 25.4 2.7 28.1 2625 

Egypt 2008 

 Women 15-59 8.7 4.5 13.2 6237 

 Men 15-59 9.5 1.6 11.1 5702 

Kyrgyz Republic 2012 

 Women 15-49 6.4 2.2 8.5 8105 

 Men 15-49 4.4 0.5 4.9 2328 

Lesotho 2009 

 Women 15-49 11.3 4.3 15.6 3857 

 Men 15-59 12.4 1.2 13.6 3167 

Namibia 2013 

 Women 35-64 36.0 8.0 44.0 2048 

 Men 35-64 38.7 5.9 44.6 1406 

Peru 2012 

 Women 40-96 20.2 7.3 27.5 16821 

 Men 40-96 24.3 3.8 28.1 14457 

Ukraine 2007 

 Women 15-49 20.8 2.9 23.7 5379 

 Men 15-49 30.4 0.8 31.2 2452 

Table 9 and 10 present the weighted prevalence of hypertension among women and men by age groups, 

educational levels, wealth quintiles, and residence. The analysis revealed that in every country, the 

estimated prevalence of hypertension was higher among older respondents than that of younger respondents 

regardless of their sex. In Peru, for instance, women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s or older had a hypertension 
15 

prevalence of 12.5%, 23.5%, and 45.9%, respectively. A similar linear trend was also found among men in 

the same age groups with the hypertension prevalence of 15.5%, 25.8%, and 42.8%. Thus, hypertension 

has been a major health concern especially among older populations in recent years. 

The distribution of hypertension prevalence by educational levels substantially differed between countries 

and gender groups. In Ukraine, respondents with no formal education had the highest prevalence of 

hypertension while the prevalence was highest among respondents with higher education in Lesotho. In 

Bangladesh, the estimated prevalence did not substantially differ among women by educational levels while 

a clear difference was found among men. More specifically, the estimated hypertension prevalence for men 

with no formal education and higher education was 16.4% and 34.2%, respectively. 

A substantial variation was also found for the estimated hypertension prevalence by wealth quintiles. In 

Albania, for instance, the poorest quintile had the highest prevalence of hypertension for both women at 

26.5% and men at 32.4%. However, the richest quintile was most affected by hypertension in Peru at the 

prevalence of 33.1% for women and 36.1% for men. The results highlighted the importance of country- and 

gender-specific analysis of hypertension by educational background and wealth levels. 

The analysis of hypertension prevalence by type of residence revealed that rural residents in Albania, 

Azerbaijan, and Ukraine had a higher prevalence than urban residents for both women and men. In 

Bangladesh, Benin, Egypt, Lesotho, Namibia, and Peru, the prevalence was higher among urban residents 

than that of rural residents. In Kyrgyz Republic, the distribution of hypertension prevalence differed by 

type of residence and gender groups. While the prevalence was higher among women in rural areas than 

that of women in urban areas, the urban-rural difference among men was trivial (5.1% versus 4.9%). 

In accordance with the findings from descriptive analysis, multivariate analysis revealed that older women 

and men had a higher odds of having hypertension than younger respondents in every country (see 

Appendix Tables A1 and A2). In Albania, For instance, the odds of having hypertension among female 

respondents who were 40 to 49 year olds was 6.8 times higher than that of those women who were 15 to 29 

year olds by holding their educational levels, socioeconomic status, and type of residence constant 

(p<0.001). The results suggested that age has a strong independent association with hypertension across the 

countries while education, wealth levels, and type of residence may be independently associated with 

hypertension only in a few countries. 
16

Table 9. Prevalence of hypertension among women by socio-demographic characteristics, DHS surveys in 10 countries, 2006-2013 

Characteristics 

Albania 

2008/09 

Azerbaijan 

2006 

Bangladesh 

2011 

Benin 

2011/12 

Egypt 

2008 

Kyrgyz 

Republic 

2012 

Lesotho 

2009 

Namibia 

2013 

Peru 2012 

Ukraine 

2007 

Age  15-29 7.4 5.8 N/A 5.2 4.6 2.5 8.5 N/A N/A 7.6  30-39 22.3 17.9 18.0 11.0 10.8 9.3 19.8 26.6 N/A 23.4  40-49 35.1 31.2 27.7 21.1 20.5 22.2 34.9 44.4 12.5 45.8  50-59 N/A N/A 35.6 N/A 41.6 N/A N/A 55.3 23.5 N/A  60 or above N/A N/A 46.0 N/A N/A N/A N/A 55.4 45.9 N/A 

Education*  No 0 11.7 32.7 9.7 18.8 0 9.1 52.8 30.3 48.8  Primary 24.5 15.8 28.0 10.2 20.7 2.6 17.1 42.9 29.4 25.7  Secondary 18.6 16.1 35.3 9.1 8.5 8.3 13.9 41.7 25.4 24.6  Higher 7.6 14.4 33.1 7.9 8.8 8.9 18.5 45.2 23.7 23.0 

Wealth Quintile  Lowest 26.5 18.2 24.8 7.8 11.6 9.7 10.7 32.5 22.7 25.6  Second 19.6 17.2 27.6 7.7 12.3 10.3 13.0 41.2 22.4 25.3  Middle 22.9 16.9 27.7 9.9 13.9 8.3 16.6 44.6 27.9 25.5  Fourth 19.8 14.9 34.0 10.9 13.6 9.7 16.6 52.9 29.1 21.6  Highest 12.3 12.5 43.8 11.0 14.2 5.7 18.2 48.4 33.1 21.4 

Residence  Urban 15.8 14.4 40.2 10.5 14.8 6.4 18.8 50.6 29.6 22.1  Rural 23.5 17.7 29.3 8.9 11.9 9.8 14.0 38.3 22.5 27.2 

Total 20.1 15.8 31.8 9.6 13.2 8.5 15.6 44.0 27.5 23.7 

Number of respondents 3564 8391 3959 5132 6237 8105 3857 2048 16821 5379 *Seven observations for educational attainment were missing in Namibia. N/A=data not available 
17

Table 10. Prevalence of hypertension among men by socio-demographic characteristics, DHS surveys in 10 countries, 2006-2013 

Characteristics 

Albania 

2008/09 

Azerbaijan 

2006 

Bangladesh 

2011 

Benin 

2011/12 

Egypt 

2008 

Kyrgyz 

Republic 

2012 

Lesotho 

2009 

Namibia 

2013 

Peru 2012 

Ukraine 

2007 

Age  15-29 17.5 8.5 N/A N/A 5.4 2.3 7.6 N/A N/A 14.1  30-39 29.5 16.6 9.5 25.2 8.3 5.3 16.4 30.8 N/A 37.2  40-49 40.2 29.8 15.6 26.6 15.7 10.2 21.1 40.9 15.5 51.6  50-59 N/A 43.0 20.6 31.8 28.7 N/A 35.4 57.2 25.8 N/A  60 or above N/A N/A 29.1 43.4 N/A N/A N/A 65.2 42.8 N/A 

Education*  No 17.6 33.1 16.4 27.3 15.4 100.0 15.8 43.4 31.3 43.2  Primary 32.4 48.2 16.8 28.0 12.8 4.5 11.9 43.1 27.7 0.0  Secondary 26.6 19.3 20.2 30.7 8.6 4.9 12.6 42.9 26.3 32.9  Higher 19.1 20.5 34.2 25.5 14.0 5.0 28.4 58.8 30.9 29.5 

Wealth Quintile  Lowest 32.4 21.5 12.9 25.4 10.0 3.9 14.0 30.3 22.1 36.3  Second 30.0 22.8 15.8 25.4 11.1 4.5 10.7 43.8 21.5 28.5  Middle 30.8 24.6 16.7 26.7 10.3 5.8 10.7 40.9 27.9 31.4  Fourth 27.8 15.4 20.9 29.7 10.9 6.7 14.4 50.5 31.5 36.1  Highest 20.5 15.7 30.4 32.1 13.0 4.1 17.9 52.9 36.1 26.6 

Residence  Urban 24.0 17.8 25.1 31.0 11.7 5.1 17.3 50.9 30.8 31.2  Rural 31.5 22.5 17.7 25.9 10.7 4.9 12.2 37.8 22.4 31.3 

Total 27.9 19.8 19.5 28.1 11.1 4.9 13.6 44.6 28.1 31.2 

Number of respondents 2829 2547 3869 2625 5702 2328 3167 1406 14457 2452 *Three observations for educational attainment were missing in Namibia. N/A=data not available 
18 

3.3 Coverage Rates for Blood Glucose Measurement 

Table 11 shows the percentage of eligible women and men in Bangladesh and Namibia whose blood glucose 

was measured. The number of respondents with valid blood glucose measurements was obtained by 

removing observations with the responses: refused, don’t know, technical problems, other problems, and 

missing. 

Table 11. Percentage of women and men eligible for blood glucose measurement who had valid 

measurements, DHS surveys in Bangladesh and Namibia, 2011-2013 

Country/survey Age range 

Percentage measured for 

fasting blood glucose 

(unweighted) 

Number of eligible 

respondents 

(unweighted) 

Number of respondents 

with valid blood glucose 

measurements 

(weighted) 

Bangladesh 2011 

 Women 35 and older 98.7 3884 3815 

 Men 35 and older 98.5 3796 3717 

Namibia 2013 

Women 35-64 75.0 2584 1874 

Men 35-64 63.8 2163 1223 

In Bangladesh, over 90% of eligible respondents provided their blood samples for measuring their blood 

glucose while the coverage rates were lower in Namibia. More specifically, only 75% of eligible women 

and 63.8% of eligible men provided their blood glucose data. As such, the estimated prevalence of diabetes 

may be biased. 

3.4 Prevalence of Diabetes and Differentials by Selected Socio-demographic Characteristics 

Table 12 summarizes the estimated prevalence of diabetes, high blood glucose, and medication taking 

behavior in Bangladesh and Namibia. The estimated prevalence of diabetes in Bangladesh was 

approximately 11.3% for women and 10.7% for men. In Namibia, the prevalence was 5.7% for women and 

6.8% for men. As with the estimated prevalence of hypertension, a comparative analysis remains difficult 

because Bangladesh and Namibia included a different age range of respondents. This age difference may 

have partially contributed to the observed difference in diabetes prevalence between these countries. 

Table 12. Prevalence of diabetes, high blood glucose, and medication taking behavior, DHS 

surveys in Bangladesh and Namibia, 2011-2013 

Country/survey Age range 

Fasting blood 

glucose 7 mmol/L 

or above 

Normal FPG and 

taking medication 

Prevalence of 

diabetes 

Number of 

respondents 

Bangladesh 2011 

 Women 35 and older 9.7 1.6 11.3 3815 

 Men 35 and older 9.5 1.1 10.7 3717 

Namibia 2013 

 Women 35-64 4.8 0.8 5.7 1874 

 Men 35-64 5.5 1.3 6.8 1223 
19 

The prevalence of diabetes in Bangladesh and Namibia by socio-demographic characteristics is shown in 

Table 13. The results indicate that in both Bangladesh and Namibia the prevalence of diabetes is highest 

among respondents who are older, more educated, and live in households in the upper wealth quintiles. 

Among both women and men, those in urban areas have a higher prevalence of diabetes than those in rural 

areas. The data on socio-demographic characteristics provide useful insights into the differentials associated 

with diabetes in Bangladesh and Namibia. 

Multivariate analysis suggested that age, education, and wealth status are independently associated with 

diabetes with some variations between countries and gender groups (see Appendix Table A3). In 

Bangladesh, for instance, women and men in the richest class had 2.8 and 2.1 times higher odds of having 

diabetes than respondents in the poorest class by holding their age, education, and type of residence 

constant. The results suggested that type of residence was not associated with diabetes in this analysis. 

Table 13. Prevalence of diabetes by socio-demographic characteristics, DHS surveys in 

Bangladesh and Namibia, 2011-2013 

Bangladesh 2011 Namibia 2013 

Characteristics Women Men Women Men 

Age 

 15-29 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

 30-39 9.4 6.6 2.9 4.4 

 40-49 10.7 9.8 6.7 4.4 

 50-59 13.8 12.8 6.3 10.4 

 60 or above 11.6 12.3 7.2 13.3 

Education 

 No 8.7 7.9 5.3 2.2 

 Primary 12.6 9.9 5.1 5.1 

 Secondary 17.4 10.5 5.8 8.2 

 Higher 23.1 21.5 7.3 14.6 

Wealth Quintile 

 Lowest 6.7 7.9 1.5 5.1 

 Second 7.1 7.6 3.6 1.2 

 Middle 7.9 7.3 4.2 4.9 

 Fourth 12.3 10.4 9.6 7.2 

 Highest 21.4 19.5 9.3 13.8 

Residence 

 Urban 17.3 14.9 8.0 8.7 

 Rural 9.5 9.3 3.7 5.0 

Total 11.3 10.7 5.7 6.8 

Number of respondents 3815 3717 1874 1223 

 N/A = data not available 

3.5 Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer in Namibia 

Table 14 lists the questions on breast and cervical cancer in the Namibia 2013 DHS survey, along with 

response options, and unweighted results. The dataset included two breast cancer screening questions and 

four cervical cancer screening questions. 
20 

Table 14. Screening questions on breast and cervical cancer in the Namibia 2013 DHS survey 

Questions Response Options Number of respondents Unweighted percentage

Have you ever examined your breasts to 

detect or check for breast cancer? 

Yes 322,7 32.2 

No 6,784 67.2 

Missing 7 0.1 

Has a doctor or other health professional 

examined your breasts to detect or check 

for breast cancer? 

Yes 2,248 22.4 

No 7,721 77.1 

Don’t Know 39 0.4 

Missing 10 0.1 

Have you ever heard of cervical cancer? 

Yes 6,580 65.7 

No 3,431 34.3 

Missing 7 0.1 

Have you ever had a test or exam to see 

if you have cervical cancer? 

Yes 2,559 38.9 

No 3,933 59.8 

Don’t Know 7 0.1 

Missing 81 1.2 

What type of exam did you have to see if 

you have cervical cancer? (Pap smear) 

Yes 2,392 23.9 

No 7,533 75.2 

Don’t Know/Not Sure 7 0.1 

Missing 86 0.9 

What type of exam did you have to see if 

you have cervical cancer? (Visual 

inspection with acetic acid) 

Yes 62 0.6 

No 9,863 98.5 

Don’t Know/Not Sure 7 0.1 

Missing 86 0.9 

The breast cancer screening questions addressed whether a breast exam was conducted by the woman 

herself or by a medical professional. For both questions, there were only seven individuals or 0.1% whose 

data were missing. The number of missing observations was also small in the cervical cancer screening 

questions. Screening respondents with two questions on awareness of cervical cancer and previous testtaking behavior achieves a more reliable estimate of the percentage of women who received the pap-smear 

test. 
21 

4 NCD Data Collection by WHO 

While the global health community has a myriad of NCD data collection tools available compared with the 

survey questionnaire procedure used by DHS, the WHO approach is recognized as one of the most utilized. 

To identify areas for improvement in DHS procedures, this chapter describes the NCD data collected by 

WHO and how they are collected; then the WHO approach is compared with the DHS survey questionnaire 

approach. 

4.1 The WHO STEPS Approach 

To facilitate NCD data collection among member countries, WHO created a STEPS approach or framework 

that consists of three data collection steps: 1) questionnaire to collect self-reported data on sociodemographic characteristics and NCD risk behaviors; 2) physical measurements to obtain data on 

anthropometry and blood pressure levels; and 3) biochemical measurements to collect biomarker data (e.g., 

fasting blood glucose) through laboratory tests (WHO, 2015b). Because the third step requires adequate 

laboratory resources, WHO suggests that the first two steps are appropriate for most developing countries. 

The STEPS questionnaire consists of core, expanded, and optional modules. The core module includes 

essential questions that need to be included in every survey (e.g., “Have you ever consumed an alcoholic 

drink?”), and the expanded module includes follow-up questions to obtain more detailed information on 

the same topic (e.g., “During the past 30 days, when you consumed alcoholic drinks, how often was it with 

meals?). The optional module includes a set of questions on a different NCD-related topic that the previous 

two modules do not explore (e.g., injury, mental health) (WHO, 2015c). Therefore, individual countries 

can select the most relevant questions in the STEPS questionnaire. 

For the second and the third steps of the STEPS approach WHO employs internationally established and 

accepted methods for collecting and measuring biomarker measures. Individuals age 18 and older are 

identified as hypertensive if the average measured blood pressure is raised (SBP ≥ 140 or DBP ≥ 90) or if 

the adult respondent is actively taking medication for hypertension (WHO, 2015a [Global Reference of 

Core Indicators]). Diabetes is identified from a fasting blood glucose measure (FBG ≥126 mg/dl 

(7.0 mmol/l) or if the adult respondent is actively taking medication for elevated blood glucose (WHO, 

2015a [Global Reference of Core Indicators]). Table 15 shows the indicators used to confirm diagnosis of 

an NCD. 
22 

Table 15. Reference indicators used to confirm diagnosis of an NCD 

Indicator Definition Estimated by 

Mean SBP Mean systolic blood pressure (mmHg) Based on measured BP. For multiple readings, the 

first reading is dropped and remaining are 

averaged. 

Prevalence of raised BP Percent of defined population with raised 

BP (SBP ≥ 140 OR DBP ≥ 90 OR on 

medication for raised blood pressure). 

Based on measured BP. For multiple readings, the 

first reading is dropped and remaining are 

averaged. 

Mean FBG Mean fasting blood glucose of defined 

population in mmol/l or mg/dl. 

Based on measured FBG. 

Prevalence of raised FBG Percent of defined population with FBG 

≥126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l) or on medication 

for raised blood glucose. 

Based on measured FBG. 

Although the STEPS instrument may not be utilized as frequently as the DHS questionnaire, literature has 

reported NCD data collected with the STEPS questionnaire (Nath, Garg, Deb et al., 2009; Msyamboza, 

Ngwira, Dzowela et al., 2011). Nath et al., for instance, reported the results of a cross-sectional NCD study 

based on the first step or questionnaire-based assessment in urban India while Msyamboza et al. reported 

the results of all three steps for a national NCD assessment in Malawi. Thus, the STEPS instrument can be 

adapted and utilized in accordance with available financial resources and the purpose of the study. 

4.2 WHO and DHS Surveys: A Comparison 

WHO and the DHS program employ comparable questions for the assessment of hypertension and diabetes, 

but WHO has collected limited data on cancer outcomes. More specifically, the core questions regarding 

cancer in the STEPS questionnaire only address cervical cancer except for a few country-specific 

questionnaires that examine breast cancer. The WHO survey instrument does not include questions on 

prostate cancer. 

In 2003, WHO used another questionnaire to collect NCD-related data in the World Health Survey. A 

notable difference between this questionnaire and the DHS questionnaire is that WHO employed descriptive 

vignettes to illustrate (and personalize) the questions for survey respondents. In the section on diabetes, for 

instance, a vignette regarding amputation is presented to the respondent, followed by questions about 

mobility. While amputation may result from a highway injury or conflict in some regions, it can also 

indicate poorly managed blood glucose levels. In accordance with the context of each country, adding 

similar groupings of questions/vignettes to the DHS questionnaire may increase the data collected on 

diabetes and its complications. 

Tables 16 through 18 list selected NCD questions on hypertension, diabetes, and cervical and breast cancer 

from WHO surveys. Survey language is taken from the STEPS instrument and from the questionnaire used 

for the World Health Survey in 2003. 
23 

Table 16. Example questions on hypertension in WHO surveys 

Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health worker that you have raised blood pressure 

or hypertension? 

IF YES: 

• Have you been told in the past 12 months? 

• In the past two weeks, have you taken any drugs (medication) for raised blood 

pressure prescribed by a doctor or other health worker? 

• Have you ever seen a traditional healer for raised blood pressure or hypertension? 

• Are you currently taking any herbal or traditional remedy for your raised blood 

pressure? 

Vignette: NAME has a lot of swelling in his legs due to his health condition. He has to make an 

effort to walk around his home as his legs feel heavy. 

• Overall in the last 30 days, how much of a problem did NAME have with moving 

around? 

• In the last 30 days, how much difficulty did NAME have in vigorous activities, such as 

running 3 km (or equivalent) or cycling? 

Table 17. Example questions on diabetes in WHO surveys 

Have you ever had your blood sugar measured by a doctor or other health worker? 

IF Yes: Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health worker that you have raised 

blood sugar or diabetes? 

IF YES: 

• Have you been told in the past 12 months? 

• In the past two weeks, have you taken any drugs (medication) for diabetes prescribed 

by a doctor or other health worker? 

• Are you currently taking insulin for diabetes prescribed by a doctor or other health 

worker? 

• Have you ever seen a traditional healer for diabetes or raised blood sugar? 

• Are you currently taking any herbal or traditional remedy for your diabetes? 

Have you ever been diagnosed with diabetes (high blood sugar)? 

IF YES: 

• Have you ever been treated for it? 

• Have you been taking insulin or other blood sugar lowering medications in the last 2 

weeks? 

• Are you following a special diet, exercise regime or weight control program for 

diabetes? 

Vignette (outcome of long-term diabetes): Please try to imagine what it would be like to live in the 

following health state: Below the knee amputation in one leg, with no prosthesis but with basic 

crutches available. 

• Overall, how much difficulty would a person in this state have with self-care, such as 

washing or dressing himself / herself? 

• Overall, how much difficulty would a person in this state have with moving around? 

• Overall, how much of bodily aches and pains would a person in this state have? 
24 

Table 18. Example questions on cervical and breast cancer in WHO surveys 

Have you ever had a screening test for cervical cancer, using any of these methods described 

above? (see STEPS instrument for more information) 

When was the last time you had a pelvic examination, if ever? (By pelvic examination, I mean when 

a doctor or nurse examined your vagina and uterus?) 

The last time you had the pelvic examination, did you have a PAP smear test? (By PAP smear test, I 

mean did a doctor or nurse use a swab or stick to wipe from inside your vagina, take a sample and 

send it to a laboratory?) 

When was the last time you had a mammography, if ever? (That is, an x-ray of your breasts taken to 

detect breast cancer at an early stage.) 
25 

5 Discussion and Conclusion 

5.1 Contribution of DHS to NCD Data Collection 

With the increased disease burden caused by NCDs in developing countries, international donors have 

recognized the importance of addressing NCDs in these countries. USAID (2012) has striven to ameliorate 

NCDs along with strengthening the ongoing efforts of health systems combating infectious diseases in 

resource-poor settings. Other donors, including WHO, have substantially increased the budget for NCDs 

(Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation [IHME], 2014; WHO 2013). Collecting reliable NCD data is 

of vital importance for monitoring and evaluating the global NCD control efforts. 

In line with these efforts, the DHS Program has been collecting data in many countries on two of the most 

important risk factors for NCDs: obesity and tobacco use. For example, as of 2013, DHS surveys in 49 

countries had collected data on use of tobacco by women and men (Ansara et al., 2013). Such systematic 

tracking of these risk factors provide important data for tobacco control efforts in many countries and should 

be recognized as a major contribution that DHS is making to NCD data collection. 

Among the NCDs examined in the analysis, DHS has been measuring survey respondents’ blood pressure 

in more than 10 countries, using a largely consistent approach that follows WHO guidelines. Despite 

numerous challenges in collection of diabetes biomarkers (e.g., interviewer training, fasting requirement, 

and high cost), DHS has included measuring fasting blood glucose in two recent surveys—the 2010 

Bangladesh DHS and the 2013 Namibia DHS. In addition, self-reported history of diagnosis and treatment 

of these illnesses (hypertension and diabetes) were collected. These surveys provided important data for 

countries to estimate prevalence rates of hypertension and diabetes, to identify high-risk groups, and to 

assess care-seeking behaviors in the population. For several types of cancers that are leading causes of 

cancer mortality, DHS surveys in a number of countries collected self-reported data on screening tests for 

these cancers. In some countries, multiple data points are available to assess trends. 

While recognizing the contributions DHS has made to NCD data collection, it is essential to consider 

recommendations for future NCD data collection efforts. Opportunities and challenges coexist. 

5.2 Opportunities and Challenges in Expanding NCD Data Collection in DHS Surveys 

As an established program for collecting nationally representative population and health data through 

household surveys in more than 90 countries, the DHS Program has the advantage of incorporating NCD 

data collection activities into existing standardized tools. However, as demonstrated in this analysis, while 
26 

biomarker data collection in DHS surveys is largely consistent, questions used to collect self-reported data 

are not standardized across surveys and countries. Countries may collect data on the same topic (e.g., 

cervical cancer) but the questions used have a different recall period, which renders international 

comparison unrealistic. For instance, the recall period for the experience of taking a Pap smear test varied 

substantially (e.g., 12 months, three years, five years, or ever). The development of a NCD survey module 

with standardized questions would contribute greatly to overcoming this challenge, and provide 

comparative measures for assessing the health status and behaviors of populations in low- and middleincome countries. 

During Phase 7 of the DHS Program, an NCD module to standardize data collection on NCDs is being 

developed. This module will be included in the standard DHS questionnaire at the country’s request. Some 

major caveats to the development of an NCD module should be considered. 

Age ranges for NCD data collection 

If NCD data are going to be systematically collected, a major issue is whether the questions or biomarkers 

should be limited to certain ages, for example, 35 and older. In recent surveys in Bangladesh and Namibia, 

for example, biomarkers for hypertension and diabetes were collected for older adults. However the 

standard age ranges for DHS interviews that collect detailed data are 15-49 for women and 15-54(59) for 

men. This limits our ability to link biomarker data with individual background and behavioral data, which 

is important for studying the factors associated with these illnesses. The standard age range in DHS surveys 

also limits the utility of the data collected on self-reported NCD measures (e.g., screening tests). Given the 

finite budgets of DHS surveys, extending the age range of surveys to include older adults would necessarily 

have to come at the cost of reducing the sample size at younger ages, which is not desirable for measuring 

indicators that are more relevant to younger populations. 

Challenges in biomarker tests 

The inclusion of blood pressure measurement in DHS surveys is the easiest component to put in place. The 

equipment is simple and inexpensive, and respondents are generally happy to cooperate. However, the 

additional training costs involved should not be underestimated. In some surveys (e.g., Egypt), addition of 

the blood pressure component added at least a full day to the interviewer training. Where the training is 

already lengthy and intense, adding an extra module on blood pressure measurement should be judged in 

relation to the potential impact on other aspects of the training and the burden on interviewers/health staff 

in the field. Also, while providing blood pressure measurements to respondents may improve rapport, the 

costs may need to be weighed against the potential utility of collecting the data. 
27 

The inclusion of blood glucose testing in DHS surveys is much more challenging than blood pressure 

measurements because it requires additional expensive equipment and detailed training. The requirement 

that individuals fast before the test also increases the complexity of data collection and requires callbacks 

in many cases. It is important to keep good records of the number of callback visits required to obtain the 

data in order to evaluate the complexity of collecting blood glucose readings and to assess data quality. In 

the case of biomarker collection for diabetes, the cost-benefit analysis should be even more critical in 

deciding whether to include fasting blood glucose measurement. 

In addition to these challenges in collecting biomarkers, estimating prevalence rates for hypertension and 

diabetes requires more detailed information on the medication(s) an individual is taking to determine if 

he/she is on antihypertensive treatment. Currently, DHS surveys only asked if the respondent is taking any 

medications to control elevated blood pressure, without soliciting details on the drugs. 

In conclusion, the DHS Program has made a substantial contribution to understanding the demographic, 

nutritional, and health status of populations in low- and middle-income countries for the past three decades. 

Having a more systematic approach to what is included in the module and how the data are collected will 

be useful in addressing the issue of NCDs worldwide. However, the collection of NCD-relevant data in 

DHS surveys should be considered a “niche” module that is relevant primarily to middle-income countries. 

NCD data collection in DHS surveys is, for the reasons discussed, less relevant for many low-income 

countries. At this stage, we do not advocate expanding NCD data collection as a whole in the DHS Program. 

29 

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31 

Appendix 

Table A1. Results of multiple logistic regression of hypertension among women by demographic 

characteristics in odds ratio 

Albania 

2008/09 

Azerbaijan 

2006 

Bangladesh 

2011 

Benin 

2011/12

Egypt 

2008 

Kyrgyz 

Republic 

2012 

Lesotho 

2009 

Namibia 

2013 

Peru 

2012 

Ukraine 

2007 

Age 

 15-29 REF REF N/A REF REF REF REF N/A N/A REF 

 30-39 3.60*** 3.51*** REF2 2.40*** 2.44*** 3.91*** 2.59*** REF2 N/A 3.71*** 

 40-49 6.77*** 7.49*** 1.73*** 5.27*** 4.91*** 10.96*** 5.70*** 2.25*** REF 10.35*** 

 50-59 N/A N/A 2.64*** N/A 13.01*** N/A N/A 3.77*** 2.14*** N/A 

 60 or above N/A N/A 4.28*** N/A N/A N/A N/A 4.03***3 6.26*** N/A 

Education 

 No REF1 REF REF REF REF REF1 REF REF REF REF1

 Primary REF1 2.11 0.88 1.12 1.07 REF1 2.30 0.66* 1.26** REF1

 Secondary 0.79* 1.65 1.17 1.17 0.86 2.84 2.03 0.65* 1.08 0.66 

 Higher 0.42*** 1.76 0.92 0.71 0.70 2.87 1.95 0.55* 0.97 0.58 

Wealth Quintile 

 Lowest REF REF REF REF REF REF REF REF REF REF 

 Second 0.67* 0.97 1.22 1.05 0.96 1.05 1.29 1.50* 1.06 1.03 

 Middle 0.88 0.96 1.17 1.35 1.16 0.88 1.64* 1.73** 1.43** 1.18 

 Fourth 0.95 0.84 1.52** 1.51 1.01 1.12 1.66* 2.13*** 1.54*** 0.97 

 Highest 0.63 0.67 2.31*** 1.59 1.13 0.80 1.62 1.67* 1.75*** 1.02 

Residence 

 Urban REF REF REF REF REF REF REF REF REF REF 

 Rural 1.32 1.14 0.78* 0.97 0.86 1.43* 0.78 0.60** 0.82* 1.28* 

Total 

 Respondents 3564 8391 3959 5132 6237 8105 3857 2035 16809 5379 

 df (9, 424) (10, 292) (11, 570) (10, 709) (11, 1187) (9, 290) (10, 371) (11, 490) (10, 1366) (9, 483) 

 F-statistic 27.78 38.78 17.76 16.42 51.64 36.12 17.63 13.40 109.15 47.49 

Notes: 1

Due to a small sample size, two categories are combined. 2Respondents who are 35 to 39 years old. 3Respondents who are 60 

to 64 years old. 

*p<0.05 **p<0.01 ***p<0.001 
32 

Table A2. Results of multiple logistic regression of hypertension among men by demographic 

characteristics in odds ratio 

Albania 

2008/09 

Azerbaijan 

2006 

Bangladesh 

2011 

Benin 

2011/12

Egypt 

2008 

Kyrgyz 

Republic 

2012 

Lesotho 

2009 

Namibia 

2013 Peru 2012

Ukraine 

2007 

Age 

 15-29 REF REF N/A N/A REF REF REF N/A N/A REF 

 30-39 1.97*** 2.17*** REF1 REF 1.64** 2.38*** 2.30*** REF1 N/A 3.59*** 

 40-49 3.12*** 4.94*** 1.83** 1.39** 3.39*** 4.93*** 3.29*** 1.56** REF 6.58*** 

 50-59 N/A 9.12*** 2.74*** 2.35***4 7.68*** N/A 7.43*** 3.20*** 1.88*** N/A 

 60 or older N/A N/A 4.83*** N/A N/A N/A 4.77***2 4.26*** N/A 

Education 

 No REF REF REF REF REF REF3 REF REF REF REF3

 Primary 1.82 2.03 0.99 0.97 1.05 REF3 1.14 0.98 1.00 REF3

 Secondary 1.50 0.39 1.18 1.02 1.09 0.21 1.46 0.93 1.04 0.88 

 Higher 1.19 0.45 2.32*** 0.69 1.77** 0.20 2.88** 1.60 1.09 0.75 

Wealth Quintile 

 Lowest REF REF REF REF REF REF REF REF REF REF 

 Second 0.95 1.09 1.21 1.05 1.10 1.24 0.69 1.54 1.03 0.75 

 Middle 1.08 1.26 1.25 1.12 0.95 1.50 0.72 1.25 1.49*** 0.78 

 Fourth 1.05 0.62 1.55** 1.28 0.94 1.64 0.94 1.61 1.62*** 1.07 

 Highest 0.80 0.57 2.17*** 1.48 0.92 0.95 0.88 1.43 1.84*** 0.69 

Residence 

 Urban REF REF REF REF REF REF REF REF REF REF 

 Rural 1.23 1.12 0.93 0.86 0.98 0.85 0.94 0.58** 0.90 0.88 

Total 

 Respondents 2829 2547 3869 2625 5702 2328 3167 1399 14440 2452 

 df (10, 422) (11, 291) (11, 570) (11, 687) (11, 1157) (9, 290) (11, 370) (11, 482) (10, 1368) (9, 446) 

 F-statistic 8.08 13.21 18.91 3.46 25.49 5.35 11.54 10.31 60.14 22.58 

Notes: 1

Respondents who are 35 to 39 years old. 2Respondents who are 60 to 64 years old. 3Due to a small sample size, two categories 

are combined. 4

Due to an issue of collinearity, two groups are combined. *p<0.05 **p<0.01 ***p<0.001 
33 

Table A3. Results of multiple logistic regression of diabetes by demographic characteristics in 

odds ratio. 

Bangladesh 2011 Namibia 2013 

Women Men Women Men 

Age 

 15-29 N/A N/A N/A N/A 

 30-39 REF1 REF1 REF1 REF1 

 40-49 1.17 1.56 2.20* 0.96 

 50-59 1.76** 2.23** 2.22 2.58* 

 60 or above 1.70* 2.38*** 3.30*2 4.20***2

Education 

 No REF REF REF3 REF4 

 Primary 1.41* 1.22 0.83 2.61 

 Secondary 1.64* 1.15 0.72 3.79 

 Higher 1.88* 2.24*** 0.61 5.16* 

Wealth Quintile 

 Lowest REF REF REF REF 

 Second 1.04 0.91 2.60 0.19* 

 Middle 1.10 0.83 3.17* 0.65 

 Fourth 1.65* 1.15 7.45*** 0.82 

 Highest 2.81*** 2.07** 7.14** 1.32 

Residence 

 Urban REF REF REF REF 

 Rural 0.87 1.00 0.83 0.83 

Total 

 Respondents 3815 3717 1862 1217 

 df (11, 568) (11, 570) (11, 481) (11, 464) 

 F-statistic 9.20 7.21 3.79 2.92 

Notes: 1

Respondents who are 35 to 39 years old. 2Respondents who are 60 to 64 years old. 3Seven 

observations for the education attainment were missing. 4

Three observations for the education 

attainment were missing.

*p<0.05 **p<0.01 ***p<0.001