The Data and Analytics Section of UNICEF is pleased to share two recently released resources to inform and support the collection of data on early childhood development and children with functional difficulties in the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). Both guidance notes cover key aspects of survey design and implementation such as questionnaire design; customization and translation; training; fieldwork; data processing, analysis and reporting.
The first provides some general background and key considerations for integrating the Early Childhood Development Index 2030 (ECDI2030) as part of DHS. The ECDI2030 is a conceptually valid, culturally adequate and robust measure of early childhood development among children aged 24 to 59 months and is the recommended measure for monitoring and reporting on SDG indicator 4.2.1. It addresses the need for nationally representative and internationally comparable data on children’s developmental outcomes, collected in a standardized way. The measure is accompanied by a set of standard tools to support its implementation that can be accessed here.
The second note provides background and important considerations for integrating the Child Functioning Module (CFM), developed by UNICEF and the Washington Group on Disability Statistics, into DHS. The CFM assesses difficulties in various domains of functioning among children aged 2 to 17 years. It conforms to the biopsychosocial model of disability, focusing on the presence and extent of functional difficulties rather than on body structure or conditions. Resources to support implementation of the CFM can be accessed on the official website here.