Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys

The Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) are household surveys implemented by countries under the programme developed by the United Nations Children's Fund to provide internationally comparable, statistically rigorous data on the situation of children and women. The first round of surveys (MICS1) was carried out in over 60 countries in mainly 1995 and 1996 in response to the World Summit for Children and measurement of the mid decade progress. A second round (MICS2) in 2000 increased the depth of the survey, allowing monitoring of a larger number of globally agreed indicators. A third round (MICS3) started in 2006 and aimed at producing data measuring progress also toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), A World Fit for Children, and other major relevant international commitments. The fourth round, launched in 2009, aimed at most data collection conducted in 2010, but in reality most MICS4s were implemented in 2011 and even into 2012 and 2013. This represented a scale up of frequency of MICS from UNICEF, now offering the survey programme on a three year cycle. The fifth round, launched in 2012, was aimed at offering countries the tools to do the final MDG data collection. In 2016, the sixth round was launched with an effort towards collecting baseline data for the new set of global goals and targets the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As of mid 2022, a total of more than 350 surveys have been completed in 119 countries and territories. The MICS is highly comparable to the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and the technical teams developing and supporting the surveys are in close collaboration.

At the core of MICS is the list of indicators. In MICS6 this is a compilation of now 200 distinct indicators (237 counting those requiring sex disaggregate). The list is not inclusive of all standard tabulations produced in a full survey, but forms those that are central to global monitoring by UNICEF and others. The list is a central message in MICS, as no question is asked in the questionnaires without directly contributing to an indicator algorithm or a background variable. Thus, survey specific additional questions are always suggested to follow the same guidelines: No question should be asked without a clear plan for tabulation of results.

The MICS questionnaires In November 2017 additional questionnaire modules were tested in Malawi. A similar exercise was conducted in Belize in April 2019. The MICS Programme is participating in the methodological development of new data collection tools, such as on water quality testing, child disability, external economic support, and impact of emergencies. A methodological paper series was launched in 2012. The programme has been evaluated following rounds 1, 3, and 4.

Survey data are widely used, predominantly in multi country analyses, but also often for simple trend analyses in single countries. An example of use of MICS data is provided by Monasch et al. (2004). Due to the near perfect comparability between MICS and DHS, much analysis draws on multiple data sets of both programmes. However, each survey programme have modules specific to their mandates and not often used in both programmes. For example, a recent compilation of evidence on child discipline makes use of surveys that included the Child Discipline Module; these were all MICS. Most global statistics, such as on the indicators of the MDGs rely heavily on data collected through MICS (and other household surveys), particularly for countries where administrative reporting systems are not entirely adequate. Other global statistics rely on only household survey data, such as the Multidimensional Poverty Index developed by OPHI and reported by UNDP. Examples of recent publications are listed under external links.

Takeuchi, LR (2015), "Intra household inequalities in child rights and wellbeing: a barrier to progress?". ODI Development Progress, Research Report 02, March 2015
Arabi, M., Frongillo, E. A., Avula, R. and Mangasaryan, N. (2012), "Infant and Young Child Feeding in Developing Countries". Child Development, 83: 32–45. Sipsma et al. (2012), "Female genital cutting: current practices and beliefs in western Africa". Bull World Health Organ 2012;90:120–127F
Cappa, C. and Khan, SM (2011), "Understanding caregivers’ attitudes towards physical punishment of children: Evidence from 34 low and middle income countries". Child Abuse & Neglect. Volume 35, Issue 12, December 2011, Pages 1009–1021