Time series data for the statistic Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) and country Lesotho. Indicator Definition:Under-five mortality rate is the probability per 1,000 that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five, if subject to age-specific mortality rates of the specified year.The indicator "Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births)" stands at 58.90 as of 12/31/2023, the lowest value at least since 12/31/1961, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -4.23 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is -4.23.The 3 year change in percent is -11.83.The 5 year change in percent is -14.76.The 10 year change in percent is -26.56.The Serie's long term average value is 117.02. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is 49.67 percent lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2023, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is +0.0%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/1965, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is -68.44%.

Time series data for the statistic Birth_Rate_Crude_Per_1000_People and country Lesotho. Indicator Definition:Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.The statistic "Birth Rate Crude Per 1000 People" stands at 24.11 per mille as of 12/31/2023, the lowest value at least since 12/31/1961, the period currently displayed. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes a decrease of -0.283 percentage points compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percentage points is -0.283.The 3 year change in percentage points is -1.52.The 5 year change in percentage points is -3.25.The 10 year change in percentage points is -5.88.The Serie's long term average value is 34.61 per mille. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is 10.51 percentage points lower, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percentage points from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2023, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is +0.0.The Serie's change in percentage points from it's maximum value, on 12/31/1960, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is -20.46.

Actual value and historical data chart for Lesotho Completeness Of Birth Registration Percent

In 2021, the leading causes of death in Africa were lower respiratory infections, malaria, and stroke. That year, lower respiratory infections resulted in around 65 deaths per 100,000 population in Africa. Leading causes of death in Africa vs the world Worldwide, the top three leading causes of death in 2021 were heart disease, COVID-19, and stroke. At that time, some of the leading causes of death in Africa, such as lower respiratory infections and stroke, were among the leading causes worldwide, but there were also stark differences in the leading causes of death in Africa compared to the leading causes worldwide. For example, malaria, diarrheal disease, and preterm birth complications were among the top ten leading causes of death in Africa, but not worldwide. Furthermore, HIV/AIDS was the eighth leading cause of death in Africa at that time, but was not among the top ten leading causes worldwide. HIV/AIDS in Africa Although HIV/AIDS impacts every region of the world, Africa is still the region most impacted by this deadly virus. Worldwide, there are around 40 million people currently living with HIV, with about 20.8 million found in Eastern and Southern Africa and 5.1 million in Western and Central Africa. The countries with the highest HIV prevalence worldwide include Eswatini, Lesotho, and South Africa, with the leading 20 countries by HIV prevalence all found in Africa. However, due in part to improvements in education and awareness, the prevalence of HIV in many African countries has decreased. For example, in Botswana, the prevalence of HIV decreased from 26.1 percent to 16.6 percent in the period from 2000 to 2023.

Abstract

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) conducted the 2009 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS) to collect population-based data to inform the Health Sector Reform Programme (2000-2009), evaluate the strides made since the first LDHS was conducted in 2004, set a baseline for new programmes, and provide information for policy and strategic planning.

The 2009 LDHS was conducted using a representative sample of women and men of reproductive age.

The objectives were to: - Provide national data on key demographic indicators, particularly fertility and child and adult mortality rates - Analyze the direct and indirect factors that determine the level of and trends in fertility - Measure the level of contraceptive knowledge and practice of women and men by method, urban-rural residence, and region - Provide data on family health, including immunization coverage among children, prevalence and treatment of diarrhoea and other diseases among children under age 5, maternity care indicators including antenatal visits, and assistance at delivery - Provide data on child feeding practices, including breastfeeding, the nutritional status of women and children, and the prevalence of anaemia among children under age 5, women age 15-49, and men age 15-59 - Provide data on knowledge and attitudes of women and men about sexually-transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, and evaluate patterns of recent behaviour regarding condom use - Provide information on the prevalence of HIV among women age 15-49 and men age 15-59 - Provide biomarker data on blood pressure among women age 15-49 and men age 15-59

Geographic coverage

The 2009 LDHS was designed to provide estimates of health and demographic indicators at the national level, for urban-rural areas, and for each of the ten districts of Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Berea, Maseru, Mafeteng, Mohale's Hoek, Quthing, Qacha's Nek, Mokhotlong, and Thaba-Tseka.

Analysis unit

• Households
• Individuals
• Women age 15-49
• Men age 15-59

Kind of data

Sample survey data

Sampling procedure

The 2009 LDHS was designed to provide estimates of health and demographic indicators at the national level, for urban-rural areas, and for each of the ten districts of Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Berea, Maseru, Mafeteng, Mohale's Hoek, Quthing, Qacha's Nek, Mokhotlong, and Thaba-Tseka. The 2009 LDHS sample points (clusters) were selected from a list of enumeration areas (EAs) defined for the 2006 Lesotho Population and Housing Census. A total of 400 clusters were drawn from the census sample frame, 94 in the urban areas and 306 in the rural areas. The clusters were selected with probability proportional to size (PPS).

Bureau of Statistics (BOS) staff conducted an exhaustive listing of households in each of the LDHS clusters from July through December 2009. From these lists, a systematic sample of households was drawn for a total of 10,000 households, about 25 households on average per cluster. All women age 15-49 identified in the entire sample of households were eligible for individual interview. In addition, half of these households (5,000 households) were selected randomly, and in these households, all men age 15-59 were eligible for individual interview. In the LDHS households where men were interviewed, all children under age 6 were eligible for height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference measurements as well as anaemia testing. In the same households, women and men who were eligible for individual interview were also eligible for height, weight, and blood pressure measurements in addition to anaemia and HIV testing.

Note: See detailed sample design information in the APPENDIX A of the final 2009 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey Final Report.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face

Research instrument

Three types of questionnaires were used for the LDHS: the Household Questionnaire, the Woman’s Questionnaire, and the Man’s Questionnaire. The contents of the questionnaires were based on questionnaires developed for the MEASURE DHS programme. The LDHS questionnaires were developed in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders. After the LDHS survey instruments were drafted, they were translated into and printed in the local language, Sesotho, for pre-testing.

The Household Questionnaire was used to list all the usual members and visitors to the selected households. Basic information was collected on the characteristics of each person listed, including age, sex, education, and relationship to the head of the household. The Household Questionnaire was also used to identify persons eligible for the individual interview. In addition, information was collected about the dwelling, such as the source of water, type of toilet facilities, materials used to construct the house, and ownership of various consumer goods. The results of anthropometric measurement and anaemia testing were recorded in the Household Questionnaire, as was the information on the consent of eligible household members for the HIV testing.

The Woman’s Questionnaire was used to collect information on the following topics: - Background characteristics (age, education, employment, religion, etc.) - Birth history and childhood mortality - Knowledge and use of family planning methods - Antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care - Infant feeding practices, including patterns of breastfeeding - Childhood vaccinations - Episodes of childhood illness and responses to illness - Marriage and sexual activity - Fertility preferences - Husband’s background and the woman’s work status - Adult mortality, including maternal mortality - HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour - Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour related to other health issues

The Man’s Questionnaire was shorter than the Woman’s Questionnaire but covered many of the same topics, excluding the reproductive history and sections dealing with maternal and child health and maternal mortality.

In this survey, instead of paper questionnaires, personal data assistants (PDAs) were used to record responses during interviews. Bluetooth wireless technology was used for electronic transfer of files, such as transfer of the assignment sheet from the team supervisor to the interviewers, transfer of household questionnaires among survey team members, and transfer of completed questionnaires to team and central office supervisors. The PDA interview applications were implemented using the mobile version of CSPro, which was developed by the MEASURE DHS project in collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau.

Cleaning operations

All data files for the LDHS were stored in a computer at the MOHSW Headquarters. The data processing operation included secondary editing, which involved checking for inconsistencies. The LDHS data entry and editing programmes used CSPro, a computer software package specifically designed for processing survey data such as that produced by DHS surveys. Data processing commenced in November 2009 and was completed in February 2010.

Response rate

A total of 9,994 households were selected for the sample, of which 9,619 were found occupied during data collection. Of the existing households, 9,391 were successfully interviewed, yielding a household response rate of 98 percent.

In these households, 7,786 women were identified as eligible for the individual interview. Interviews were completed with 98 percent of these women. Of the 3,493 eligible men identified in the sub-sample of households selected, 95 percent were successfully interviewed. Overall, response rates were higher in rural areas than in urban areas.

See summarized response rates in Table 1.2 which is presented in the Final Report.

Sampling error estimates

Estimates derived from a sample survey are affected by two types of errors: 1) non-sampling errors, and 2) sampling errors. Non-sampling errors are the results of mistakes made in implementing data collection and data processing, such as failure to locate and interview the correct household, misunderstanding of the questions on the part of either the interviewer or the respondent, and data entry errors. Although numerous efforts were made during the implementation of the 2009 Lesotho DHS (LDHS) to minimise this type of error, non-sampling errors are impossible to avoid and difficult to evaluate statistically.

Sampling errors, on the other hand, can be evaluated statistically. The sample of respondents selected in the 2009 LDHS is only one of many samples that could have been selected from the same population, using the same design and expected size. Each of these samples would yield results that differ somewhat from the results of the actual sample selected. Sampling errors are a measure of the variability between all possible samples. Although the degree of variability is not known exactly, it can be estimated from the survey results.

A sampling error is usually measured in terms of the standard error for a particular statistic (mean, percentage, etc.), which is the square root of the variance. The standard error can be used to calculate confidence intervals within which the true value for the population can reasonably be assumed to fall. For example, for any given statistic calculated from a sample survey, the value of that statistic will fall within a range of plus or minus two times the standard error of that statistic in 95 percent of all possible samples of identical size and design.

If the sample of respondents had been selected as a simple random sample, it would have been possible to use straightforward formulas for calculating sampling errors. However, the 2009 LDHS sample is the

Time series data for the statistic Life_Expectancy and country Lesotho. Indicator Definition:Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life.The statistic "Life Expectancy" stands at 57.38 years as of 12/31/2023, the highest value since 12/31/1994. Regarding the One-Year-Change of the series, the current value constitutes an increase of 0.991 percent compared to the value the year prior.The 1 year change in percent is 0.991.The 3 year change in percent is 4.07.The 5 year change in percent is 5.01.The 10 year change in percent is 15.80.The Serie's long term average value is 52.64 years. It's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is 8.99 percent higher, compared to it's long term average value.The Serie's change in percent from it's minimum value, on 12/31/2006, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is +32.87%.The Serie's change in percent from it's maximum value, on 12/31/1988, to it's latest available value, on 12/31/2023, is -3.69%.