Zimbabwe 2014 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey

The 2014 Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) was conducted between February and April in 2014 by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT). Technical and financial support for the survey was coordinated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The MICS is designed to provide statistically sound and internationally comparable data essential for developing evidence-based policies and programmes and for monitoring progress towards national goals and global commitments, to enhance the welfare of women and children. Among these global commitments are those emanating from the World Fit for Children Declaration and Plan of Action, the goals of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS), the Education for All Declaration (EFA) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Zimbabwe MICS 2014 results are critical for final MDG reporting in 2015, and are expected to form part of the baseline data for the post-2015 era. The MICS plays a critical role in informing national policies such as the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimASSET) October 2013 to December 2018. The study covers the following areas: sample and survey methodology, sample coverage and the characteristics of households and respondents, child mortality, child nutrition, child health, water and sanitation, reproductive health, early childhood development, literacy and education, child protection, HIV and sexual behaviour, mass media and information and communication technology, and tobacco and alcohol use.

The Zimbabwe MICS is a nationally representative survey of 17,047 households, comprising 14,408 women in the 15-49 years age group, 7,914 men age 15-54 years and 10,223 children under 5 years of age. The sample allows for the estimation of some key indicators at the national, provincial and urban/rural levels. A two stage, stratified cluster sampling approach was used for the selection of the survey sample.