Calculating Childhood Mortality Rates from Algerian MICS Surveys Using the DHS.rates Package

Mesli Redhouane; Madani Salima

doi:doi:10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11

Methodology Article |

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Calculating Childhood Mortality Rates from Algerian MICS Surveys Using the DHS.rates Package

Mesli Redhouane^*

, Madani Salima

Published in Medicine and Life Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 1)

Received: 16 August 2025 Accepted: 29 August 2025 Published: 16 January 2026

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Abstract

The R DHS.rates package is a new statistical tool specifically designed to calculate key indicators for infant and child mortality, as well as fertility, at both national and subnational levels, using Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data and, with minor adjustments, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) data. In addition to point estimates, the package also provides precision measures such as standard errors (SE), design effects (DEFT), relative standard errors (RSE), and confidence intervals. The package has been developed in accordance with the DHS Guide to Statistics and the DHS Sampling and Household Listing Manual, ensuring compliance with internationally recognized standards. By applying the DHS.rates R package to the Algerian MICS4 survey data (2012), we recalculated childhood mortality rates and compared them with the figures published in the official MICS report. The analysis revealed significant discrepancies, suggesting that the estimates originally obtained using the SPSS syntax package provided by the MICS program were incorrect. These inconsistencies were corrected using the DHS.rates package and validated by the SYNCMRATES module in Stata, both of which rely on standardized, transparent, and reliable methodologies. This study highlights the importance of using well-tested analytical tools for the accurate computation of key demographic indicators, which are essential for research, policy formulation and monitoring progress toward national and international development goals.

Published in	Medicine and Life Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11
Page(s)	1-9
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

DHS.rates Package, DHS, MICS, Infant Mortality Rates, DHS Guide to Statistics

References

[1]	Boerma JT, Sommerfelt AE. Demographic and health surveys (DHS): Contributions and limitations. World Health Statistics Quarterly, 46(4), 222–226; 1993. Available from: https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/51969
[2]	Elkasabi, M. Calculating fertility and childhood mortality rates from survey data using the DHS.rates R package. PLOS ONE, 14(5), e0216403; 2019. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216403
[3]	Verhulst A. Child mortality estimation: An assessment of summary birth history methods using microsimulation. Demographic Research. 2016; 34(39): 1075–1128. https://doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2016.34.39
[4]	UNICEF. (n.d.). MICS SPSS Syntax Pack. New York: UNICEF. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://mics.unicef.org/tools?round=mics4#dataprocessing (link no longer active).
[5]	International Institute for Vital Registration and Statistics (IIVRS). Approaches to the measurement of childhood mortality: A comparative review. IIVRS Technical Paper No. 51. Bethesda, MD: IIVRS; 1992. Available from: https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/crvs/documents/IIVRS_papers/IIVRS_paper51.pdf
[6]	Masset, E. SYNCMRATES: Stata module to compute child mortality rates using synthetic cohort probabilities [Statistical Software Component S458149]. Boston College Department of Economics; 2016. Available from: https://ideas.repec.org/c/boc/bocode/s458170.html
[7]	UNICEF. MICS6 Tools, Analysis: MICS6 SPSS Syntax Files (42_Syntax_Files_20220509.zip); 9 May 2022. Available from: https://mics.unicef.org/tools?round=53
[8]	Elkasabi, M. DHS.rates (R package, Version 0.9.2). CRAN. 2025. Available from: https://doi.org/10.32614/CRAN.package.DHS.rates
[9]	Croft, Trevor N., Aileen M. J. Marshall, Courtney K. Allen, et al. Guide to DHS Statistics (DHS-7). Rockville, Maryland, USA: ICF; 2018. Available from: https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/DHSG1/Guide_to_DHS_Statistics_DHS-7.pdf
[10]	Hill K. Estimation *diredt estimation of infant mortality from birth history. In: Moultrie TA, Dorrington RE, Hill AG, Hill K, Timæus IM, Zaba B, editors. Tools for Demographic Estimation. Paris: International Union for the Scientific Study of Population; 2015. Available from: https://demographicestimation.iussp.org/fr Accessed 2025 Aug 28.
[11]	Ministry of Health, Population and Hospital Reform (Algeria), & UNICEF. Algeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2012–2013, Final Report. Algiers, Algeria: Ministry of Health, Population and Hospital Reform and UNICEF; 2015. Available from: https://catalog.ihsn.org/catalog/8134/download/88559
[12]	Schmidt L, Elkasabi MA. Accumulating Birth Histories across Surveys for Improved Estimates of Child Mortality. DHS Working Papers No. 177. Rockville, Maryland, USA: ICF; November 2020. Available from: https://dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-WP177-Working-Papers.cfm
[13]	Croft T. Mortality (Under Five mortality). The DHS Program User Forum. Message 805, January 2013. Available from: https://userforum.dhsprogram.com/index.php?t=msg&goto=15138&S=Google
[14]	Ministry of Health and Population (Algeria), & UNICEF. Algeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2018–2019. New York: UNICEF; 2021. Available from: https://ghdx.healthdata.org/record/algeria-multiple-indicator-cluster-survey-2018-2019
[15]	Mesli R. Calculating Algerian fertility rates using MICS4 SPSS syntax files. Review of applied economics and statistics. 2022; 19(3): 6-19. Available from: https://asjp.cerist.dz/en/article/204047

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APA Style

Redhouane, M., Salima, M. (2026). Calculating Childhood Mortality Rates from Algerian MICS Surveys Using the DHS.rates Package. Medicine and Life Sciences, 2(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11

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ACS Style

Redhouane, M.; Salima, M. Calculating Childhood Mortality Rates from Algerian MICS Surveys Using the DHS.rates Package. Med. Life Sci. 2026, 2(1), 1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11

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AMA Style

Redhouane M, Salima M. Calculating Childhood Mortality Rates from Algerian MICS Surveys Using the DHS.rates Package. Med Life Sci. 2026;2(1):1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11

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@article{10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11,
  author = {Mesli Redhouane and Madani Salima},
  title = {Calculating Childhood Mortality Rates from Algerian MICS Surveys Using the DHS.rates Package},
  journal = {Medicine and Life Sciences},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-9},
  doi = {10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.mls.20260201.11},
  abstract = {The R DHS.rates package is a new statistical tool specifically designed to calculate key indicators for infant and child mortality, as well as fertility, at both national and subnational levels, using Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data and, with minor adjustments, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) data. In addition to point estimates, the package also provides precision measures such as standard errors (SE), design effects (DEFT), relative standard errors (RSE), and confidence intervals. The package has been developed in accordance with the DHS Guide to Statistics and the DHS Sampling and Household Listing Manual, ensuring compliance with internationally recognized standards. By applying the DHS.rates R package to the Algerian MICS4 survey data (2012), we recalculated childhood mortality rates and compared them with the figures published in the official MICS report. The analysis revealed significant discrepancies, suggesting that the estimates originally obtained using the SPSS syntax package provided by the MICS program were incorrect. These inconsistencies were corrected using the DHS.rates package and validated by the SYNCMRATES module in Stata, both of which rely on standardized, transparent, and reliable methodologies. This study highlights the importance of using well-tested analytical tools for the accurate computation of key demographic indicators, which are essential for research, policy formulation and monitoring progress toward national and international development goals.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Calculating Childhood Mortality Rates from Algerian MICS Surveys Using the DHS.rates Package
AU  - Mesli Redhouane
AU  - Madani Salima
Y1  - 2026/01/16
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11
T2  - Medicine and Life Sciences
JF  - Medicine and Life Sciences
JO  - Medicine and Life Sciences
SP  - 1
EP  - 9
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11
AB  - The R DHS.rates package is a new statistical tool specifically designed to calculate key indicators for infant and child mortality, as well as fertility, at both national and subnational levels, using Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data and, with minor adjustments, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) data. In addition to point estimates, the package also provides precision measures such as standard errors (SE), design effects (DEFT), relative standard errors (RSE), and confidence intervals. The package has been developed in accordance with the DHS Guide to Statistics and the DHS Sampling and Household Listing Manual, ensuring compliance with internationally recognized standards. By applying the DHS.rates R package to the Algerian MICS4 survey data (2012), we recalculated childhood mortality rates and compared them with the figures published in the official MICS report. The analysis revealed significant discrepancies, suggesting that the estimates originally obtained using the SPSS syntax package provided by the MICS program were incorrect. These inconsistencies were corrected using the DHS.rates package and validated by the SYNCMRATES module in Stata, both of which rely on standardized, transparent, and reliable methodologies. This study highlights the importance of using well-tested analytical tools for the accurate computation of key demographic indicators, which are essential for research, policy formulation and monitoring progress toward national and international development goals.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Mesli Redhouane

Sociology and Population Sciences Department, Blida 2 University, Blida, Algeria

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0005-6758-5167
Madani Salima

Sociology and Population Sciences Department, Blida 2 University, Blida, Algeria

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0007-0064-530X

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Redhouane, M., Salima, M. (2026). Calculating Childhood Mortality Rates from Algerian MICS Surveys Using the DHS.rates Package. Medicine and Life Sciences, 2(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11

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ACS Style

Redhouane, M.; Salima, M. Calculating Childhood Mortality Rates from Algerian MICS Surveys Using the DHS.rates Package. Med. Life Sci. 2026, 2(1), 1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11

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AMA Style

Redhouane M, Salima M. Calculating Childhood Mortality Rates from Algerian MICS Surveys Using the DHS.rates Package. Med Life Sci. 2026;2(1):1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11,
  author = {Mesli Redhouane and Madani Salima},
  title = {Calculating Childhood Mortality Rates from Algerian MICS Surveys Using the DHS.rates Package},
  journal = {Medicine and Life Sciences},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-9},
  doi = {10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.mls.20260201.11},
  abstract = {The R DHS.rates package is a new statistical tool specifically designed to calculate key indicators for infant and child mortality, as well as fertility, at both national and subnational levels, using Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data and, with minor adjustments, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) data. In addition to point estimates, the package also provides precision measures such as standard errors (SE), design effects (DEFT), relative standard errors (RSE), and confidence intervals. The package has been developed in accordance with the DHS Guide to Statistics and the DHS Sampling and Household Listing Manual, ensuring compliance with internationally recognized standards. By applying the DHS.rates R package to the Algerian MICS4 survey data (2012), we recalculated childhood mortality rates and compared them with the figures published in the official MICS report. The analysis revealed significant discrepancies, suggesting that the estimates originally obtained using the SPSS syntax package provided by the MICS program were incorrect. These inconsistencies were corrected using the DHS.rates package and validated by the SYNCMRATES module in Stata, both of which rely on standardized, transparent, and reliable methodologies. This study highlights the importance of using well-tested analytical tools for the accurate computation of key demographic indicators, which are essential for research, policy formulation and monitoring progress toward national and international development goals.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Calculating Childhood Mortality Rates from Algerian MICS Surveys Using the DHS.rates Package
AU  - Mesli Redhouane
AU  - Madani Salima
Y1  - 2026/01/16
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11
T2  - Medicine and Life Sciences
JF  - Medicine and Life Sciences
JO  - Medicine and Life Sciences
SP  - 1
EP  - 9
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mls.20260201.11
AB  - The R DHS.rates package is a new statistical tool specifically designed to calculate key indicators for infant and child mortality, as well as fertility, at both national and subnational levels, using Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data and, with minor adjustments, Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) data. In addition to point estimates, the package also provides precision measures such as standard errors (SE), design effects (DEFT), relative standard errors (RSE), and confidence intervals. The package has been developed in accordance with the DHS Guide to Statistics and the DHS Sampling and Household Listing Manual, ensuring compliance with internationally recognized standards. By applying the DHS.rates R package to the Algerian MICS4 survey data (2012), we recalculated childhood mortality rates and compared them with the figures published in the official MICS report. The analysis revealed significant discrepancies, suggesting that the estimates originally obtained using the SPSS syntax package provided by the MICS program were incorrect. These inconsistencies were corrected using the DHS.rates package and validated by the SYNCMRATES module in Stata, both of which rely on standardized, transparent, and reliable methodologies. This study highlights the importance of using well-tested analytical tools for the accurate computation of key demographic indicators, which are essential for research, policy formulation and monitoring progress toward national and international development goals.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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