The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, or MICS, is a collaboration between the Statistical Institute of Belize and UNICEF. It aims to collect and analyze data about Belize citizens in order to better inform policy making. The survey, which is repeated every 5 years, focuses on the wellbeing of the country's women and children. Today the results of the survey were presented and reviewed by key stakeholders, who began work on using the data to advise policymakers. We spoke to UNICEF's Social Policy Specialist and Officer-in-charge about the findings of the survey.
Ilija Talev - Officer-in-Charge, UNICEF Belize
"Today we're at the Biltmore in order to present the results of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. It's a complicated name for a survey which UNICEF together with the government of Belize, specifically the Statistical Institute of Belize conducts every 5 years in the country to collect information on the wellbeing of women and children, primarily. And families in a variety of domains, ranging from health, education, violence, knowledge about HIV, a variety of areas. Tobacco consumption, alcohol consumption etc. The reason why, as our motto suggests, we're collecting this evidence to improve the wellbeing in order for us to be able to design effective policies that will then address any of the issue that we identify through this survey. So, specifically today, we are going together with our partners in the country, government, civil society, media etc., we're going and exploring the details, module by module in the different domains. Together with experts, who are helping us analyze the trends, because as I said we conducted the same survey five years ago, and to look at some of the changes that have happened in society over time and to help us identify why these changes have taken place."
As the survey is conducted every five years, one of UNICEF's and the Statistical Institute's main objectives is to look for both negative and positive trends. Some of these were influenced by the actions taken after the previous surveys. Talev told us more about what has changed.
Ilija Talev - Officer-in-Charge, UNICEF Belize
"Well there's a number of improvements, and I think across the board we're looking at improvements in the general wellbeing. Now, when you look at the individual domains, you notice for example one of the things that we measure through this survey is the tendency of early childhood education. We've noticed that that has gone up, and we're very proud because we think that a lot of our efforts and a lot of the efforts the country has invested a lot, and we're hoping to see even a greater increase. We went from about 30% attendance to about 50% now attendance in early childhood education. Which is excellent, because providing children with a good start in life is what we're all looking forward to. We're also looking at improvements in knowledge and practices regarding HIV, sexual behavior. We're also looking at improvements in the area of violence, albeit a small one because we are still seeing from the survey very high levels of violence against children. Physical, psychological etc. Which means that we have to commit more resources, more financial and also human resources to addressing the issue of violence. Raising awareness about the consequences, what are the risks for children who are exposed to violence and the families where violence occurs, and what are the long term consequences as a whole as well."
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