The 2003 Turkey Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS-2003) is the third Demographic and Health Survey in Turkey. Demographic and Health Surveys are conducted in Turkey as part of the series of quinquennial demographic surveys which has been conducted since 1968. The first two DHS surveys were carried out in 1993 and 1998. TDHS-2003 is a na­tionally representative survey of 10,836 house­holds and 8,075 ever-married women age 15-49. Fieldwork for the TDHS-2003 was carried out between December 2003 and May 2004 by the Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies, in collaboration with the General Directorate of Mother and Child Health/Family Planning, Ministry of Health. The survey was co-financed by funds provided through the national budget as a project in the annual investment program of the State Planning Organization and by the European Union within the frame of “Turkey Reproductive Health Program”, implemented by the General Directorate of Mother and Child Health/Family Planning, Ministry of Health. 

The primary purpose of the TDHS-2003 is to generate recent and reliable information on levels and trends of fertility, infant and child mortality, family plan­ning, ma­ternal and child health and nutrition. In addition, the survey collected information on respondent’s knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. Collecting these types of information is essential for making informed policy decisions, and for planning, monitoring, and evaluating programs in reproductive health. The TDHS-2003 sample is designed to allow for analyses at the national level, by urban/rural residence, and for each of five regions in the country. The TDHS-2003 sample also allows analyses for some of the survey topics for the 12 geographical regions (NUTS 1) which were adopted within the context of Turkey’s move to join the European Union. The data are intended for use by policy makers and pro­gram managers to evaluate and improve family planning and health programs in Turkey. Results of this survey can be compared with data obtained from quinquennial demographic surveys conducted in the previous years by HUIPS in Turkey.