Methodology and Quality Update

Latest Update on Methodology and Quality

03/12/2025

Statistical Presentation

Data description

The Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics present data on women's health and reproductive care in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics is a product conducted to collect data on the main characteristics as follows:
•    Reproductive health and maternity.
•    Healthcare.
It includes all topics related to meeting family planning needs. 
Data is also used to estimates:
•    Percentage of women aged 15-49, by marital status.  
•    Percentage of women aged 20-24 who were married before the age of 15 and 18 
•    Percentage of married women aged 15-49 who are currently pregnant during the reference date.
•    Percentage of married women aged 15-49 who are currently pregnant during the reference date by age group.
•    Percentage of women aged 15-49 who have previously given birth ( whether or not the children are currently alive).  
•    Percentage of women aged 15-49 who have previously given birth ( whether or not the children are currently alive) by age group. 
•    Average number of births by mother's age group.  
•    Average age at the first birth by mother's age group.
•    Percentage of prenatal care visits for the last born child - at least one visit by nationality and age group.
•    Percentage of women with at least four antenatal care visits for their last live birth, by nationality and age group.
•    Average number of antenatal care visits for the last child - by age group.
•    Percentage of births by place of birth and nationality. 
•    Percentage of total births attended by skilled health professionals.
•    Percentage of total births attended by skilled health professionals, by administrative regions.
•    Percentage by duration of stay in a healthcare institution after delivery. 
•    Percentage of women aged 49-15 years by breastfeeding within the first hour of birth.
•    Percentage of newborns who were breastfed (by the mother) during the previous day, as reported by the mother.
•    Percentage of newborns who received food through a bottle (with a nipple) during the previous day, as reported by the mother.
•    Relative distribution of women aged 15–49 based on their prior knowledge of genetic testing for newborns.
•    Relative distribution of women aged 15–49 based on the way of their knowledge about genetic testing for newborns.
•    Relative distribution of women aged 15–49 whose children were tested for genetic diseases 24–72 hours after birth.
•    Relative distribution of women aged 15–49 who had any abnormalities or genetic conditions detected in the genetic testing results for newborns in their previous pregnancies.
•    Relative distribution of women aged 15–49 who received timely treatment after the genetic testing results for newborns.
•    Percentage of married women of reproductive age 15-49 years who are currently using any method of family planning.
•    Percentage of married women of reproductive age 15-49 years who are currently using any method of family planning by type of method (modern or traditional). 
•    Relative distribution of currently used family planning methods among married women of reproductive age 15-49 years.
•    Percentage of women aged 15–49 who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care.
•    Distribution of women aged 35–49 by time since last breast cancer screening.
•    Distribution of women aged 35–49 by time since last cervical cancer screening.
•    Distribution of women aged 45–49 by menopausal status.
•    Birth weight of newborns.
•    Distribution of women aged 15–49 whose health was assessed by a postnatal care provider within two days of their last birth (at facility or home).
•    Drying of the newborn immediately after birth.
•    Immediate skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborn after birth.
•    Timing of the newborn’s first bath.
•    Assessment of newborn’s health within the first 48 hours after birth.
•    Health checks for the newborn within the first two days after birth.

Classifications

The following classifications are applied in the Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics.
The National Classification for Economic Activities (ISIC4):
It is a statistical classification based on the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities  (ISIC4) used to describe the productive activities of an establishment. 
Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations(ISCO_08):
A statistical classification based on the International Classification  (ISCO_08) that provides a system for the classification and compilation of professional information obtained through censuses, statistical surveys, and administrative records.
This classification is used in the Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics in order to classify employees based on their occupations.
Saudi Classification of Specializations and Educational Levels:
An statistical classification based on the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED_11) and (ISCED_13) for education and training, issued by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It serves as the reference classification for organizing educational programs and qualifications according to their levels and fields of study. It comprehensively covers all educational programs, levels, and methods, spanning from early childhood education to higher education levels.
This classification is used in the Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics to classify individuals 15 years and above according to their majors and education levels.
National Code of Countries and Nationalities (3166 ISO – codes Country):
A statistical classification based on the international standard  (ISO 3166_Country codes), which is a standard issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO of the UN), and this classification gives numeric and literal codes for the world’s (248) countries, based on the classification of countries.  
The classification is used in the Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics to classify Saudi or non-Saudi individuals.
Metadata is collected through interviews, so that outputs can be produces in accordance with all relevant classifications.
The classifications are available on the GASTAT’s website  www.stats.gov.sa

Statistical concepts and definitions

Terms and definitions of Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics:
•    Women Reproductive Care:
It is a set of health services and procedures dedicated to women, aimed at maintaining their reproductive health and enabling them to manage their reproductive lives safely, including pregnancy and childbirth follow-up, family planning, breastfeeding, and routine check-ups for the health of the mother and fetus.
•    Maternity: 
It is the pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding period, and subsequent childcare. Maternity begins with pregnancy and continues until the child reaches maturity.
•    Healthcare:
It is a set of services provided to maintain health and treat diseases. Healthcare includes disease prevention, early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation.
•    Health care to meet family planning needs:
It is a set of services that help individuals and couples make informed decisions about the number of children and the intervals between them. These services include:
•    Counseling:
Regarding family planning options, their benefits, and risks.
•    Providing contraceptive methods:
Such as pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and others.
•    Health status of the newborn: 
It is the overall health status of the newborn, which includes their physical and mental development, immunization against diseases, nutrition, and health care.
•    Self-reporting:
It is a process in which an individual voluntarily provides information about themselves, typically for use in a study, research, or assessment. This information may pertain to their behaviors, opinions, experiences, or health status.

Data sources

The main source of data for Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics is the Women and Child Health Survey.
The main published variables for Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics are:
•    Nationality.
•    Sex.
•    Age groups.
•    Administrative regions.

Designing the data collection tool

The data for the Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics were collected from the Women and Child Health Survey. Data collection was carried out using forms that were prepared and designed by specialists from the Health and Education Statistics Department at GASTAT. The forms were developed to meet local needs and international requirements, applying all relevant data collection tools for each indicator according to the adopted methodology. They were reviewed by judges and experts in the field of health statistics and aligned with the relevant authorities, taking into account their feedback and comments. 
The questionnaire was programmed using (CAPI) System with validation and error-checking rules implemented to ensure data quality.

Questionnaire test (cognitive test)

Communication and coordination were made with a group of participants to conduct the cognitive interview. The participants were all women aged 15-49 years. The interviews were conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams, and notes were taken while suggestions were provided regarding some terms and explanations that were unclear to the participants.

Statistical population

The statistical population of the Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics  consists of women aged 15-49 years, who normally reside in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Sample Design

The sample of the Women and Child Health Statistics Survey was implemented during the period from 24/06/2025 to 30/07/2025.
The sample for the Women and Child Health Survey 2025 was designed based on the 2022 Census frame to ensure accurate representation of the statistical population across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including various administrative regions, age groups, sex, and nationality. A stratified, clustered, and systematic random sampling method was used, where enumeration areas were considered as the primary sampling units, and households within the selected enumeration areas were considered as the final sampling units.
Stratification:
To increase the efficiency of the sample and its representativeness of the target population, the primary sampling units in the sample frame were classified into homogeneous strata. This approach was aimed at obtaining more accurate results compared to a simple random sample of the same size. The stratification was carried out as follows:
Sample size and allocation across strata:
The sample size was estimated at the level of administrative regions (study domain). The sample for the administrative regions was then distributed across strata using proportional allocation, in order to improve the precision of estimates by enhancing the design effect through reducing weight variance.
The total sample size amounted to 44,953 households. The sample size was calculated using the following parameters and determinants:
•    The allowable coefficient of variation (CV) used in the sample size calculation was less than 1% at the national level, 2.1% at the administrative region level, and 7.7% at the governorate level.
•    The design effect used in the sample was 2.43.
•    The expected response rate was 80%.
•    A confidence level of (1-α) = 0.95 was used in estimating the mean.
Table: Distribution of data at the level of administrative regions

Statistical unit (sampling unit)

The statistical unit in Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics is the woman.

Data collection

Data collection from the survey:
The data for the Women Health Statistics Publication are collected from the Women and Child Health Survey, which was conducted through Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews ( CAPI ).

Data collection frequency 

The data collection process for the Health Condition Statistics is conducted on an annual basis. 

Reference area

Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics cover 13 administrative regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Reference period (time reference)

References period to the variables or dataset as following:
Data on the number of household members and their demographic characteristics are based on the date of contact with the household and interviews conducted with its members.

Base period

Not applicable. 

Measurement unit

Some results are calculated as percentages (such as: The percentage of births that took place in health facilities.

Time coverage

The data is available from the year 2024 to 2025.

Publication frequency

The results of the Health Status Statistics are published annually according to the approved statistical plan.

Statistical processing

Error detection

Meticulous processes were implemented to detect errors in the data collected usingautomated and manual methods aimed at ensuring quality and accuracy. These included the following:
•    Identification of illogical or out-of-range values (such as impossible ages or contradictory data).
•    Detecting missing or incomplete data and handling it according to established policies.
•    Reviewing the internal consistency of the questionnaire responses to ensure data compatibility.
•    Data are reviewed and matched to ensure their accuracy and precision in a way that suits their nature, with the aim of giving the presented statistics quality and accuracy.
•    Data processing and tabulation to verify accuracy before analysis.
All data are stored and uploaded to the database after being calculated by GASTAT to be reviewed and processed by specialists in the Education and Health Statistics Department through modern technologies and software designed for this purpose.

Data integration and matching from multiple sources 

In the Women and Child Health Survey, the national ID of the head of the household is collected and linked with data from the National Information Center during the household interview. This is used to complete data on name, sex, date of birth, age, and relationship to the head of the household, which helps improve the quality of the household’s demographic data.

Imputation and calibration

Donor record method:
It is a statistical method used to compensate for missing values in records, by replacing the missing value in a specific record with a value taken from another similar record within the same sample.
Implementation steps:
•    Identifying the records that contain missing values.
•    Identifying similar donor records based on common characteristics such as: Age, sex, nationality, and administrative region.
•    Selecting the donor record either randomly or according to the closest match in characteristics.
•    Copying the required value from the donor record to the target record to compensate for the missing value.

Seasonal adjustments

Not applicable, only final results will be published.

Adjustment of preliminary results 

Not applicable, only final results will be published.

Used Resources

Quality dimensions

Suitability

A criterion that indicates how well the product meets users’ needs.

User needs 

Internal GASTAT’s users, which make use of Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics data:
•    Population, gender, and diversity statistics.
•    Living conditions, lifestyles and justice statistics
•    Health and education statistics.
Several external users and beneficiaries who greatly rely on Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics data, including:
•    Government entities.
•    Regional and international organizations.
•    Research institutions.
•    Media.
•    Individuals.
Key variables that are mostly used by external users:

Completeness 

The Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics are based on a primary source to provide comprehensive information on women and reproductive care, and the data status is complete.

Accuracy and reliability 

A standard that measures how close the calculations or estimates are to the exact or true values that reflect reality.

Overall accuracy 

•    The data collected is improved through the researchers, that have been selected according to a set of practical and objective criteria and training program related to the field of work.
•    Alert, prevention, and correction rules are applied during the data collection process on the electronic questionnaire for Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics to improve data quality.
•    Data is checked with previous years to identify any significant changes in the data.
•    The internal consistency of the data is checked before it is finalized.
•    The links between variables are checked and coherence between different data series is confirmed.

Timeliness and punctuality 

A standard that measures the time gap between the availability of information and the occurrence of the event.
However, timeliness reflects the time difference between the date of data publication and the target date when it is actually published.

Timeliness 

GASTAT uses the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) issued by the International Monetary Fund. According to this Standard, all statistics agencies are required to publish data on an annual basis, and with a delay of not more than mid of year (180 days) after the end of the reference period. If the data are from different source, they may be published in a different frequency.

Punctuality 

Publication takes place in accordance with the release dates in the published statistical calendar for Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics on GASTAT webpage.
The data are available at the expected time, as scheduled in the statistical release calendar, If the publication is delayed, reasons shall be provided.

Coherence and comparability

The ability for users to access data, the availability of accurate or complete data, and the availability of a methodology and quality report.

Comparability - geographical

The data are comparable both nationally and internationally.

Comparability - over time 

The Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics Publication started in 2023 as an annual publication.

Coherence- Cross domain

The consistency of Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics data is verified by comparing it with the results of data publications issued by the Women's and Children's Health Survey, ensuring the consistency of indicators and preventing contradictions across different statistical publications.

Coherence- Sub-annual and annual statistics 

The consistency of Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics data is checked across time series, as health status data is published annually.

Coherence- National Accounts 

Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics data do not overlap with national accounts.

Coherence- Internal 

Women's Health and Reproductive Care Statistics estimates have full internal coherence, as they are all based on the same corpus of microdata, and they are calculated using the same estimation methods.

Accessibility and clarity

The ability for users to access data, the availability of accurate or complete data, and the availability of a methodology and quality report.

Press releases

The announcements for each publication are available on the statistical calendar as mentioned in 10.1. The press releases can be viewed on the website of GASTAT on the link: 
Press release

Publications

GASTAT regularly issues publications and reports on the Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics within a pre-prepared publication plan, and they are published on GASTAT’s website.  GASTAT is keen to publish its publications in a way that serves all users of different types, including publications in different formats that contain (publication tables, data graphs, indicators, metadata, methodology, and questionnaires) in both English and Arabic.
The results of the Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics are available at:
Women Health and Reporductive Care Statistics

Online database

The data is published on the statistical database:
GASTAT (stats.gov.sa)

Microdata accessibility

Accurate data is unit-level disaggregated data obtained from multiple sources such as sample statistical surveys, general population and housing censuses, and administrative systems, providing detailed information about the characteristics of individuals, families, business entities, and geographical areas, supporting the construction and development of statistical indicators and scientific research.
The different types of microdata files to meet different information needs::
•    Public use: 
It consists of sets of records containing information on individuals, households, or business entities anonymized in such a way that the respondent cannot be identified either directly such as: (name, address, contact number, identity number etc.) or indirectly (by combining different - especially rare - characteristics of respondents) such as: (age, occupation, education etc.).
•    Scientific use:
These files were established based on a specific methodology requested by the data requester to extract the datasets with specific characteristics used for strategic studies and decision making, as well as scientific research purposes on individuals, households, and enterprises with no direct identifiers, and are subject to confidentiality protection controls.
Qualified users who meet the standards and procedures of confidentiality protection can access the files of scientific use of accurate data through the platform "ITAHA" of the General Authority for Statistics, while the most sensitive data for use is shared by visiting the accurate data laboratory within a secure environment managed by the Authority.

References and standards

A set of international methodologies was used to calculate the indicators, which are:
•    Methodology of World Health Organization (WHO).
•   EUROSTAT methodology.
•   SDGS methodology.

Quality assurance

GASTAT considers the following principles: Impartiality, ensuring that the statistical product is user-oriented, maintaining the quality of processes and outputs, enhancing the effectiveness of statistical operations, and reducing the burden on respondents. 
Data is validated through procedures and quality controls that are applied during the process at various stages,such as: (data entry, data collection, and other final controls).

Quality assessment

GASTAT performs all statistical activities according to a national model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final stage of statistical activities is overall evaluation using information gathered in each stage or sub-process. This information is used to prepare the evaluation report, which outlines all the quality issues related to the specific statistical activity and serves as input for improvement actions.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality - Policy

According to Royal Decree No. 23 dated 07/12/1379, data must always be kept confidential and must be used by GASTAT for statistical purposes only.
Therefore, the data is protected in the data servers of GASTAT.

Confidentiality - Data Treatment

Data of SMEs survey are presented in right tables in order to summarize, understand, as well as extract their results. Moreover, to compare them with other data, and to obtain statistical significance about the selected study population. However, referring to such data indicated in tables is much easier than going back to check the original questionnaire that may include some data like names and addresses of individuals, and names of data providers, which violates data confidentiality of statistical data.
“Anonymity of data” is one of the most important procedures. To keep data confidential,
GASTAT removed information on individual persons, households, or business entities such a way that the respondent cannot be identified either directly such as: (name, address, contact number, identity number etc.) or indirectly (by combining different - especially rare - characteristics of respondents) such as: (age, occupation, education etc.).

Publishing policy

Statistical calendar

Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics have been included in the statistical calendar.
Statistical Calendar

User access

One of GASTAT’s objectives is to meet its clients' needs, so it immediately provides them with the publication's results once the Women Health and Reproductive Care Statistics Publication is published.
It also receives questions and inquiries from clients about the publication and its results through various communication channels, such as:
•    GASTAT official website:  www.stats.gov.sa
•    GASTAT official email address:   info@stats.gov.sa
•    Official visits to GASTAT’s official head office in Riyadh or one of its branches in Saudi Arabia.
•    Official letters.
•    Statistical telephone: (199009).