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Baseline Salud Mesoamerica Belize: LQAS Survey 2015

By Health, Nutrition and Population Division (VPS/SCL/HNP)

This dataset provides baseline survey data from Belize collected for an impact evaluation under the Salud Mesoamérica Initiative (SMI), a results-based initiative that works to reduce inequalities in maternal and child health across Mesoamerica. Supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) together with its partners, SMI targets health gaps affecting the poorest populations, and rigorous evaluation surveys like this one provide the evidence used to measure progress over time.

The data come from a baseline survey of women of reproductive age conducted in 2015 in three districts of Belize: Cayo, Corozal, and Orange Walk. The survey applied a Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) approach, a method commonly used in health programs to assess whether coverage and quality benchmarks are being met in defined areas. As a baseline, it establishes the starting conditions against which later changes in maternal, neonatal, sexual, and reproductive health indicators can be assessed.

What the data covers

The dataset bundles survey microdata together with the documentation needed to interpret it, including the LQAS survey instrument, variable names, data dictionaries, and a data-quality report for the baseline community survey. Files are provided in formats suitable for analysis, including CSV and Stata (.dta), with supporting documentation in PDF.

Intended uses

The data support research and policy analysis on maternal and child health, access to healthcare, health-system performance, and health inequality in Belize and the broader Mesoamerican region. Themes captured by the survey include maternal health, neonatal mortality, sexual and reproductive health, teenage pregnancy, poverty, and access to care.

Access and citation

The dataset is openly available through the IDB Open Data portal under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 IGO license and carries a DOI for stable referencing. Users should consult the included data-quality report and dictionaries to interpret the LQAS design and variables correctly.

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Metadata & use

Identifier https://doi.org/10.60966/4luc042k
License Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivs 3.0 IGO
Citation

Lesaca Esquiroz, Javier (2017). Baseline Salud Mesoamerica Belize: LQAS Survey 2015. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/4luc042k
Published date 2017-03-17
Modified date 2026-10-02
Tags/Keywords Access · Healthcare · Healthcare Systems · Inequality · Maternal Health · Mesoamerica · Neonatal Mortality · Poverty · Sexual And Reproductive Health · Teenage Pregnancy
Language
  1. Spanish
In Series Salud Mesoamerica Health Initiative Datasets
Temporal coverage 2015-2015
Country
Belize
Region Latin America and the Caribbean
Publisher
Inter-American Development Bank
Author
Lesaca Esquiroz, Javier
Data collection type Survey Data
Statistical type Cross-sectional Data
Data structure Structured Data
Data notes

What is the Salud Mesoamérica Initiative (SMI)?

The Salud Mesoamérica Initiative is a results-based initiative focused on reducing inequalities in maternal and child health across Mesoamerica, with the Inter-American Development Bank as a key partner. This dataset comes from one of its impact evaluations.

Who was surveyed and where?

The baseline survey covered women of reproductive age and was conducted in three districts of Belize: Cayo, Corozal, and Orange Walk.

What is a baseline survey and why does it matter?

A baseline survey measures conditions at the start of an evaluation, before an intervention's full effect. It establishes the reference point against which later changes in health indicators can be compared to assess progress.

What is LQAS?

LQAS stands for Lot Quality Assurance Sampling, a method commonly used in health programs to assess whether coverage and quality benchmarks are being met within defined areas. The included documentation explains how it was applied in this survey.

What year does the data cover?

The baseline survey was conducted in 2015.

What health topics does the survey address?

The survey addresses topics such as maternal health, neonatal mortality, sexual and reproductive health, teenage pregnancy, access to healthcare, health-system performance, poverty, and health inequality.

What documentation and formats are included?

The dataset includes the LQAS survey instrument, variable names, data dictionaries, and a data-quality report, with data in CSV and Stata (.dta) formats and documentation in PDF.

Under what license is this dataset available?

It is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 IGO license, which permits sharing with attribution for non-commercial purposes without creating derivative works.

How do I cite this dataset?

Cite it as: Lesaca Esquiroz, Javier (2017). Baseline Salud Mesoamerica Belize: LQAS Survey 2015. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/4luc042k

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