Data resource profile: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Child Development
• International Data Management

Background:

• The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is crucial for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating vital data.
• UNICEF's work supports the promotion of children's rights and well-being globally.
• Data collection is essential for monitoring progress towards international development goals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the scope and methodology of UNICEF's global databases.
• To highlight the importance of reliable data for policy-making and program development.
• To showcase the accessibility and utility of UNICEF's data resources.

Main Methods:

• UNICEF maintains global databases covering nearly 200 countries.
• Data are compiled from household surveys, censuses, administrative records, and statistical models.
• Annual updates ensure data comparability and statistical soundness, with quality assessments performed.

Main Results:

• Databases cover child mortality, health, nutrition, immunization, education, and protection.
• Data are available globally, regionally, nationally, and sub-nationally, disaggregated by sex, residence, and wealth.
• UNICEF data are featured in major publications and accessible online.

Conclusions:

• UNICEF's data are a critical resource for understanding and improving children's lives worldwide.
• The rigorous data collection and quality assurance ensure reliable information for global use.
• Publicly accessible data facilitate research, policy development, and advocacy for children's rights.