MICS survey reveals an uptick in mental health issues among young persons

The Government of Belize today officially released the results of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS7) during a ceremony in Belmopan. MICS, developed globally by UNICEF, is one of the most comprehensive household survey programs used to assess the health and social conditions of women and children.  The newly published data provides updated national statistics across a wide range of areas, including child mortality, child marriage before age 18, secondary school attendance, child labor, and gender-based violence. These indicators play a vital role in shaping public policies and guiding national priorities.  Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Amalia Mai, underscored the critical importance of data-driven decision-making and emphasized how the survey empowers policymakers to better target interventions and improve outcomes for families across the country.

Amalia Mai, CEO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “And it also reveals persistent issues, gaps in early childhood, education, multidimensional child poverty, and the continued prevalence of violence affecting our children. But this data, even though it may not be the best, it is critical that we have it so that we can improve the lives of our children. These indicators are essential, therefore, for monitoring progress towards our national development priorities and global commitments including the sustainable development goals the SDGs and the Children’s Agenda 2017 to 2030. This data and information must also guide our policy interventions and collective action and strengthen our resolve to ensure that no child is left behind in Belize. For this ministry, this data could not be more timely. The release of the MIC7 coincides with the start of the planning for the new UNICEF country program document. Similarly, the timeframe of the medium-term development strategy Plan Belize, is drawing to a close and preparatory work is beginning towards the next MTDS. These overlapping processes must be driven by evidence and data. The MICS provides exactly the kind of credible and relevant data needed to ensure that Belize’s development agenda and external partnerships are aligned with the lived realities of our children and families. The baseline of the MICS will later support our assessment of the impact of these programs. The thematic insights from the MICS 7, which we’ll hear about later this morning, will help us identify where our efforts are working and where intensified coordination, policy, and interventions are required.”

MICS7 is a collaborative effort among the Government of Belize, UNICEF, and the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), which took the lead in implementing the survey. SIB Director General Diana Castillo explained the methodology and process behind the extensive data collection, ensuring accuracy and national representation.

Diana Castillo Trejo, Director General, Statistical Institute of Belize: “The MICS is the largest regularized household survey carried out in Belize, second only to the population and housing census in its size, scope, coverage, and complexity. Its execution entailed more than a year of planning and preparatory work, a month of field staff training, four months of data collection, and almost a year of data processing, analysis and validation. All of this was guided by the rigorous mixed methodology which has been developed and refined by UNICEF over the course of the past three decades. For such an undertaking to be successful, it needs to be treated as a national project, and I acknowledge the government of Belize for recognizing the value of the MICS 7, fully endorsing it and prioritizing its execution. Moreover, as the implementing agency, the SIB certainly was not alone in carrying it out. Our partners at UNICEF and various key government agencies provided invaluable technical and logistical support throughout the entire life cycle of the survey, from questionnaire design to procurement to public awareness to resource mobilization. It will fill critical data gaps and support SDG monitoring and reporting, as well as inform the implementation of the next iteration of the Plan Belize Medium Term Development Strategy. Most importantly, it will be used to improve the health, educational outcomes, and well-being of children and women across Belize. Staff of the SIB and other stakeholders have benefited from numerous in-depth trainings during the course of the project, including workshops on survey design, sampling, data processing, data interpretation, and report compilation. And even as we are launching the findings at today’s event, the training continues.”

The total project cost amounted to $1.9 million. UNICEF provided 80 percent of the funding, while Government ministries and partner agencies contributed 11 percent. The remaining 9 percent was financed by SIB.  The complete findings, including detailed indicators and regional breakdowns, are now publicly available on the Statistical Institute of Belize’s website. Officials say the results will be crucial in advancing Belize’s social development agenda and strengthening programs that support women, children, and vulnerable populations.