The survey, implemented by the Central Statistical Office with technical support from UNICEF, captures a broad range of social and economic indicators that will help guide future policy decisions and measure the country’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
Database Systems Engineer at the Central Statistics Office, Patrick Dujon, pointed out that the survey provides information that extends far beyond traditional statistics.
“In terms of the CSO, it provides us with a vast range of data. Data that sometimes is not collected by some of our external partners or ministries in Saint Lucia. Being the central repository for all data, being able to conduct such a survey, and housing such data are critical for us. Everything is driven through data, which is like the world’s new oil. So, in terms of implementing good policy that doesn’t sit on a shelf, but one that actually helps the people of Saint Lucia, the MICS is one of the surveys I see that provides a multi-faceted approach to various data points that are not necessarily connected for our administrative data.”
For the first time, the survey includes men alongside women and children, providing a more complete picture of life in Saint Lucia. Among the areas examined are nutrition, education, mental health, internet access, sanitation, drinking water quality, financial inclusion, domestic violence, menstrual health, child development and attitudes toward disability.
“Being a male myself, the first thing I’ll note is that men were actually assessed during that data, on the same um level that the women were assessed. The data looks at the socioeconomic data for women, um specifically 15 to 49, um children under five, children between 5 to 17, um and then it looks at men 15 to 49 and boys 5 to 17. It also looked at um the use of proper sanitation um facilities. It looked at the accessibility of electricity and the accessibility to have an account. It looked at um the wealth quintile of various aspects of Saint Lucia. “
MICS7 also examined the unmet needs of women and men, public perceptions and attitudes toward domestic violence, and the availability of mental health support services, as well as attitudes toward mental health among young people aged 15 to 24.
UNICEF has supported the survey from its design stage in 2024 through data collection and now the final interpretation process.
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer with UNICEF’s Eastern Caribbean Area Office, Tashana Providence-Ford, said the workshop focused on validating the information before publication.
“Now we are at the data interpretation and report compilation aspect of MICS. And this is where the data will be validated. So, the data that was collected on the ground, our various stakeholders within the various ministries here throughout Saint Lucia are here to question that data. And so once we have their approval, we will now have the final report that will be written, as well as some snapshots of the information that was collected on the ground from the persons within Saint Lucia. “
Providence-Ford says the survey generates internationally comparable data that will help policymakers identify gaps, target resources where they are needed most and monitor national development priorities. MISC, she says, generates high-quality data and information that will strengthen the country’s statistical capacity while improving outcomes for children, women, and families.
Officials say once the validation process is complete, the final report and accompanying statistical snapshots will be released nationally, providing government agencies, researchers, development partners, and the public with one of the most comprehensive pictures of social conditions in Saint Lucia.