In a new article in Quaternary Environments and Humans, CSDE Affiliate Jade d’Alpoim Guedes (Anthropology) investigates the spread of Sino-Tibetan languages to the eastern Tibetan Plateau, combining evidence from multiple scientific disciplines, applying data from linguistics, palaeoclimate and archaeology. The study focuses on the interaction among different groups of people, zooming into the contact and cultural dynamics of the eastern plateau between ca. 3300 BC to 846 AD. d’Alpoim Guedes observes diversification in both archaeological and linguistic evidence following the 4.2 kya event, suggesting a potential human response to the climate change. The results also illustrate acceptance and resistance of the populations on the Tibetan Plateau to different degrees in terms of agriculturalist economy and diversification of subsistence strategies in order to avoid risks.
IPUMS Data Updates: DHS, IHGIS, and CPS
IPUMS released multiple data updates, including DHS data, IHGIS data, and CPS data.
IPUMS DHS has released standard variables from 112 new samples, including 34 new countries. The release includes data from the women, household members, births, and children units of analysis. Users can also now request IPUMS DHS data extracts programmatically using the IPUMS API and through our client libraries for R (ipumsr) and Python (ipumspy).
IHGIS has released tables and boundary files for population and housing censuses from Benin 2013, Niger 2012, and Sierra Leone 2015. We have also added a shapefile for Kenya 2019 locations (n = 3,838) to accompany previously released data. In addition, new linking variables in the IPUMS DHS release allow users to easily attach IHGIS data to DHS records.
IPUMS CPS has added the March 2026 monthly data. We have also updated the January 2026 monthly data to reflect a revised version of the file released by the Census Bureau that incorporates the 2026 population estimates. See the IPUMS CPS revision history for details.
Chen and Colleagues Explore End-of-Life Care Characteristics among People Preferring a Language Other than English and People Preferring English
CSDE Affiliate Annie T. Chen (Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education), recently worked with lead author Lauren R. Pollack, PI Rashmi K. Sharma, and co-authors, to publish a retrospective cohort study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine that compared end-of-life care characteristics among people with dementia and a preferred language other than English (PLOE) versus people with dementia preferring English. Among nearly 7,800 decedents from 2011–2021, Decedents with dementia and PLOE were more likely to have documented goals-of-care discussions and similarly likely to have ACP documents and palliative care consultation, yet had higher hospital-based healthcare utilization near end-of-life.
Patwardhan Examines Relationship Between Community Health Worker Engagement and Contraceptive Use in India
CSDE Affiliate Vedavati Patwardhan (EPAR) and co-authors recently published an article in Studies in Family Planning, examining the relationship between Indian women’s contact with a community health worker (CHW) and discussion of family planning (FP) with their contraceptive use. Drawing on data from over 306,000 women in India’s 2019–2021 National Family Health Survey, the authors found that traditional contraception use is high, particularly among married nonpregnant, non-sterilized women ages 15–49 years, and used singularly as well as concurrently with modern methods. Nearly 22 percent of women reported using traditional methods (18% exclusively and 4% concurrent with modern methods). CHW discussion on family was associated with higher traditional contraceptive use, reversible modern method use, and concurrent use. Recent CHW engagement was associated with consistent modern method use, switching from traditional to modern methods, and also discontinuation of modern contraception. Findings indicate that traditional contraceptive methods are not used by the most marginalized women – in terms of age or location – and demonstrate complex patterns of use. FP programs should consider all contraceptive method choices, and not solely modern methods, as potential outcomes of agency.
Check-out Other Population Centers!
CSDE is a member of the Association of Population Centers (APC). Each year the APC publishes a resource guide about all member centers. You might check it out and see what is happening elsewhere!
*New* Associate Policy Scientist – University of Delaware (Ongoing)
*New* PRB/WHO Webinar: Understanding Infertility in an Era of Fertility Transition (05/14/26)
Join the PRB, in partnership with the World Health Organization and HRP, for a timely conversation on infertility, fertility trends, and what the evidence actually shows.
This webinar, on May 14 at 9 AM ET, will introduce WHO’s new guidelines on infertility diagnosis and treatment, clarify the distinction between infertility and broader fertility decline, and explore how to integrate infertility into holistic, rights-based SRHR approaches.
Designed for CSOs, advocates, and program implementers, the session will equip participants with clear, evidence-based messages to navigate a complex and often misunderstood topic. Come ready to engage, challenge assumptions, and leave with practical insights for action. Register here.
*New* Global Health in Context: A Webinar on Linking Census Data to Health Surveys using IPUMS DHS and IHGIS (05/20/26)
We are excited to announce a new feature that enables users to easily link contextual data from the censuses in IPUMS IHGIS to individual-level records in IPUMS DHS. Linking the fine-grained geography of IHGIS with the topical richness of DHS facilitates a wide variety of interdisciplinary research. This webinar will provide overviews of the IPUMS DHS and IHGIS collections, introduce the new linking features, and explore examples of research facilitated by the linkages. Register for Linking with IPUMS DHS and IHGIS webinar on May 20, 2026 at 8 AM PT..
*New* Census Bureau Geography Division Virtual Conference: GeoForum (05/19/26 – 05/20/26)
The U.S. Census Bureau is hosting a free, 2-day virtual conference on the science, technology, and innovation behind Census Bureau geography and geospatial data. Sessions will cover partnership programs, mapping, metadata, Census geography and more; IPUMS USA and IPUMS NHGIS are excited to participate in the program on May 20 as part of a session on accessing census data. View the program and register on the GeoForum webpage.