The Mortality and Use of Health Services surveys were designed to measure the mortality impact of the Combatting Childhood Communicable Diseases programmes which are based on childhood vaccinations, prenatal immunization against tetanus, home-based use of oral rehydration therapy, and presumptive treatment of malaria. The survey design includes pretest and post-test surveys in programme and non-programme areas. The questionnaires are designed to collect information on use of health services and on pregnancy histories to provide retrospective reporting of child mortality. When combined with data from surveillance systems (particularly information on cases-of measles cases seen at clinics and health centres), these data should provide reasonable estimates of programme impact.