• Health information

Health information

Health surveys are a very important component of the epidemiology toolbox, and play a critical role in gauging population health, especially in developing countries. This editorial is written for a special issue of Emerging Themes in Epidemiology which is entirely devoted to survey methods in such settings, and builds upon a conference in London highlighting problems with current approaches and possible ways forward. The authors argues that greater investment in research on health survey methods is needed and will have beneficial effects for populations in need.

Research on health survey methods, however, is sparse. In particular, current sampling methods are not well adapted for certain 'difficult' settings, such as emergencies, remote regions without easily available sampling frames, hidden and vulnerable population groups, urban slums and populations living under strong political pressure. The article concludes that if there is an international obligation to equitably provide health to human beings, and if robust data are indispensable for health planning, then it is clear that provision of health services to many populations is being hindered by the use of sub-optimal survey techniques. Greater investment in the development of survey methods, both financially and intellectually, is urgently needed if major organisations are to target, monitor and evaluate their programmes more effectively.

• Full text of document
• Publisher details
• Send to a friend