Rapid assessment for decision making : efficient methods for data collection and analysis

Personnel charged with developing water and sanitation programs for peri-urban areas have a particular need for rapid assessment methods because little reliable health information on these areas is available. Until more is understood about mortality, morbidity, and sociocultural factors in peri-urban areas, extreme care must be exercised in extrapolating findings from rural studies. Rapid methods that have been devised include techniques from epidemiology, biostatistics, industrial quality control, and a variety of other disciplines. Nine such rapid assessment methods are described in this report, eight in some detail. Each method is explained in terms easily understandable by nonspecialists, and its strengths and weaknesses are enumerated. Emphasis is put on when to use the methods, not how to use them. The rapid methods covered are: cluster sampling; lot quality assurance sampling; double sampling; reduced and tightened inspection; epidemiological surveillance; demographic surveillance; industrial process control methods; case control analysis; and sociocultural group assessment methods (this last is dealt with only briefly). (Author abstract, modified)