The quality of sample surveys in a developing nation

Abstract

Background:In Jamaica, population census began in 1844, and many intercensal ratios obtained from the census data showed that there is a general high degree of accuracy of the data. However, statistics from the Jamaican Ministry of Health showed that there are inaccuracies in health data collected from males using sample surveys. Objectives: The objectives of the present research are to 1) investigate the accuracy of a national sample survey, 2) explore the feasibility and quality of using a subnational sample survey to represent a national survey, 3) aid other scholars in understanding the probability of using national sample surveys and subnational sample surveys, 4) assess older men's evaluation of their health status, and 5) determine whether dichotomization changes selfevaluated health status. Methods: For the current study, the data used in the analysis were originally collected from 2 different sources: 1) the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC) and 2) Survey of Older Men (SOM). Cross validation of self-evaluated data of men in Jamaica was done with comparable samples of the complete JSLC data and the SOM data, where men older than 55 years were selected from each sample. Results: In study 1, 50.2% of respondents indicated at least good self-evaluated health status compared with 74.0% in study 2. Statistical associations were found between health status and survey sample (χ 2 [df = 5] = 380.34, P , 0.001), self-reported illness and study sample (χ 2 [df = 1] = 65.84, P , 0.01, φ = 0.16), and health care -seeking behavior and study samples (χ 2 [df = 1] = 21.83, P , 0.05, φ = 0.10). Substantially more respondents reported an illness in study 1 (34.3%) than in study 2 (ie, 17.5%). Conclusion: Clearly, inconsistencies exist in the health data, which indicates that care should be taken in using sample surveys.

How Free Is Free Health Care? An Assessment of Universal Health Coverage Among Jamaicans with Sickle Cell Disease

“…10,17,18 The JSLC has been validated against the Survey of Older Men and California Achievement Test. 19,20 Data collected included the name of the hospital, diagnosis, and any OPP made associated with the hospitalization. We assessed delays in accessing care as the number of days between becoming ill and visiting hospital for hospitalization.…”