Ronald Waldman

Increasing the accuracy of the Expanded Programme on Immunization's cluster survey design.

The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) of the World Health Organization developed a cluster survey design for the rapid assessment of childrens vaccination coverage in developing countries. Because of its simplicity and familiarity, the EPI methodology has been used for additional purposes, including the detection of relatively small changes in vaccination coverage levels that are already high and the estimation of other population parameters when moderate accuracy is required. This article suggests techniques for improving the accuracy of the EPI cluster survey method, including (a) segmenting sample clusters, if necessary, so that reasonably sized areas can be counted, mapped, and listed; (b) selecting an equal probability sample of housing units within a cluster; (c) selecting a fixed number of housing units per sample cluster; and (d) performing weighted analyses. These procedures will produce accurate estimators and corresponding standard errors in EPI cluster surveys.

Tuberculosis control in refugee settlements

Tuberculosis and its management in refugees and other displaced persons in temporary settlements poses a challenge to organisations coordinating and providing care in refugee emergencies. This paper offers a consensus of the co-sponsoring agencies on practical recommendations for implementing measures aimed at both interrupting transmission of tuberculosis and treatment of individual patients.