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

This report represents an attempt to bring together information on rapid (and inexpensive) methods of collecting and analyzing data on health conditions as they may relate to water and sanitation. The methods discussed have been borrowed from several disciplines, including epidemiology, biostatistics, and industrial quality control. The techniques covered include 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 methods. The emphasis in the report is not on explaining exactly how to use the methods, rather it is on when to use them. The work is aimed at the decision maker more than at the person responsible for detailed organization and implementation of a data-gathering activity. The report pays special attention to the gathering of information relating to peri-urban communities.