A MODIFIED CLUSTER-SAMPLING METHOD FOR POSTDISASTER RAPID ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS

The cluster-sampling method can be used to conduct rapid assessment of health and other needs in communities affected by natural disasters. It is modelled on WHO's Expanded Programme on Immunization method of e stimating immunization coverage, but has been modified to provide (1) estimates of the population remaining in an area, and (2) estimates of the number of people in the post-disaster area with specific needs. T his approach differs from that used previously in other disasters wher e rapid needs assessments only estimated the proportion of the populat ion with specific needs. We propose a modified n x k survey design to estimate the remaining population, severity of damage, the proportion and number of people with specific needs, the number of damaged or des troyed and remaining housing units, and the changes in these estimates over a period of time as part of the survey.