Refugee Reproductive Health Needs Assessment Field Tools
Survey Introduction
Purpose of the Tool
Two survey tools have been prepared as guides for collecting quantitative data about reproductive health. The first is a comprehensive survey covering all areas of reproductive health which is designed to be used with a statistical analysis tool such as EpiInfo, SPSS or SASS. The second is a shorter version of the first survey which is designed to be tabulated by hand.
It is important to note that surveys are hard work, take time and resources and require good planning and logistics. It is important to plan ahead and know the reasons why you need the specific quantitative data you are looking for and how you plan to use this data once it is collected. Think carefully before you use this tool at the needs assessment stage. Other needs assessment tools such as group discussions, key informant interviews and/or facilities checklists may be more appropriate to a particular refugee situation and less resource and time intensive.
Alternatively, this survey could be adapted to be used as a baseline survey, which will give you data for purposes of evaluation at a later stage in your program. Be sure to seek technical assistance with your survey from colleagues or the references listed at the end of this introduction. This will help to ensure that the data collected is statistically significant and relevant to your needs.
Planning to do the Survey
There are a number of things to take into consideration before going into the field with your survey. A checklist highlighting the important issues follows:
- what is the objective of your survey?
- what exactly do you need this quantitative data for?
- how many respondents will you need to make the survey statistically significant?
- which sampling technique will you use (random sampling, random systematic sampling, or cluster sampling) and do you have all of the necessary information (population figures, maps) to conduct the survey?
- have you adapted the survey to make it appropriate for your needs and the community?
- have you translated the survey into the language(s) in which it will be administered?
- have you pre-tested the survey thoroughly to ensure that the questions work and that the responses included in your version are appropriate?
- have you discussed the purpose of the survey and the methodology with the community and obtained permission to implement the survey?
- have you selected and trained your interviewers / supervisors?
- have you set your field rules for implementation of the survey?
- have you decided how the information from the survey will be used and who it will be distributed to?
- have you drawn up a list of the information you want to collect (in the form of table headings, key indicators or questions to be answered) to ensure that you are asking only the questions which you need to ask?
Implementing the Survey
Below are a number of important points to keep in mind when implementing the survey:
- are your interviewers following the ground rules established about interviewing techniques and target respondent selection established in the planning stage?
- do you have adequate supervision of the fieldwork?
- is each survey being checked for completeness and correctness by a trained supervisor?
- have you allocated enough time and resources to each field site
Data Processing and Analysis
This step is both tedious and exciting as the long hours of data entry slowly turn into the first indications of the results of your hard work. In this stage, a statistical analysis computer software package or manual tabulation can be used to analyze data collected. Table headings, key indicators and questions developed during the planning phase should guide your analysis. Remember, however, that analysis does not stop with just uncovering numbers and must be considered in the context of the situation of your community.
Feedback and Dissemination of the Results to the Community and Others
Once you know what the results are, it is important to return this information to the community. This can be done through community meetings or specific discussions with key groups as appropriate. Returning the data to the community is also an opportunity to take the next steps with the community in terms of planning to meet needs. Other groups to consider sharing the information with include, the host government, UN Agencies and other local or international non-governmental organizations.
Additional Resources
For further information about survey design, sampling techniques, and data analysis please refer to the following references;
Epi Info Version 6, SPSS, and SASS Manuals - Information about how to use these statistical analysis programs, how to design a data entry shell and how to analyze data.
Bulimer, Martin and Donald Warwick (1993) Social Research in Developing Countries: Surveys and Censuses in the Third World (London: VCL Press) - A useful guide for surveys, sampling techniques and data analysis.
Nichols, Paul (1991) Social Survey Methods: A Fieldguide for Development Workers (Oxford: Oxfam) - A useful guide to the different methods of social surveys available and guide to training workers.
Pratt, Brian and Peter Loizos (1992) Choosing Research Methods: Data Collection for Development Workers (Oxford: Oxfam) - Very useful guide to sampling methods, establishing guidelines for survey implementation and special considerations about surveys.
PHC MAP Module 2: Assessing Community Health Needs and Coverage - Aga Khan Foundation.
Download the Survey (for Analysis
by Computer) Form 
Download the Survey
(for Analysis by Hand) Form
