title: Are rapid population estimates accurate? A field trial of two different assessment methods.
abstract: Emergencies resulting in large-scale displacement often lead to populations resettling in areas where basic health services and sanitation are unavailable. To plan relief-related activities quickly, rapid population size estimates are needed. The currently recommended Quadrat method estimates total population by extrapolating the average population size living in square blocks of known area to the total site surface. An alternative approach, the T-Square, provides a population estimate based on analysis of the spatial distribution of housing units taken throughout a site. We field tested both methods and validated the results against a census in Esturro Bairro, Beira, Mozambique. Compared to the census (population: 9,479), the T-Square yielded a better population estimate (9,523) than the Quadrat method (7,681; 95% confidence interval: 6,160-9,201), but was more difficult for field survey teams to implement. Although applicable only to similar sites, several general conclusions can be drawn for emergency planning.
authors.affiliation: Epicentre, Paris, France. rebecca.grais@epicentre.msf.org
authors.forename: Rebecca F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Grais
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coulombier
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ampuero
authors.forename: Marcelino E S
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Avertino T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Barretto
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jacquier
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balandine
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mahoudeau
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D004190:Disasters; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009073:Mozambique; D012036:Refugees