New health examination survey to strengthen health information in the Region

To improve health information systems and institutionalize household surveys in the Region, a new wave of health examination survey has been developed by WHO that focuses on: health care utilization, health expenditure, household deaths, health state, behavioural and biological biomarkers, chronic conditions, health service coverage, and reproductive health. 

Survey tools take into account the need for data on key regional core indicators, including universal health coverage. The survey will be piloted this year with the financial and technical support of the Regional Office, and will be later rolled out to other countries of the Region. 

The target population of the survey is males and females aged 15+ years from a representative sample of households which have been randomly selected from the most recent sampling frame. Survey questionnaires will be administered by interviewers using the Census and Survey Processing System (CSPro) on android-based computer tablets. GPS coordinates will be collected for each household for future GIS analysis and field operations monitored for data verification. Survey data collection is fully automated and data are transferred from the field to a central server daily via the internet. 

The first wave of the health examination survey is taking place in Tunisia. The Tunisia health examination survey and similar surveys to be conducted in the Region will enable countries to report on relevant population-based core indicators, monitor progress towards universal health coverage and provide reliable evidence for decision- and policy-making.