Sampling plan in health surveys, city of São Paulo, Brazil, 2015.

objectiveTo evaluate the sampling plan of the Health Survey of the City of São Paulo (ISA-Capital 2015) regarding the accuracy of estimates and the conformation of domains of study by the Health Coordinations of the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

methodsWe have described the population, domains of study, and sampling procedures, including stratification, calculation of sample size, and random selection of sample units, of the Health Survey of the City of São Paulo, 2015. The estimates of proportions were analyzed in relation to precision using the coefficient of variation and the design effect. We considered suitable the coefficients below 30% at the regional level and 20% at the city level and the estimates of the design effect below 1.5. We considered suitable the strategy of establishing the Health Coordinations as domains after verifying that, within the coordinations, the estimates of proportions for the age and sex groups had the minimum acceptable precision. The estimated parameters were related to the subjects of use of services, morbidity, and self-assessment of health.

resultsA total of 150 census tracts were randomly selected, 30 in each Health Coordination, 5,469 households were randomly selected and visited, and 4,043 interviews were conducted. Of the 115 estimates made for the domains of study, 97.4% presented coefficients of variation below 30%, and 82.6% were below 20%. Of the 24 estimates made for the total of the city, 23 presented coefficient of variation below 20%. More than two-thirds of the estimates of the design effect were below 1.5, which was estimated in the sample size calculation, and the design effect was below 2.0 for 88%.

conclusionsThe ISA-Capital 2015 sample generated estimates at the predicted levels of precision at both the city and regional levels. The decision to establish the regional health coordinations of the city of São Paulo as domains of study was adequate.