The World Health Organization (WHO) Report, year 2000, was dedicated to the proposition of a methodology for health system performance assessment of member countries. Despite its laudable goals of evaluating health system responsiveness and of monitoring inequalities in health financing and in health status, the proposal received countless criticisms from both conceptual and methodological viewpoints. During the redesign phase, in order to provide information about the health status of the population, the WHO proposed the application of the World Health Survey (WHS). In Brazil, the WHS was carried in 2003 for establishing consistent parameters to evaluate heath status and health care responsiveness, in addition to measuring socioeconomic health inequalities. The survey interviewed 5,000 individuals, aged 18 and above, nationwide. The sample design had three selection stages. In the first stage, 250 census tracts were systematically selected with probability proportional to size. In the second stage, households were selected with equal probability using an inverse sample design to assure 20 interviews by sector. In each household, just one adult (18 years or more) was selected with equal probability to respond to the individual questionnaire. A modular questionnaire was translated and adapted from the one originally proposed by the WHO. Sample weights were based on the inverse of probabilities of inclusion in the sample calculated for each selection stage. In this paper, we describe the methodological aspects of the survey and the interface process with the WHO to conduct the WHS in Brazil.
Evaluation; Health system; Survey; WHO; Brazil