Revista de Saúde Pública
Print version ISSN 0034-8910
RAMOS, Luiz Roberto and GOIHMAN, Samuel. Geographical stratification by socio-economic status: methodology from a household survey with elderly people in S. Paulo, Brazil. Rev. Saúde Pública [online]. 1989, vol.23, n.6, pp. 478-492. ISSN 0034-8910. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101989000600006.
Considering that in most developing countries there are still no comprehensive lists of addresses for a given geographical area, there has always been a problem in drawing samples from the community, ensuring randomisation in the selection of the subjects. This article discusses the geographical stratification by socio-economic status used to draw a multistage random sample from a community-based elderly population living in a city like S. Paulo - Brazil. Particular attention is given to the fact that the proportion of elderly people in the total population of a certain area appeared to be a good discriminatory variable for such stratification. The validity of the stratification method is analysed in the light of the socio-economic results obtained in the survey.
Keywords : Urban population; Aged; Sampling; Studies; Methods; Socio-economic factors.