Conducting a national survey of women's perinatal experiences in Canada: sampling challenges

Beverley Chalmers1, Susie Dzakpasu, Maureen Heaman

  • 1Dept. of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON. bevc@lincsat.com

In 1999, the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System of Health Canada decided to undertake a national survey of Canadian women's experiences of their pregnancy, birth and postpartum care. The challenges encountered in selecting a representative sampling frame and developing a sound methodology for conducting a survey of Canadian women at six months after birth are addressed. We considered the advantages and disadvantages of six different sampling options. A sample based on the Census emerged as the optimal approach for providing the most reliable and representative sample.

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