Changing strategies in the organization of the Belgian Health Interview Survey 2001

Abstract

The first Health Interview Survey in Belgium was organized in 1997. This survey allowed to obtain information on the health status and health determinants of the Belgian population. Individuals within families were selected using a stratified multistage sampling procedure. A new survey was conducted in 2001 in order to continue the work started in 1997. Lessons from the first survey were drawn and incorporated in the more recent one in order to improve overall quality. This paper is aimed to highlight the changes and the new features with respect to the Survey 2001 and to give a general description of the different aspects of the Health Interview Survey 2001.