TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE SURVEY COORDINATOR

FOR THE CONDUCT OF

THE NATIONAL HEALTH SURVEY 2012
FOR THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH

TITLE:

National Health Survey 2012

DURATION:

To be advised by consultant as per Section 7 of the Terms of

Reference

1.0

BACKGROUND

1.1

As the agency with the mandate to sustain and improve the health status of the
population, the Ministry of Health is seeking to ensure that as the nations
epidemiological profile and hence the demand for health care changes, so too does its
ability to respond to the challenges associated with such changes. A principal response to
such changes hinges upon the commencement of a nation-wide Health Needs Assessment
(HNA). The Ministry of Health (MoH) is therefore, desirous of conducting a National
Health Survey as part of its overall plan to conduct a National Health Needs
Assessment.

1.2

The first National Health Survey, entitled the Trinidad and Tobago National Health
Survey, was conducted in 1994-1995. A stratified sample was used and consisted of 6,342
adults aged 15 years and over. The sample frame was developed according to the
county/ward (CNTYWD) and Enumerations Districts (EDs) maintained by Trinidad and
Tobagos Central Statistical Office. This list of enumeration districts was then realigned
so that the new health regions, (RHAs), became the subject of the final analysis.

1.3

This survey was structured to gather information on priority health needs and focused on
health-related problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, injury and mental health.
The questionnaire was divided into sixteen (16) modules, each focusing on a specific
health issue. Field enumerators conducted personal interviews at the homes of
respondents utilizing the pre-designed questionnaire as the medium for recording the
requisite data. The response rate for the survey was approximately 96%.

2.0

RATIONALE FOR CONDUCTING A NATIONAL HEALTH SURVEY 2012

2.1

The National Health Survey to be conducted in 2012 will be used by the MoH to monitor
the health of the population, track progress towards national health goals and inform the
setting of annual targets. The results will also provide necessary information to inform
the development of the basket of services to be offered under the National Health
Insurance System (NHIS). This would ensure that the NHIS, which is to provide an
essential basket of services from accredited public and private institutions to all qualified
users of the domestic health care system, is aligned to the health needs of the society.

2.2

The results of the National Health Survey will therefore form a critical part of the overall
National Health Needs Assessment (HNA) for this country. The HNA is a systematic
method of identifying the public health and social care needs of a population and making
recommendations for changes to meet these needs. Following completion of the National
Health Survey, consultations at the community level and an assessment of the supply side
factors required to meet health needs and health demand would also be conducted. This
would bring the entire HNA exercise to completion.

3.0

SURVEY OBJECTIVES

3.1

The principal objective of this study is to conduct a National Health Survey from a
sample of adults aged fifteen (15) years and over that will generate reliable, valid and
nationally representative measures that cover general health status, health needs, degree

of services utilization and determinants of health. These measures would be assessed in

terms of geographical locality and demographic and socioeconomic variables.

3.2

The survey instrument (questionnaire) has been designed to collect relevant information
from households in Trinidad and Tobago. It is 55 pages in length and is divided into 19
sections containing a total of 227 questions. The majority of questions are closed-ended.
These questions aim to gather a random selection of qualitative and quantitative data for
analysis by capturing perspectives on demographic and socioeconomic variables, the
presence of disease or the signs/symptoms of illness, specific disease conditions or health
issues, the utilization of services and personal health practices and environmental
conditions.

4.0

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SURVEY COORDINATOR

4.1

The MoH is seeking to retain a Survey Coordinator to coordinate and execute the survey.
The Survey Coordinator will be assisted by a Data Analyst who will be retained primarily
to conduct the data analysis, in addition to other duties. The Central Statistical Office
(CSO) will be contracted to identify elements of the sampling frame and develop an
appropriate sample size and design. The CSO will also provide enumerators to collect
data for the National Health Survey. From the outset, the MoH will require the Survey
Coordinator to undertake the following tasks amongst others as the need arises:

Collaborate with the MoH Technical Committee to gain a clear understanding of the
survey objectives and the data collection instrument;

Develop, in collaboration with the CSO, the Sampling Design identifying the
procedure for selection of an appropriate sample size;

Prepare, in collaboration with the Data Analyst, a Training Plan and Training
Materials for enumerators;

Conduct the training of all survey staff and prepare all logistical arrangements
required for execution of the survey, including the identification of equipments to be
ordered;

Prepare and distribute workloads in collaboration with the field coordinator from the
CSO;

Supervise fieldwork;

Closely supervise the CSOs Field Coordinator through timely meetings and reports;

Oversee the use of the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) in the collection of data by
field officers and the data cleaning exercise (in collaboration with the Data Analyst
and the CSO);

Ensure data availability for report preparation;

Maintain up-to-date project monitoring files (in Microsoft Project format);

Produce fortnightly and monthly up-to-date project tracking reports; and

Compile and present a Project Termination Report on the Trinidad and Tobago
National Health Survey 2012 experience.

4.2

Overall, the Survey Coordinator will be required to manage and provide technical
assistance from the preparatory stage to the final stages of the survey inclusive of data
capture. While the task of the development of the Sample Frame will be carried out by
the CSO, the Survey Coordinator will maintain general oversight and will also
collaborate with the Data Analyst to identify an appropriate methodology for analyzing
the National Health Survey data.

5.0

DELIVERABLES

5.1

Documented Sample Design;

5.2

Training Material, Training Plan and Work Breakdown Structure for management of the
National Health Survey;

5.3

Revised questionnaire and Work Breakdown Structure based on the findings of the pilot
survey;

5.4

Monthly reports and/or presentations on the implementation status of the project; and

5.6

The Survey Coordinators Project Termination Report.

6.0

QUALIFICATIONS,

EXPERIENCE

AND

REQUIREMENTS

OF

THE

INDIVIDUAL

6.1

The Survey Coordinator chosen for the National Health Survey should possess
professional experience and/or qualifications in the areas of research methods and
statistics. She/He should be capable of demonstrating such experience (having provided
research support and/or analysis within similar surveys, either locally and or regionally).

6.2

The Survey Coordinator should have proven capabilities as evidenced by at least five (5)
years experience at a national level in Project Management, Questionnaire Design,
Sampling, Fieldwork, Data Processing, Statistical Analysis and/or the provision of
training in these areas.

6.3

Accordingly, the Survey Coordinator should possess training at least at the postgraduate
level in the Social Sciences (Sociology, Economics, Development Studies), and Project
Management and possess relevant experience (at least 5 years) in the following (but not
necessarily limited to) areas: Sampling, Fieldwork, Data Processing and Statistical
Analysis. Consideration would be given to individuals with appropriate combinations of
training, qualifications and experience.

7.0

DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

7.1

It is expected that the National Health Survey will not exceed six (6) months after the
date of commencement. In arriving at this, the MoH anticipates the following draft
structure of activities to be involved in the execution of the National Health Survey:

Table 1: National Health Survey Project Schedule (Draft)

Activity
Resources Involved
Data Analyst; Survey Coordinator; Technical
Briefing of Survey Coordinator and Data Analyst
Committee
Technical Committee; Survey Coordinator;
Meet with CSO
Data Analyst
Develop the sampling design and identify sample size
and elements
Survey Coordinator; CSO
Develop training material and training plan
Survey Coordinator; Data Analyst
Program PDA's
Data Analyst; CAREC
Recruit enumerators
CSO
Train enumerators
CSO; Data Analyst; Survey Coordinator
Pilot survey
CSO; Survey Coordinator
Review of pilot survey and make corrections as
Data Analyst; Survey Coordinator; Technical
necessary
Committee
Conduct actual survey
CSO; Survey Coordinator
Data downloading and cleaning
CSO; Data Analyst; Survey Coordinator
Project termination report
Survey Coordinator
Data analysis and draft report
Data Analyst
Presentation of draft report
Data Analyst
Review of draft report
Technical Committee; Oversight Committee
Final report
Data Analyst

8.0

ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT

8.1

An Oversight Committee will provide the overall guidance, recommendation and

approvals of all deliverables.

8.2

A Technical Committee will provide the technical expertise needed to plan, implement
and complete the National Health Survey.

8.3

The Survey Coordinator will report directly to the Economist, Directorate of Health
Policy, Planning and Research.

9.0

NATIONAL HEALTH SURVEY SECRETARIAT

9.1

A National Health Survey Secretariat will be established to manage all logistical matters
relating to the project. This Secretariat will comprise the Survey Coordinator, the Data
Analyst and one (1) clerical/secretariat staff member from the Ministry of Health. The
clerical staff will report to the Survey Coordinator.

9.2

Periodic meetings will be held between the Survey Coordinator and the Technical
Committee to review and monitor the progress of the project. Minutes of these meetings
will be prepared by the National Health Survey Secretariat and forwarded to the
Oversight Committee on a regular basis.

9.3

The Secretariat will maintain all relevant documentation and reports related to the
conduct of the National Health Survey. Any changes to the Scope of Work to be
undertaken during the National Health Survey must be recommended by the Oversight
Committee and approved by the Permanent Secretary.

9.4

All data derived in and generated from the conduct of the National Health Survey remain
the sole property of the Ministry of Health and thus must not be utilized or disseminated
without the expressed authorization of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health. The
members of the National Health Survey Secretariat are therefore expected to treat all
documents related to the conduct of National Health Survey with the highest degree of
confidentiality.

9.5

The Secretariat will have office space provided by the MoH that will include telephone,
fax and internet access. However, computers and printing facilities will not be provided.

10.0

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONSULTANCY

10.1

Type of consultancy: National

10.2

Duration:

11.0

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

11.1

The Survey Coordinator will be contracted to perform the duties outlined herein, amongst

To be advised by consultant as per Section 7 of the Terms of Reference

others, which leads to the successful completion of the National Health Survey. Payment
for services performed will be negotiated with the successful proposer.

12.0

STRUCTURE OF PROPOSALS

Proposals must include:

1. Curriculum Vitae and details of previous work experience on similar projects;
2. Your understanding of what is required;
3. A work plan identifying expected project activities and dates;
4. A cost schedule disaggregated by month reflective of the project activities involved; and
5. An indication of the date from which you will be available.

Four (4) copies of the proposals (one (1) original and three (3) copies clearly marked
Original and Copy accordingly) are to be submitted. All proposals must be clearly
signed and marked:
PROPOSAL FOR THE PROVISION OF CONSULTANCY SERVICES
SURVEY COORDINATOR

Individuals wishing to submit proposals to provide both Survey Coordinator and Data
Analyst services should label their proposal:
PROPOSAL FOR THE PROVISION OF CONSULTANCY SERVICES
SURVEY COORDINATOR AND DATA ANALYST

Proposals should be addressed to:

THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH POLICY, RESEARCH AND PLANNING

#63 Park Street, Port-of-Spain
Closing date for submission of completed proposals will be Friday 10th August 2012
at 4:00pm.