To estimate immunisation coverage nationally, a researcher first randomly selects 20 districts, then within each selected district randomly selects 4 rural blocks, then within each block randomly selects 2 villages, and finally surveys all eligible children in the chosen villages. This sampling procedure is best described as:

• A Stratified random sampling
• B Systematic random sampling
• C Cluster sampling
• D Multistage random sampling ✓

Explanation

Sampling proceeds through successive hierarchical stages, districts, then blocks, then villages, with random selection at each stage, which defines multistage sampling. Simple cluster sampling would involve selecting clusters at a single stage and surveying everyone within them. Stratified sampling divides the population into strata and samples from every stratum, which has not been done. Systematic sampling uses a fixed interval after a random start.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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