Applications of a Multinomial Capture-Recapture Model to Epidemiological Data

A multinomial multiple recapture model is used to estimate the size of a population ascertained by merging incomplete lists, or samples, of population members. Methods for estimating the efficiencies of each list, and for establishing the basic criteria for selecting lists are presented. The model assumes the lists are independent samplings; a technique for dealing with dependent lists is discussed. An example illustrates the methods.