A GEE approach for estimating size of hard-to-reach population by using capture-recapture data

A capture-recapture estimation method for closed wildlife population has been adapted by epidemiologists to estimate the size of a hidden or hard-to-reach population. The heterogeneity of capture probabilities on the estimation of population size using capture-recapture data is considered in this article. A generalized estimating equation approach to the problem of estimating capturing probabilities is presented by considering the heterogeneity of the study population. Resulting probabilities then serve as denominators for calculating the size of the population.