The use of epidemiological tools in conflict-affected populations: open-access educational resources for policy-makers

Table of Contents

1. Welcome
2. Introduction: Epidemiology in crises
3. Ethical issues in data collection
4. Need for epidemiologic competence
5. Surveys - Introduction
6. Surveys - Description of sampling methods
7. Surveys - Sampling error, bias, accuracy, precision, & sample size
8. Surveys - Resources required for surveys
9. Surveys - Critiquing survey reports
10. Surveillance - When to do surveillance
11. Surveillance - Methods
12. Surveillance - Common problems
13. Programme data
14. Rapid assessment
15. Mortality - Indicators and their measurement
16. Mortality - Data sources
17. Mortality - Interpretation and action
18. Nutrition - Introduction and background
19. Nutrition - Indicators and their measurement
    1. Introduction to anthropometry
    2. Anthropometric indices
    3. Reference populations
    4. Calculation of percent of median
    5. Oedema
    6. Calculation of z-scores
    7. Adults and body mass index (BMI)
    8. Micronutrients - Clinical indicators
    9. Micronutrients - Biochemical indicators
    10. Calculating prevalence
20. Nutrition - Data sources
21. Nutrition - Interpretation and action
22. Health services
23. Vaccination programmes
24. Water supply, sanitation, and shelter
25. Violence
26. Presentation of results
27. Formulating conclusions and recommendations
28. Dissemination and action

Micronutrients - Biochemical indicators

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Other indicators of micronutrient status are biochemical. Often, the level of the micronutrient itself or some other chemical indicator can be measured in a body fluid. This requires obtaining a specimen from people and then performing a laboratory test of some sort. This may be much more expensive than just examining individuals in the population. On the other hand, biochemical assessment may be much more accurate and precise. Many micronutrient deficiencies do not produce signs or symptoms until they are quite severe. As a result, mild micronutrient deficiencies can only be diagnosed using biochemical indicators. The table below shows some biochemical methods of assessment.