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
20. Nutrition - Data sources
21. Nutrition - Interpretation and action
    1. Factors in interpreting data on acute protein-energy malnutrition
    2. Prevalence of acute protein-energy malnutrition
    3. Trends over time
    4. Underlying causes
    5. Malnutrition and mortality
    6. Interventions for acute PEM
    7. Interpreting results of micronutrient assessment
    8. Interventions for micronutrient deficiencies
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

Interpreting results of micronutrient assessment

(go to Outline)

The World Health Organization and other organizations have formulated recommendations regarding the significance of various prevalence rates of micronutrient deficiencies in populations. Of course, as with protein-energy malnutrition, no precise cut-off value can be applied in every situation; the importance of any health or nutrition problem must be judged after taking into account many factors. Click on the descriptions below to see summary tables of recommendations.

Classification of public health significance of anaemia, based on prevalence estimated from haemoglobin or haematocrit measurements. (From: Iron deficiency anaemia assessment, prevention, and control: A guide for programme managers. UNICEF-UNU-WHO, 2001.)

Criteria to determine if there is significant vitamin A deficiency in a population. (From: Assessment and control of vitamin A deficiency: The Annecy Accords. J. Nutr. 132: 2845S-2850S, 2002)

Cut-off points defining degrees of iodine deficiency and sufficiency in a population. (From: Assessment of iodine deficiency disorders and monitoring their elimination: A guide for programme managers, 3d ed. WHO, 2007.