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
22. Health services
    1. Health service indicators
    2. Health service utilization
    3. Effectiveness of health services
    4. Delay in seeking health care
    5. Overall evaluation of 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

Delay in seeking health care

(go to Outline)

Delay in seeking health care can be measured by interview during a survey. Many surveys ask detailed information about the most recent episode of illness in a child in the target age group. Questions ask about the treatment offered the ill child both at home and about any visit to a health facility. Such questions can measure the appropriateness of any home treatment and the time delay in seeking treatment.