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
23. Vaccination programmes
24. Water supply, sanitation, and shelter
25. Violence
    1. Violence in general
    2. Gender-based violence
26. Presentation of results
27. Formulating conclusions and recommendations
28. Dissemination and action

Violence in general

(go to Outline)

In some humanitarian emergencies, violence can be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In such situations, the rate of violence may need to be measured by epidemiologic surveillance, surveys, or other methods. Information on the frequency, type, severity, and causes of violence can be useful in designing preventive interventions as well as determining what types of resources may be needed for the health care system. For example, unlike other health and nutrition conditions, the acute treatment of violence often requires surgical capacity, and the long-term care of victims of violence often requires rehabilitation facilities.

Several surveys have attempted to estimate the proportional mortality attributable to violence or the cause-specific mortality rate from violence.

• Review of mortality studies in Iraq (click here to open this document)
• Mortality in Kosovo (click here to open this document)

This may be easier than measuring other causes of mortality because the case definition is more easily explained to survey respondents: the case definition may be more sensitive and specific: and the prodrome, signs, and symptoms are more readily apparent.

There are several sets of guidelines for the assessment of mortality rates in humanitarian emergencies (see section existing recommendations on measuring mortality). However, there are no guidelines for the assessment of the general level of non-fatal violence. Such guidelines are sorely needed.