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
    1. Comparison with other data collection methods
    2. Morbidity surveillance
    3. Mortality surveillance
    4. Types of surveillance
    5. Case definitions
    6. Data flow
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
26. Presentation of results
27. Formulating conclusions and recommendations
28. Dissemination and action

Mortality surveillance

(go to Outline)

Another type of surveillance is often done for deaths. This is discussed in much more detail elsewhere (see section called Mortality - Data sources)

In most countries, the health authorities require that each death in the population be reported or registered. These reports are then periodically counted up to calculate a death rate. Death registration systems are universal, albeit of widely differing quality and completeness.

Why is death a common condition under surveillance? (Click here for an answer.)