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
    1. Definition and goals
    2. Methods
    3. Questions answered by rapid assessment
    4. Guidelines and manuals
    5. Problems and difficulties
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

Definition and goals

(go to Outline)

The goals of rapid assessment include:

• Determine the impact of the disaster and need for intervention
• Determine the needs and priorities for immediate emergency measures
• Determine the resources available and resources needed
• Plan interventions

All of these goals must be met in the first few days after an emergency or disaster. The needs of the affected population are often very acute, and meeting these needs has the potential to save many lives. For this reason, interventions must not be delayed awaiting the results of an extensive assessment. Rather, a rapid assessment should be done to give a general idea of the situation while emergency programmes are put in place.