HEALTH STATISTICS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY

Epidemiology

The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations and the application of this study to the prevention and control of health problems.

Demography

The science which deals with the study of the human population size, composition, and distribution in space.

Vital Statistics

The systematic study of vital events such as births, illnesses, marriages, divorces, separation, and deaths.

Crude Birth Rate (CBR)

The total number of live births registered in a given calendar year divided by the estimated population as of July 1 of the same year, multiplied by 1,000.

General Fertility Rate (GFR)

The number of registered live births in a year divided by the midyear population of women ages 15-49 years of age, multiplied by 1,000.

Morbidity Rate

Measures the frequency of occurrence of a phenomenon during a given period of time, dealing only with new cases, known as incidence rate.

Prevalence Rate (PR)

Measures the proportion of the population which exhibits a particular disease at a specific point in time.

Mortality Rate

A measure of mortality from all causes that may result in a decrease of population.

Specific Death Rate

Number of deaths in a specified group divided by the midyear population of the same specified group, multiplied by 1,000.

Chain of Infection

A logical sequence of factors or links essential to the development of the infectious agent and propagation of disease.

Asymptomatic Carrier

A person with unapparent infection who is capable of transmitting the pathogen to others.

Direct Transmission

The immediate transfer of an infectious agent from a reservoir to a susceptible host.

Indirect Transmission

The transfer of an infectious agent from a reservoir to a susceptible host through an intermediary.

Portal of Exit

The path by which a pathogen leaves its host.

Risk Factors

Factors that increase the susceptibility of a host to develop a communicable disease.

Incubation Period

The period between exposure to an infectious agent and the onset of symptoms.

Epidemic

An increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in that area.

Pandemic

An epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people.

Health Indicators

Statistical measures that provide information about the health status of a population.

Health Statistics

Data that reflects the health of individuals in a community, used to guide public health policy making.