Population Characteristics and Health 2024.pdf

Population Characteristics and Health Dr Charles Mangani Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Learning Objectives Describe main population characteristics Understand how different population characteristics can affect health Describe how you can measure population health...

Population Characteristics and Health Dr Charles Mangani Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Learning Objectives Describe main population characteristics Understand how different population characteristics can affect health Describe how you can measure population health Describe the key goals of population health assessment  Population Population: a group of people The epidemiologist interested in : quantify the occurrence of disease (or any other health- related event) and its determinants in populations. distribution of disease and its determinants in a population.  Population Characteristics Demographic Age Gender Religion Ethnic group Household size Number of living children Population structure and disease pattern Malawi, MDHS 2015-16  Socioeconomic Marital status Residence Education attainment Wealth Employment status School attendance Access to services, facilities etc ❖Drinking water ❖Sanitation Malawi, MDHS 2015-16 Malawi, MDHS 2015-16  Lifestyle/Behavioural Use of recreational substances: tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption Malawi, MDHS 2015-16  Population health assessment Fundamental part of many public health activities Goals of assessment Identify health needs Support planning (goal setting) and implementation Support monitoring and evaluation of interventions/health programs Improve resource allocation Support policy making and reviews Identify research needs  Define aspects of health to be assessed Health status Determinants of health Assessment methods Health management information systems-dhs2 Disease surveillance systems e.g IDSR Special household surveys: Demographic Health Survey, Malaria Indicator Survey, Malawi Micronutrient Survey , National Census  Vital statistics : births ( birth rates, total fertility rates), death (infant mortality rate, under-five mortality rate, crude death rates, age- specific death rates), life expectancy Utilization of resources e.g drugs Special disease registries: cancer, birth defects Malawi, MDHS 2015-16 Malawi, MDHS 2015-16