Measuring Population Health Status and Key Indicators

Posted on Aug 7, 2025 in Other university degrees and diplomas

Methods for Measuring Population Health Status

Background

The health status of the population is strongly influenced by lifestyle, nutrition, environment, type of society, government, occupational conditions, and other factors.

Methods of Data Collection

  • Routinely collected data about health status and health services
  • Epidemiological Surveys: Retrospective and Prospective
  • Special Surveys (Research-Focused)
  • Analysis of Medical Facility Visits
  • Medical Care Resource Consumption (Insurance Agencies)
  • Sociological Surveys: Subjective Data (Satisfaction, Health Perception, Quality of Life)

Analysis of Routinely Collected National Data

  • Mortality (Death Registration, Certificates)
  • Natality (Birth Registration, Abortions)
  • Congenital Anomalies and Hereditary Diseases

  • Morbidity of Notified and Reported Diseases:

    • Communicable (Infectious) Diseases (approx. 90 listed)
    • Tuberculosis
    • Sexually Transmitted Diseases
    • Occupational Diseases, Poisonings, and Injuries
    • Suicide and Attempted Suicide
    • Neoplasms (Cancer Registry)
    • Diabetes Registry
    • Hospital Care
    • Incapacity for Work: Short-Term (Terminated Cases) and Invalidity (Disability)

Health Indicators

Health indicators are quantifiable characteristics of a population which researchers use as supporting evidence for describing the health of a population.

Process of Indicator Development:

  • Gather information about specific populations through survey methodology.
  • Generalize collected information to the entire population through statistics.
  • Formulate statements about population health using statistical analysis.

Applications:

Health indicators are often used by governments to guide healthcare policy.

Characteristics for International Use:

Because these data will be used internationally, they:

  • Should be measured uniformly and internationally.
  • Must have statistical validity.
  • The indicator must be data that can be feasibly collected.
  • Data analysis must result in recommendations that can lead to health improvements.

Key Principles of Health Status Study:

The main source of information regarding health status is the analysis of routinely collected data.

Compulsory Notification: Registered data and central data registries.

Routine Data Sources

Routine data are sources of information relating to the health of the population that are collected in an ongoing way rather than for any specific research project; they include:

  • Broad population data such as vital statistics (including registrations of births and deaths)
  • Detailed mortality data (such as numbers and causes of deaths)
  • Morbidity data (such as diagnoses of cancer or infectious diseases)
  • Health service activity data (such as hospital episodes, prescribing, vaccination coverage)
  • Limited data on determinants of health such as smoking, physical activity, and occupation
  • Limited data on environmental exposures such as air and drinking water quality

Three Types of Health Indicators:

  • Mortality: Death Rate (DR)
  • Life Expectancy (LE)
  • Morbidity: Prevalence, Incidence, Duration (P, I, D)