“a mechanism for the collection, processing, analysis and transmission of information required for organizing and operating health services, and also for research & training”

 Data – Discrete observations of attributes or events that carry little meaning when considered alone  Information – It is data which is reduced, summarized & adjusted for variations such as the age & sex of population so that comparison over time & place are possible  Intelligence – Produced when information is transformed through integration & processing with experience & perceptions based on social & political values

Demography & vital events Environmental health statistics Health status – mortality, morbidity, disability & quality of life Health resources – facilities, beds, manpower Utilization & non utilization of health services – attendance, admissions Indices of outcome of medical care Financial statistics related to particular objective

Measure health status & quantify health problems & needs Local, national & international comparisons Planning, administration and management Asses effectiveness & efficiency of health services For research

1,210,569,573

1. Census “ Total process of collecting, compiling & publishing demographic, economic & social data pertaining at a specified time, to all persons in a country or delimited territory”

2. Registration of vital events Keeps a continuous check on vital events Central birth & death registration act, 1969 Time limit for registration of birth & death

3.Sample registration system (SRS) Dual record system, consisting of continuous enumeration of births & deaths by an enumerator & an independent survey every 6 months by an investigator – supervisor Covers the entire country, more reliable

4. Notification of diseases International Health Regulations (IHR) – Cholera, Plague, Yellow fever etc Can identify outbreak Even extended to NCDs Drawbacks :  Covers only a small part of total sickness in community  Under reporting  Atypical & subclinical cases  Lack of facilities for diagnosis in rural areas

5. Hospital records 6. Disease registers Cases can be followed up Frequency, duration, CFR, survival 7. Record linkage Birth, immunization, marriage, death, hospital admission & discharge Twin studies, chronic disease, genetics etc 8. Epidemiological surveillance Endemic diseases control & eradication programmes – malaria, TB, Leprosy

9. Other health service records Health centers, polyclinics, PP, diabetic & HTN clinics etc Records usually kept for administrative purposes rather than for monitoring 10. Environmental health data Pollution, industrial toxicants, harmful food additives Can identify & quantify factors causing disease 11. Health manpower statistics

12. Population surveys – health survey Types: a) Survey to evaluate health status b) Survey to investigate factors affecting health & disease c) Surveys relating to administration of health services Survey methods: a) Health interview (face to face) survey b) Health examination survey c) Health records survey d) Mailed questionnaire survey

13. Other routine statistics related to health a) Demographic – population density, movement, education level b) Economic – sales of drugs, per capita income c) Social security schemes – medical insurance, sickness, absence & disability benefits rates 14. Non – quantifiable information Public attitudes, information on health policies & legislations, procedure, technology etc