Applied Epidemiology

Using the international databases, we practiced with during the module's taught contents plus other sources suitable for this exercise that you might have identified, students will prepare and produce a Country Demographic and Epidemiological Profile of the country assigned to them by the module leader.

Your country profile must be four A4 pages document. The first three pages must be your country profile: A concise and precise description and analysis of a country socio-demographic and epidemiological profile. The health indicators chosen must be the most prevalent health issues experienced in that country. Your country profile must combine text and self-produced graphic aids to create a professionally presented and self-explanatory picture of the country demographic and health profile.

The last page [can be extended] must list the references used to build your country profile listed using Vancouver referencing style.

All the graphic aid prepared to be included in the final country profile will be self-produced. They all must have a clear title and the sources used to build it clearly referenced.

Sources of data

During the session on finding data, you will be introduced to main international databases where you can access for both data and information about the country. You will need to expand your search for data using national and international databases and websites. This is part of the job you must demonstrate competence in doing. All sources of data used to extract information about that country must be included in your reference list.

Understanding the country data

There is certainly no way to understand the data you will find without reading about the country itself. From its socio-political situation to the health issues affecting large groups of the population and including how the health system is organised and its capacity to respond to the population health needs. You are advised to access both national and international reports and peer-reviewedscientific literature to furnish your understanding of that country.It is expected you will use that information to provide an expert analysis and interpretation of the data extracted.

Structuring your country profile
The universal rule of start with broad and generic contents and then use the main body of the coursework to focus on a specific aspect allowing yourself space for in-depth analysis applies here too. The last part should be a conclusion based on the information you have presented during the main body of the coursework and including sounded advice on next steps.

Here there are some pointers you might find useful. It is advised you use these three headings structure: Introduction, Epidemiological Profile and Discussion and Conclusion.

Introduction
Use the first part of your country profile [maximum half a page]to introduce the country demographic and health profile. A population pyramid produced by you is an expected element of this section. Here, information about the main causes of mortality [and hence of morbidity] should be presented. This will allow you to justify your choice on what health issue[s] the next part will focus on.

Epidemiological profile
The main body of your country profile should be devoted to present information about one health issue affecting large proportions of the population [i.e..: one of the top ten causes of mortality in that country] that you have already identified in the introduction. You can choose two if they are closely related and they share, for instance, risk factors but given the short length of this coursework, this is not advisable.

You must use graphic aid [tables, charts...] to support your narrative. You cannot repeat the same information given in tables or charts. We advise a minimum of four charts [all produced by you] plotting more than one variable. Your narrative should guide the reader to interpret the visual aid and focus the reader on understanding what is important in that graphic aid.

This main part should benefit from your reading of what is that health issue doing to the population [e.g.: mortality, mortality] and what is aiding that [e.g.: risk factors, responsiveness of health system, policies...].You can also include regional comparisons or comparisons with neighbouring countries [e.g.: how the health issue affects neighbouring countries] to give more meaningful meaning to your analysis.This is also where your capacity to apply a sophisticated level of epidemiological analysis to the data found and link your analysis to key issues/concepts is assessed.This section should be two pages long [including data visualisation].

Discussion and Conclusion
You should include approximately half a page wrapping up the information in the main body of your country profile and offering sounded, specific, and feasible suggestions to correct the situation.

All the following elements are expected in the conclusion:
• A summary of the main points presented/analysed during the coursework.
• The summary must include not only factual and well-established evidence, but also novel issues emerging from recent research and implications for policy.
• A sounded set of recommendations for future research and interventions

Referencing your country profile
For this coursework you must use the Vancouver Referencing system for both your reference list and for in-text referencing. A supporting document how to use this referencing system is available to you in the module site.