Data, statistics and epidemiology

WHO regions: causes of under 5 mortality Determining the global level of mortality and distribution of causes of death worldwide is useful for a general assessment of the problem’s magnitude. But there are striking differences between the six WHO regions that deserve particular attention. :: Global causes of under 5 mortality [pdf 16kb] :: African Region [pdf 12kb] :: Eastern Mediterranean Region [pdf 12kb] :: European Region [pdf 12kb] :: Region of the Americas [pdf 12kb] :: South-East Asia Region [pdf 12kb] :: Western Pacific Region [pdf 12kb]

Brief introduction to epidemiology

Epidemiology addresses the frequency, determinants, distribution and control of disease in human populations. Some of its main methods consist of measuring disease frequency - quantifying the occurrence of disease or death (morbidity or mortality); studying the distribution of diseases - who gets the disease within a given population as well as where and when the disease occurs; and formulating hypotheses about possible causal or protective disease determinants. These hypotheses enable the quantification of the magnitude of the association between the risk exposure or protective factor exposure and the disease, thus offering the potential to change these risks by implementing interventions.

What we do

By providing the data that are essential for constructing viable strategies, policies, programmes and interventions, epidemiology informs the Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development’s (CAH) feedback cycle of research, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Generating the data and statistics

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Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development (CAH)

World Health Organization
20 Avenue Appia
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland

Tel.: +41 22 791 3281
Mob.: +41 794 75 5545
Fax: +41 22 791 4853
E-mail: cah@who.int