MODULE 1:
INTRODUCTION
TO
BIOSTATISTICS
■“Statistics” refers to the
science dealing w/ the collection,
organization, analysis and
interpretation of numerical data.
■ “Biostatistics” refers to the
application of statistical methods
to the life sciences like biology,
medicine and public health.
• In plural sense “Statistics” –
set of data or a mass of
observations, like public health.
• In singular sense “Statistics” –
the body of methods or
techniques for the organization &
analysis of collected information.
Vital Statistics
■ Data on vital events as to
the number of births, death
& marriages.
■ Bookkeeping of humanity.
3 important uses of vital statistics:
1. Legal Use
• Birth Registration:
o School entrance
o Employment
o Securing driver’s license
o Marriage license
o To enter military service
• Death Registration
o In claiming life insurance upon the
3 important uses of vital statistics:
2. Source Material
• Logbook where data are written.
• It contains data of birth & death
registration for mortality & natality
statistics.
3 important uses of vital statistics:
3. Health Units
• Refer to the health workers who take part
in the administration of gov’t health programs.
• As the health units:
o it guides the epidemiologists in the
combat of diseases.
o sanitarians see to it that potable H2O
supply is given to the public to minimize typhoid
fever.
o health workers attain to the needs of
the people by giving proper care & treatment.
6 Special Uses of Vital
Statistics:
■ Accidents
■Suicides
■Communicable disease control
■Maternal and infant mortality
■Occupational statistics
■Value of periodic medical exam
Health Statistics
■It keeps information pertains to health.
■Covers a wide variety of numeric
information including data on morbidity,
hospitality and clinic
■statistics, as well as service statistics.
■The bookkeeping of public health because it
keeps records on data of clinic, hospital &
service facilities.
The Application of Health
Statistics to Public Health
Data are
■Nutrition as follows:
■Sanitation
■Industrial hygiene
■Dentistry
■Laboratory
■Epidemiology
■Maternal child hygiene
We Can Characterize the
Science of Statistics in Terms
of Each 2 Branches:
1. Descriptive Statistics
2. Inferential Statistics
1. Descriptive Statistics
• Uses different methods of
statistics to summarize and present
data in narrative form.
• Methods of tabulation
o Graphical presentation
o Computation of averages
o Measures of variability
2. Inferential Statistics
• Uses generalizations & conclusions
about a target population w/c is based
on results from a sample.
o Experimental method
• Phenomena of Variation: tendency
of measurable characteristics to change
from one individual or setting w/in the
same individual or setting.
o Person’s blood pressure
2 Types of Variables:
1. Constant
▪ values remain the same from time to time.
❖ minutes in an hour
❖ number of days a week
2. Independent/Dependent Variable
▪ measured according to quantity or values and are
expressed numerically.
❖ Birthweight
❖ hospital bed capacity
❖ arm circumference
❖ population size
Types Of Independent/Dependent
Variable:
❖ Discrete Variable
➢Variable which can assume only integral
values or whole number.
✓ books
❖ Continuous Variables
➢Variable which can attain values in terms of
fraction or decimals.
✓ Birthweight
✓ Arm circumference
Statistical Data are Treated the
Different Levels of Measurement
1. Nominal
• Numbers or symbols used to classify an object, person or
characteristics into categories.
o Collection of yes, no, undecided responses to a
medical survey question.
2. Ordinal
• Data are arranged in some order but differences between
data values cannot be determined.
o Size of t-shirt
o Socio economic status
o In 10 urine samples 6 were rated normal, 4
pathological
Statistical Data are Treated the
Different Levels of Measurement
3. Interval
• Characterized by a common and unit and measurement.
• Distances between any two on the scale are known sizes.
o Temp. Reading of 15ºc and 35ºc
4. Ratio
• Has a true zero point wherein the number zero indicates
the absence of the characteristics under
considerations.
o Height in meters
o Weight in kilograms