Describe what is meant statistics, giving at least three examples from public health?

Statistics is the practice or science of collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting numerical data. In public health, statistics are used to understand patterns and trends in health outcomes, behaviors, and risk factors in populations.

Three examples of statistics in public health include:

1. Mortality rates: Statistics on mortality rates are used to track the number of deaths in a population over a specific period of time. This data can help public health officials identify trends in causes of death, monitor the effectiveness of interventions, and allocate resources to address specific health issues.

2. Prevalence of diseases: Statistics on the prevalence of diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, or infectious diseases, provide information on the number of cases within a population at a given time. This data is used to assess the burden of disease, identify high-risk populations, and inform public health policies and programs.

3. Health behavior surveys: Statistics from surveys on health behaviors, such as smoking, physical activity, or diet, are used to understand the prevalence of risk factors for chronic diseases and inform public health interventions. This data can help identify populations at risk, track changes in behavior over time, and evaluate the impact of health promotion efforts.