About this programme

This course equips public health professionals and researchers with practical skills to conduct epidemiological research using EpiData and Epi Info software. Participants will learn to design study tools, manage and clean data, perform statistical analysis, and generate meaningful health reports. The program emphasizes hands-on exercises and real-world case studies, enabling participants to efficiently collect, process, and interpret epidemiological data to support evidence-based decision-making in public health programs and research.

Duration

5 Days

Who Should Attend

Epidemiologists, public health officers, and health researchers
Data managers and statisticians in health sectors
Monitoring & evaluation personnel
Academic researchers conducting population or clinical studies
Professionals involved in disease surveillance and outbreak investigations

Learning outcomes

What you'll walk away with

By the end of this course, participants will:

Design data collection tools and entry forms using EpiData
Enter, clean, and manage epidemiological data efficiently
Analyze health data using Epi Info statistical tools
Generate graphs, tables, and reports for research and program management
Apply results to inform public health decision-making and interventions

Course modules

What we cover, module by module

Module 1: Introduction to Epidemiology and Software Tools

Fundamentals of epidemiology and public health research
Overview of EpiData and Epi Info capabilities
Installing software and understanding interfaces
Case Study: Use of software in disease outbreak monitoring

Module 2: Data Collection and Entry using EpiData

Designing questionnaires and data entry forms
Coding and validation of data
Managing databases and performing basic data checks
Practical Exercise: Creating and testing an EpiData entry form

Module 3: Data Management and Cleaning

Importing, exporting, and merging datasets
Detecting and correcting inconsistencies and missing data
Preparing datasets for statistical analysis
Case Study: Cleaning a multi-center epidemiological dataset

Module 4: Data Analysis with Epi Info

Descriptive statistics (frequencies, means, proportions)
Inferential statistics (chi-square, t-tests, ANOVA basics)
Generating graphs, tables, and visual summaries
Practical Exercise: Analyzing a health survey dataset

Module 5: Reporting, Interpretation, and Application

Producing clear and concise research reports
Interpreting results for program management and policy
Using software outputs for presentations and decision-making
Case Study: Epidemiological report preparation for a public health intervention