Module Title: Biostatistics for Public Health

Code: BPH3612
NQF level: 6
Notional hours: 160
Contact Hours: 4 hours lecture + 2 hours Tutorials per week for 14 weeks
NQF Credits: 16
Pre-requisite/co-requisite: MAT3511 – Basic Mathematics
Compulsory/Electives: Compulsory
Semester offered: 2

Module aims:
This module aims to introduce students to the basic principles and applications of statistics to
public health practice. Intermediate level biostatistics will be taught in statistical methods in
Epidemiology module later in the program. This module is also a foundation for many public
health modules including research modules and research project.

Module Content
The use of statistics in public health – Data types, frequency distribution, Descriptive statistics:
description and presentation of data, random variables and distributions, descriptive statistics,
Inferential statistics: introduction to probability, sample and population, z-scores, sampling error,
sampling, estimation, elements of hypothesis testing, type I and II errors, one- and two-sample
tests, non-parametric tests.

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Module prepared and reviewed by : Ms. Olivia Nakwafila
Guest lecturer : Prof Mitonga

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Course Outline

1 Introduction to statistics in public health

1.1 Why statistics?
1.2 Descriptive vs inferential statistics

2 Data and variables types in public health

2.1 Quantitative variables
2.2 Qualitative variables
2.3 Levels of measurement

3 Data management, analysis and presentation

3.1 Frequency tables
3.2 Graphs, and charts for the various variable types

4 Measures of central tendency and dispersion (or variability)

4.1 Central tendency
4.2 Dispersion and variability

5 Distribution types and the relationship between probability and the area under the
normal curve
5.1 Defining Probability
5.2 Probability distributions

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6 Types of sampling methods
6.1 Types of sampling
6.1.1 Nonprobability Sampling
6.1.2 Probability Sampling
6.1.3 Sampling Frame
6.1.4 Simple Random Sampling
6.1.5 Systematic sampling
6.1.6 Stratified Sampling
6.1.7 Cluster Sampling

7 Statistical tests in comparing population means and proportions and confidence

intervals for population means and proportions
7.1 Estimation of means
7.1.1 Sampling distribution of means
7.1.2 Confidence interval of means
7.2 Estimation of proportions
7.2.1 Sampling distribution of proportions
7.2.2 Confidence interval of proportions
7.3 Test of hypothesis, p-values and associated errors
7.3.1 Hypothesis Testing
7.3.2 One sample tests
7.3.3 Two sample tests
7.3.4 Type I and Type II errors
7.4 Non-parametric tests

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Learning outcomes/Specific outcomes
At the end of this module students should be able to:
1. Describe the use of statistics in public health practice
2. Recognize the different data/variables types arising in public health
3. Organize data using frequency tables for numeric and categorical variables
4. Calculate and interpret measures of central tendency and variability
5. Prepare tables, graphs, and charts for presenting data
6. Define and distinguish distribution types and describe the relationship between
probability and the area under the normal curve
7. Identify the different types of sampling methods
8. Perform statistical tests in comparing population means and proportions and calculate and
interpret confidence intervals for population means and proportions