Population

Leaning objectives

At the end of the module, participants should be able to:

• Understand methods of collecting and reporting population data

• Understand use and limitations of population data in indicator calculation

What are the tools used for data collection?

•UNHCR collects population data in support of its activities to protect and assist
refugees

•In most countries there is no single tool/source available

•Population data is often collected from a number of overlapping and duplicating

sources
– Arrivals and departures
– Births and deaths registers
– Specific disaggregation needs
What population data to use?

•Important to agree on common source

•Recommended source is UNHCR proGres database

•Responsibility of each partner to request updated figures each month

What data should be collected and how?

•Population data serves a number of critical functions within the HIS. It is used to
determine the:
– Denominators for mortality, morbidity and other rates
– Protection requirement
– Target population for interventions
– Sampling frame for surveys
– Resource needs

•Importance of denominator in the calculation of rates

Rate

•A rate requires a:
– Numerator (number of events)
– Multiplier (power of 10)
– Denominator (population)
and importantly
•Time period (days, weeks, months, years)
Three important group of Rates

• Mortality Rates: measure rate of death

• Morbidity Rates: measure rate of illness

• Birth Rates: measure rate of birth

Rate
1. Numerator 2. Time period 4. Multiplier

Number of events
6 deaths in 1per year
month
x 1000
10n
Population
34 632size

3. Denominator (population)

CMR = 0.17 deaths / 1000 population / month

Importance of the Denominator

• The population figure (denominator) must:

– relate to same time period as the event (numerator) and

– relate to the same population as the event (numerator)

• Local host population should not be included in the denominator. Reliable

estimates are often not available and the use of host data to calculate indicators
within the HIS is fraught with difficulties
Male CMR
1. Numerator 2. Time period 4. Multiplier

Number
4 maleofdeaths
eventsinper year
1 month
x 1000
10n
Population
16 970size
Refers to males only

3. Denominator (Population)
Male CMR = 0.23 deaths / 1000 population / month
U5MR
1. Numerator 2. Time period 4. Multiplier

Number of5events
10 under deathsper
in 1year
month
x 1000
10n
Population
6 926 size
Refers to under fives only

3. Denominator (Population)
U5MR = 1.44 deaths / 1000 population / month
Denominator requirements for the HIS

• Total population (Male/Female)

• 0 – 1 year (Male/Female)
• 1 – 4 years (Male/Female)
• 5 – 17 years (Male/Female)
• 18 – 59 years (Male/Female)
• >= 60 years (Male/Female)

• Pregnant and lactating

• Women 15 – 49 years (WCBA)
Population denominators

Often follow a standard age distribution:

• 0 - 1 year 4%
• 0 - 5 years 20%
• Male : Female 49% : 51%

• Pregnant and Lactating women 4%

• Women aged 15-49 20%
How and when should the data be reported?

• PHO/Associate to request up-to-date population figures from UNHCR proGres

database on 15th of each month

• Responsibility of UNHCR to make figures are accurate and made available on-
time

• Emphasises need to coordinate closely with UNHCR Protection and IT staff at

field level
How the data should be interpreted and used?

• The accurate estimation of population figures in refugee settings can be difficult

• Challenges include:
– Rapid in and out-migration (e.g. influx following recent displacement, outflux during repatriation
or resettlement);
– Presence of non-registered refugees in a camp who are not recorded in UNHCR population
figures but are entitled to receive health care; and
– Difficulties distinguishing between nationals and refugees at the point when beneficiaries
access health services.
How the data should be interpreted and used?

• HIS users should recognise these biases and be able to predict how they
influence the final expression of rate, proportions and ratios

• Vaccination coverage rates for example, can exceed 100% in some countries if
calculated using inaccurate population estimates

• However, this does not mean that they should be disregarded. Assuming that they
are subject to a systematic bias the monitoring of trends in these values can still
be useful.
Thank you