Epidemiologists in many developing countries, where official demographic services
are unavailable, have to include some demographic functions in their work. The usual
method of documenting a study population for epidemiological research in a developing
country consists of three stages: mapping, enumeration and vital registration. This
paper considers the last element of this process, detailing the development of a suitable
data system and explaining how its implementation using microcomputers and a database
management system can help in the creation of an on-line continuous vital registration
system for a study population as an epidemiological tool. The issues covered are data
collection, entry and analysis, and the advantages of such a system for use in epidemiological
research in developing countries are also discussed.
Key-Words:
Data Collection - Microcomputers - Tropical Epidemiology - Demographic Monitoring
