Course info

Welcome to Biostatistics course for third year public health students! This course is designed to equip the undergraduate Public Health learner with a basic working knowledge of statistics as it applies to the fields of medicine and public health. The course will introduce the learner to the definition of biostatistics and the importance of statistics in the broad field of health sciences. This course will equip the student with a basic know-how of managing health and health related data in research and in the delivery of health services.  Health service of any kind is delivered based on concrete and proven evidences—not based on intuitions, anecdotes and preferences. This course is the tool that furnishes the learner with the capability of generating credible and dependable evidence to guide health sector activities.

objective of the course 

Upon the completion of this course, you will be able to:

1.      Discuss the role of statistics in health sciences and explain the main uses of statistical methods in the broad field of health care.

2.      Differentiate the various forms of data and variables.

3.      Describe and use methods of data collection, data organization and presentation, and data summarization.

4.      Recognize the relative merits and demerits of the different ways of data presentation.

5.      Calculate and interpret various measures of central tendency and dispersion.

6.      Identify and make use of data from existing health records.

7.      Differentiate the different sources of demographic information.

8.      Apply different techniques of sampling.

9.      Carryout statistical estimation viz. point estimation, interval estimation and sample size estimation.

10.  Determine and explain confidence intervals. 

11.  Carryout hypothesis testing and explain the meaning of statistical significance.

The teaching-learning methods in this course include self-directed online learning activities, face-to-face sessions, and discussions.

During the self-directed online activities, you must complete all of the given online learning activities at your own pace and within the time frame specified, as preparation for face-to-face sessions.

In the discussion forum sessions, you will have the opportunity to collaborate and learn with other students. You must participate in the discussion forum to answer the given questions and/or collaboratively solve a problem.

The face-to-face sessions are devoted to the discussion of complex concepts, questions and answers, and/or the practice of some important skills (if any).

To ensure that you get the most out of this course, you must devote at least 4 hour per week (1 hour for self-directed online activities, 1 hour for collaborative learning, and 2 hour for face-to-face sessions) for approximately 16 weeks.

At the end of the course, there will be a summative assessment to determine whether or not the learning objectives were met. This assessment consists of a written knowledge test, your participation in the discussion forum and the quality of your responses to the discussion questions, and a review of your completed and submitted work. 

I hope you enjoy your learning experience!