Health Hygiene & Sanitation

Lesson 05 : Indicators Of Health

Morbidity Indicators

Mortality indicators do not cover the burden of ill health on the community; hence only mortality rate cannot be relied upon as indicator of health status. Morbidity indicators hence, are used to supplement the mortality indicators. Morbidity is not always a very good indicator as there are innumerable cases of hidden disorders, subclinical stages which need not always be felt.
Morbidity rates commonly used for assessing ill health are

• Incidence and prevalence
• Notification rates
• Attendance rates at outpatient departments, health centers etc.
• Admission, readmission and discharge rates
• Duration of stay in hospital
• Spells of sickness, absence from work and school.