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An Introduction to Epidemiology pp 8–44Cite as

The Use of Mortality Statistics

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Abstract

Mortality returns have been collected in England and Wales since 1839, and an annual publication of statistics produced. Soon after their introduction they were used in a number of special studies on the cause of disease. Hill (1955) suggested that perhaps the most important feature in Snow’s argument about the transmission of cholera was his adept handling of the vital statistics for London, which were provided by the Registrar General in the mid-nineteenth century. Since then, these statistics have continued to serve as a ready source of background information for many health problems. Partly because of their extensive history, they form a suitable starting point for the consideration of the methods of epidemiology. Their use is chiefly as a constant source of descriptive material, although subsection 2.2.3 provides an example of their use in hypothesis testing. An additional reason for commencing with a consideration of mortality statistics is that they provide an introduction to the consideration of the steadily expanding range of morbidity statistics now becoming available in both developing and developed countries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, UK

    Michael Alderson (Chief Medical Statistician)

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  1. Michael Alderson
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© 1983 Michael Alderson

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Alderson, M. (1983). The Use of Mortality Statistics. In: An Introduction to Epidemiology. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-17291-7_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-17291-7_2

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-333-35015-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-17291-7

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