DHSS Home State Home Ask Us Disclaimer   
DHSS Logo
  
  Module IV
   
dot Home
dot Objectives
dot Using Statistical Measures
dot Frequency Distributions
dot
 - Ratios
 - Proportions
 - Rates
dot  - Incidence Rates
 - Rate Ratios
 - Prevalence Rates
dot  - Crude Rate
 - Cause-Specific Rate
 - Other Specific Rates
dot  - Relative Risk
 - Odds Ratio
dot Outbreak Exercises
dot Quiz
dot Outline
   
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
  

Statistical Measures

Ratios, Proportions, RatesBaby at clinic

Ratios

  • A ratio is used to compare the occurrence of a variable in two different groups.
  • These may be two completely independent groups, or one may be included in the other.
  • For example, we could compare the sex of children attending an immunization clinic in either of the following ways:
1) female  or 2) female
   male        all

In the first example, x (female) is completely independent of y (male). In the second example, x (female) is included in y (all). This second type of ratio, called a proportion, is examined in more detail in the next section of this module.