Health Data Management for before, during and after emergencies and disasters - Databases and Data Platform for Health EDRM
Health data sharing platforms or disaster databases contain large amounts of data from emergencies and disasters and facilitate access to high-quality datasets to practitioners, researchers and/or the public [1]. There are some shortcomings in the use of data from these systems, including a lack of standardisation in collection methodologies and definitions, the absence of a single reliable source of verified data, and inconsistent objectives across various databases. These challenges can make it difficult to compare outputs across databases and to estimate the range and true magnitude of impacts [2-5].
Despite these challenges, being able to access to good quality data is crucial for planning public health interventions during emergencies as well as for conducting epidemiological research relevant to health emergencies and disaster risk reduction (Health EDRM) [6,7].
The WHO Health EDRM Knowledge Hub on Health Data Management introduces various global database on health emergencies, COVID-19 and global health.
1. Databases and data platforms for health emergencies
WHO Health Emergency Dashboard
WHO Health Emergency Dashboard is an interactive web-based application, providing a snapshot of events and emergencies being responded to by WHO worldwide. It also includes information available to the public through official websites like WHO or Ministry of Health websites relating to public health emergencies.
EM-DAT
The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) launched the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) in 1988. EM-DAT is the International Disaster Database, containing core data on the occurrence and effects of more than 15,700 disasters since 1900. This resource provides information on the human impact of disasters - such as the number of people killed, injured or affected, along with disaster-related economic damage estimates and disaster-specific international aid contributions. The database is compiled from various sources, including UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, insurance companies, research institutes and press agencies.
DesInventar
DesInventar is a disaster loss database developed as a tool to analyse the disaster trends and impacts in a systematic manner to help plan better prevention, mitigation and preparedness measures. DesInventar is linked with the Sendai Framework Monitor and shares a list of databases from countries on the website.
Sendai Framework Monitor
The Sendai Framework Monitor was developed by UNDRR to track progress in implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 with the intention of providing more complete systematic information about the occurrence of all disasters, aligned with the targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 [8].
More Information
More information can be found in Chapter 2.1: Using epidemiological principles to assess impacts of emergencies and disasters. In: WHO guidance on research methods for health emergency and disaster risk management, revised 2022 [6].
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2. Databases and data platforms related to COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for data to evolve beyond mortality and frequency of events to understand and respond to the impact on communities [9].
WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard
WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard shares official counts of confirmed COVID-19 cases, dealths, the recovery rate and active cases globally. The Dashboard also includes detailed information on testing, contact tracing, and other measures taken by countries to control the spread of the virus.
WHO COVID-19 Research Database
WHO COVID-19 Research Database provides the latest findings and international multilingual scientific knowledge about COVID-19.
More Information
More information can be found in Chapter 6.1: Health EDRM research in the context of COVID-19 in the WHO guidance on research methods for health emergency and disaster risk management, revised 2022 [10].
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3. Databases and data platform for global health
In order to understand the health and sociaeconomic impacts of disasters, it is also important to be able to access data which are collected in non-emergency situations.
Datadot (World Health Data Hub)
Datadot (data.who.int) is a data source for global health, developed through the World Health Data Hub (WHDH) programme of WHO's Division of Data Analytics and Delivery for Impact. The Hub is a digital tool to improve access to global health data and provides a secure environment for Member States to upload and review and analyse data.
WHO Data Collections
WHO manages and maintains a wide range of data collections related to global health and well-being as mandated by our Member States.
WHO Health Data Toolkit
WHO partners with DHIS2 which is a free, open-source software platform for collecting, analysing, visualising and sharing data. DHIS2 is most commonly used as a health management information system by 76 low and middle-income countries. DHIS2 is used on various health-related initiatives, such as creating standardized metadata packages to strengthen data use at both national and international levels.
References
[1] Li Rebecca Hill Nina D’Arcy Catherine Baskaran Amrutha Bradford Patricia . Health Data Sharing Platforms: Serving Researchers through Provision of Access to High-Quality Data for Reuse. Health Data Sci. 2022:2022;DOI:10.34133/2022/9768384
[2] Guha-Sapir D, Below R. Collecting data on disasters: easier said than done. Asian Disaster Management News.2006. 12: 9-10.
[3] Guha-Sapir D, Below R. A Working Paper for the World Bank. The Quality and Accuracy of Disaster Data. A Comparative Analyses of Three Global Data Sets. 2002.
[4] Tschoegl L, Below R, Guha-Sapir D. UNDP/CRED Workshop on Improving Compilation of Reliable Data on Disaster Occurrence and Impact: An Analytical Review of Selected Data Sets on Natural Disasters and Impacts. 2006. www.emdat.be/sites/default/files/ TschoeglDataSetsReview.pdf (accessed 23 August 2019). 2.1 53
[5] Kar-Purkayastha I, Clarke M, Murray V. Dealing with disaster databases - what can we learn from health and systematic reviews? Application in Practice. PLoS Currents. 2011; Sep 30. Vol. 3: RRN1272. Doi.org/10.1371/currents.RRN1272.
[6] Waite TD, Murray V. Chapter 2.1: Using epidemiological principles to assess impacts of emergencies and disasters. In: WHO guidance on research methods for health emergency and disaster risk management, revised 2022. World Health Organization; 2022: 37-53. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/363502 (accessed 01 June 2023).
[7] Dye et al., (2016) Data sharing in public health emergencies: a call to researchers. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4773943/ (accessed 01 June 2023).
[8] Technical guidance for monitoring and reporting on progress in achieving the global targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. UNISDR. 2017. www.unisdr.org/we/inform/ publications/54970 (accessed 01 June 2023).
[9] Fegan, G., & Cheah, P. Y. (2021). Solutions to COVID-19 data sharing. The Lancet Digital Health, 3(1), e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(20)30273-9
[10] Huda Q, Clarke M, Murray V, Chan E, Wong CS, Rakesh A, Kayano R. Chapter 6.1: Health EDRM research in the context of COVID-19. In: WHO guidance on research methods for health emergency and disaster risk management, revised 2022. World Health Organization; 2022: 500-524. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/363502 (accessed 01 June 2023).
