A Guide to Global Health and Epidemiology Research

To search for Statistics:

Go to the World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory Data Repository

WHO Searching Tips

Steps to Search by Country:

1. Go to World Health Organization

2. Click on "Countries" at the top

3. Alphabetically scroll down to country

Steps to Search by Health Topic:

1. Go to World Health Organization

2. Click on "Health Topics"

3. Alphabetically scroll down to health topic

To search for Statistics:

Go to the World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory Data Repository

Global Health Organization:

World Health Organization

Governmnent Web Sites:

Ministries of Health Websites

World Factbook

Library of Congress - Country studies

United Nations - Country profiles and statistical systems

Relief Organizations

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund

Doctors without Borders

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

OxFam International 

• Step One: Click on the article title in PubMed Medline. Look for full text links such as an "Online Full-text" link from the NAU Cline Library in upper right:   

• Step Two: If there is not an "Online Full-text" link in upper right or other free full text links, you can request the Cline Library obtain a copy for you.  First, identify the full journal title by clicking on the journal abbreviation in PubMed Medline and select NLM Catalog.   It will display the full journal title. Example: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology

• Step Three:  Request it if the library does not have the electronic article available.

Vodcast: APA Formatting: the Basics - Purdue OWL

APA Citing Resources

• Tip: Refer to APA print manual.
•  RefWorks  is a useful citation tool. This LibGuide and these  video tutorials can help you navigate the software. 
• APA Official website
• APA Formatting and Style Guide (Purdue University Online Writing Lab) - Offers examples for the general format of APA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the reference page. Use with discretion as they sometimes have errors in citing. Use the APA print manual as your authoritative source.

NAU Librarians are available and can assist you by chat or email. You can schedule an individual research appointment.  We will reply to emails within 24 hours, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays or other closures).   View all hours.

• MedlinePlus Health Information - Find background information on many health topics.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Find Statistics; Diseases & Conditions; Global Health and on other info such as State, Tribal, Local & Territorial.
• Community Tool Box (Community Health)
• Consumer Health Links
• Healthfinder - Consumer information from the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services.
• National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities - This center supports programs of health disparities research with a focus on basic and clinical research, training, and the dissemination of health information.
• National Women's Health Information Center
• Rural Health Resources

To form your question, first identify your topic.  For example, it could be one of these:

• Chronic Disease (Cardiovascular, pulmonary)
• Health Education/Promotion
• Healthcare Access
• Nutrition (Diabetes, stomach cancer)
• Poverty
• Communicable Diseases (HIV, TB, malaria, parasites)
• Unintentional/Intentional Injuries

Decide what kind of information you need from your answerable questions such as these questions:

• Who are at greatest risk within your population of a specific country for your health topic?
• What is the prevalance of the global health topic within your population?
• Provide specific examples of how global health topic is addressed within your population.
• How does the global health topic impact the specific country?
• Identify cultural implications and how the health topic is being addressed by other countries.