Title: What is a community profile?
Course: Health Management, Ethics and Research - Ethiopia (Full)

What is a community profile?

A community profile is the analysed and reported results of the data collected by a community survey, which describes a combined picture or profile of the population in your community. It may include such features as:

- kebele boundaries (Figure 11.1)
- the numbers of people and households
- the ages and genders of the population
- birth and death rates
- income and socioeconomic advantage/disadvantage data
- social/community needs
- access to services (e.g. health, education, water supply)
- knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on important health topics affecting the population.

Figure 11.1 A sketch map of the kebele can be used to show boundaries and key features of the community. (Photo: Pam Furniss)

Think back to Study Session 10. In order to generate a community profile, will the community survey collect quantitative data, qualitative data or both? Explain your answer.

Show answer

It will collect both types of data: quantitative data (counts) of the number of households, people, ages, genders, education level, etc., and qualitative data on people's knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on health issues and other related topics.