An investigator wants to compare infant mortality between two districts but knows their age structures differ widely. Age-specific mortality rates are available for both districts. Which method of standardisation is appropriate?

• A Indirect standardisation using the national age-specific rates
• B Calculation of the standardised mortality ratio for each district
• C Direct standardisation applying each district's own rates to a common standard population ✓
• D Crude comparison, since infant mortality needs no adjustment

Explanation

Direct standardisation requires age-specific rates in the study populations, which are available here, and applies them to a common standard population to yield comparable adjusted rates. Indirect standardisation and the SMR are used when the study population's own age-specific rates are unstable or unknown, typically in small populations, and instead apply standard rates to the study population's structure.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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