Indicators that count! Measuring population health at the community level

We begin with discussion of some vitally important conceptual and methodolo gical issues. These issues concern our understanding of community, of healt h, of population health and its determinants, of the concept of 'measuremen t' and the values that underlie it, and our reasons for wishing to measure these constructs. We then present a framework for indicator categories, pro pose some criteria for indicator selection and suggest an initial set of co re indicators. This indicator set reflects not simply health status - no ma tter how broadly defined - but also the environmental, social and economic determinants of health and the "healthfulness" of the community itself. Our most import conclusion is that if the information that is contained in the data of the indicator set is to be transformed into knowledge that can emp ower and emancipate the community, it has to be developed in consultation w ith the local community and local users of the information.