Prevalence estimates from population characteristics - HELP!

From: Karin Jensen (k_jensen_at_mailblocks.comDELETETHIS)
Date: 11/07/04 

Date: Sun, 7 Nov 2004 19:10:07 +0000

I am trying to estimate the prevalence of a disease in different
areas, for health services provision modelling.

The authoritative document on this is a government report, which
presents adjusted odds ratios & CIs derived from logistic
regressions for different demographic characteristics (e.g. age,
sex, ethnicity, social class). It also gives point estimates and
95% CIs for prevalence rates for different demographic
characteristics (e.g. 1.9% +/- 0.3% in whites, say, 1.5%
+/- 0.5% in people of Chinese origin, etc.).

>From the Census and other data sources, I know the number of people
in each area in each category, such as the number in each age group,
ethnic group or social class. I have no individual level data.

How can I combine the odds ratios or prevalence estimates for the
various demographic characteristics with the population totals in
these different categories to get an overall prevalence estimate for
a particular population?

I would get different estimates based on the population totals for
age, sex etc., but how should I combine them?

Many thanks and all the best

Karin