Final answer:
A nurse investigating community structure would likely focus on the infant mortality rate, which reflects health care quality and socio-economic factors affecting community health. Data for this indicator can be obtained from birth and death records as well as analysis of social determinants.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse investigating the structure of the community would most likely collect data about the infant mortality rate as an indicator. The infant mortality rate is a critical health metric representing the number of children who die within their first year of life per 1,000 live births in a region. This rate reflects various aspects of the community's health care quality, socio-economic status, and public health practices. Collecting data on infant mortality rates involves accessing birth and death records, which are typically maintained by local health departments, as well as evaluating the broader social determinants that contribute to health disparities.
To calculate mortality rates within a population, a researcher would gather data from official records such as vital statistics, which include birth and death certificates. Health agencies also obtain information on the incidence of diseases by tracking reported cases through surveillance systems and conducting field investigations if necessary.
Additional indicators such as emergency room utilization could be assessed via surveys or reviewing hospital records, but infant mortality rate is a more encompassing and direct measure of community health infrastructure and outcomes.