Determinants, distributions and applications
Determinants "Many factors combine together to affect the health of individuals and communities2" ď ľ
The key assumptions in epidemiology studies are that: ď ľ ď ľ
a disease or health event does not occur randomly in a population and there is a point of time where a healthy population was exposed to risk factors or determinants that lead to the occurrence of a disease.
Distribution ď ľ
In epidemiology, the frequency and pattern of health-related characteristics and events in a population. In statistics, the observed or theoretical frequency of values of a variable.
Frequency: Refers to the number of health events occurred in a population group oppose to the healthy, unaffected portion of the same population. There are several means by which the occurrence of disease can be measured, distinguished by differences in the time of disease onset.
Prevalence (total number of cases, new and exsisting)
Incidence (number of new cases)
Mortality (number of deaths)
Pattern: Refers to the occurrence of health-related events by time, place, and person.
Time hours, days, months, year, a specific date and any other breakdown of time
Place the locality of where the health even occurred; a village, a city, a school, any geographical variation
Person normally refers to personal demographics (age, sex, occupation and more...)
Application of epidemiology 1.
Provide the scientific basis to prevent disease & injury and promote health
2.
Determine relative importance to establish priorities for research & action
3.
Identify the sub-population at greatest risk to target interventions
4.
Evaluate effectiveness of programs in improving the health of the population
5.
Study natural history of disease from precursor states through clinical courses
6.
Conduct surveillance of disease and injury occurrence in populations
7.
Investigate disease outbreaks
Epidemiology is used to better understand a disease outbreak by answering these questions
•What is it? •How big is the outbreak? •Who is affected by the disease? •Where is the disease occurring? •When does the disease occur? •Why does the disease occur?
The end REFERENCES: 1. LAST JM. DICTIONARY OF EPIDEMIOLOGY. 4TH ED. NEW YORK: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS; 2001. P. 61. 2. WHO- THE DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH HTTP://WWW.WHO.INT/HIA/EVIDENCE/DOH/EN/