Disease Control: Determinants of Health and Ill-Health Flashcards
Define epidemiology according to the Greek origins
Epidemiology comes from three Greek words
*EPI
on or upon
*DEMOS
people
*LOGOS
the study of
As a science, epidemiology began as
The study of what befalls [happens to] a population
Define epidemiology
EPIDEMIOLOGY is the
study of
the distribution and
determinants of health related
states or events in specified
populations , and the application
of this study to the control of
health problems.
What is study?
It is a science that follows rigorous (systematic & unbiased) methods to collect, analyze and
interpret information on health-related states
From what perspective is distribution mentioned?
- Frequency i.e., how often a health-related situation occurs in a particular population
- Pattern i.e., how the health-related situation occurs in time [seasonality], place [geographical
location] and by characteristics of persons [gender, age, Socio-Economic Status (SES)]
What are determinants or risk factors
- Factors, events or characteristics that can influence a health-related state or event
- Could be innate (genes] or external environment
What are health related states or events
- Anything that influences the well-being of a population
- diseases, causes of death, behaviors such as use of tobacco, positive health states,
reactions/behavioral changes due to preventive interventions, provision and use of health services
What is the specified population?
- Community [defined geographically, professionally, age groups, etc.] experiencing a health-related
situation
What is application?
- Addressing the aims of public health. Knowledge generated is used to improve the well-being of
communities or populations through health promotion, prevention of diseases and restoration of health
Give the 1946 WHO definition of health
“Health is a state
of complete physical,
mental, and social well
being, and not merely the
absence of disease or
infirmity”
Why is health dynamic?
Health is dynamic – from the body’s constant adaptation in response to stresses and
changes in the environment so as to maintain its inner
equilibrium (homeostasis)
Give the perspectives or levels where the determinants of health are derived from.
- Individual/personal [innate/genetic/biological, behavioral]
*External/Environmental [social, physical, political, institutional, etc.]
Give the first two levels of determinants under the individual level
*Biology & genetics i.e., innate individual traits
e.g., age, sex, race and biological factors
*Individual behavior i.e., diet, exercising, healthy
lifestyles, etc.
Give the last three levels of determinants under external/environmental level
*Social environment i.e., the social sorting of
populations e.g., social, family and community
networks
*Physical environment i.e., living and working
conditions
*Policy environment i.e., broad social, economic,
cultural, health and environmental conditions and
policies at the global, national, state and local
levels
Define innate/biological determinants and give a few examples
*
These are the individual internal/biological attributes of a person.
Some innate determinants are
*Age
health states vary by age of individual
*Sex
some health conditions limited by sex
*Inherited (hereditary) factors
genes for Sickle cell disease, hypertension,
Diabetes mellitus, certain cancer types, etc.
*Immune system
suppressed immunity e.g., HIV/AIDS, etc.
What are individual behavioral determinants? List them
The behavioral patterns of people are captured at this level of
determinants.
These include:
*Diet
eating habits, drinking habits (H 2 O)
*Physical activity
walking, other exercises
*Alcohol and substance use
*Smoking
*Hygiene including hand washing
