Lecture 14: Epidemiology, a population health perspective Flashcards
What is epidemiology?
The study of the occurrence and distribution of health-related events, states of processes in specified populations
What is population health?
the health outcomes of a group of individuals including the distribution of such outcomes within the group
What are two important patterns of health distribution in NZ?
- ethnicity
- socioeconomic status
What are five ways we can assess socioeconomic status?
- occupation
- education
- income
- living standards measures
- deprivation
What is a way to measure deprivation?
using the NZDep
What is the NZDep?
It is an area based measure of deprivation using an area of about 100 people
What are some advantages of the NZDep?
- it considers a range of aspects
- it can be used for everyone
- is can be determined from the address
NZDep measures _______ deprivation
relative
What is absolute poverty?
Income level below which a minimum nutritionally adequate diet plus essential non-food requirements is not affordable. The amount of income a person, family, or groups needs to purchase an absolute amount of the basic necessities of life
What is relative poverty?
The income of a person, family, or group needs to purchase a relative amount of basic necessities of life; these basic necessities are identified relative to each society and economy
What are some disadvantages of the NZDep?
- it is a neighbourhood measure not an individual measure
- it incorporates a range of aspects but not everything
- it is not a label
Define the social determinants of health
the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life
What five factors make up the social determinants of health?
- age, sex and hereditary factors
- individual lifestyle factors
- social and community influences
- living and working conditions
- general socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions
