Principles Of Epidemiology In Public Health Flashcards
Components of Epidemiology
Population, Distribution, Factors
Scopes of Epidemiology
Epidemic/Endemic Occurrences, communicable/non-communicable diseases, study of health services, research in health and other related fields
Related Disciplines of Epidemiology
Microbiology, Parasitology, Entomology, Chemistry, Physics, nutrition, industrial medicine, demography, anthropology, sociology, genetics, psychology, meteorology, biostatistics
The proportion of persons exhibiting both events is either significantly higher or lower than the proportion predicted on the basis of simultaneous consideration of the separate frequencies of the 2 categories.
Statistical association
Change in one party to the association alters the other.
Causal association
Criteria in determining disease causation
Temporal relationship, plausibility, consistency, strength, dose-relationship response, revesibility
The state the host at any given time is a result of the interactions of genetic endowment with environment.
Host factors (intrinsic)
Influence exposure and sometimes indirectly affect susceptibility as well
Environmental Factors (Extrinsic)
Population nor the environment of different times and places are not identical
Epidemiologic variables
Refers to the characteristics of the individual exposed and who contracted infection or the disease in question.
Person
The most important single factor related to disease occurrence
Age
More common among children of elderly mothers
Mongolism
Pertains to features or conditions which existed in or describe the environment in which disease occur
Place
Refers to the period during which the individual cases of the disease under the study were exposed to the source and the period during which the illness occur.
Time
Importance of Studying causes of disease or health-related conditions:
Prevention, Diagnosis, application of correct treatments
Definition of Cause of Disease
An event, condition and a characteristic or a combination of these factors plays an essential role in producing the occurrence of a disease
Host Factors
Genetically determined, result of past environmental exposures, personality, social class membership
Environmental factors (Extrinsic)
Biological, Physical, Social
Descriptive Epidemiology
The methods and techniques of Epidemiology are designed to detect the causal association between the disease and the characteristics of a person who has it or a factor of the environment
Advantages in studying epidemiologic variables:
Determine the individual and population at great risk of acquiring the disease and give us clues as to the etiology of disease
Organize data processing to the variables of people, place and time
Diseases that are more common in females:
Thyroid diseases, diabetics mellitus, cholecystitis, obesity, arthritis, and psychoneurosis
Diseases common to males:
Peptic ulcers, inguinal hernia, accidents, arteriosclerotic heart disease
Person
Age,Sex, Ethnic, Religion, Family Size, Marital Status, Occupation, Nutritional Status and Constitution
Time
Refers to the period during which the individual cases of the disease under study were exposed to the source and the period during which the illness occurs.
Epidemic Period
The period during which the reported number of cases exceeds expected or usual number for that period
For many diseases, the incidence is not uniform during each of the 12 consecutive months
Year
Period of Consecutive Year
this is mainly used to predict probable future incidence in planning appropriate preventive and control program
Demography
Empirical, statistical, and mathematical study of human population; study of population
3 Human Events
Population size, composition and structure and distribution
3 Major Dynamics Processes
Natality, Mortality, and Migration
Population Composition
Refers to all measurable characteristics of the people who comprise the given population
5 common characteristics of population composition
Age, Sex, marital status, occupation and education
Sources of Demographic Data
Censuses, sample surveys, vital registration systems, continuing population registers, school rosters, voter registration, income tax returns and social security systems
The total process of collecting, compiling, and publishing demographic, economic and social data pertaining, at a specified time or times, to all persons in a country or delimited territory
Census
Minimum list of population characteristics
Age, sex, marital status, number of children ever born, race or ethnic origin, educational attainment, place of birth and occupation
Sources of Data
Primary Data (first hand interview)
Secondary Data (recorded documents or registry)
Methods of Data Collection
Review of documented sources, making observations and asking questions
Factors affecting the choice of data collection method
Objectives of the study, level of quality and quantity of the data that is desired, time, money, manpower availability
