Epidemiology: Infectious Disease and Hiv Risk Activities
Definition and Description of Epidemiology
The word epidemiology was derived from the Greek words where “epi” means upon, “demos” means people, and “logos” means study.
Epidemiology can be defined in detail as the study of distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the prevention and control of health problems. (Last, 2001)
Here, in the definition the distribution refers to analysis of persons, classes of people, places that are being affected by the specific disease and determinants refers to factors that influence population health; these factors may be chemical, physical, biological, social, economic, cultural, behavioral or genetic. Health-related states refers to causes of death, diseases and behaviors such as use of tobacco, use of health services and reactions to preventive treatments. Specified population refers to those groups who indicate identifiable characteristics and application to prevention and control is aim of public health to protect, promote and restore health.
Epidemiological study focuses on a certain population that can be defined in terms of geographical or other criteria. The population may be selected from specific country or area at a specific time. Once population is selected, it can be further divided into subgroups based on age, gender, ethnicity or so on. Epidemiologists usually study on issues related to disability, illness, and death; they are more concerned about improving health and positive health states.
Public Health refers to combined actions in course of improving population health. One of the tools used for this purpose is epidemiology. In past, epidemiology studies focused more on cause of communicable diseases and that leads to work in identification of preventive methods. (Bonita, Beaglehole, & Kjellstorm, 2006)
Steps and Methods of Epidemiology
Epidemiology employs different sound scientific methods for the inquiry of the
The word epidemiology was derived from the Greek words where “epi” means upon, “demos” means people, and “logos” means study.
Epidemiology can be defined in detail as the study of distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the prevention and control of health problems. (Last, 2001)
Here, in the definition the distribution refers to analysis of persons, classes of people, places that are being affected by the specific disease and determinants refers to factors that influence population health; these factors may be chemical, physical, biological, social, economic, cultural, behavioral or genetic. Health-related states refers to causes of death, diseases and behaviors such as use of tobacco, use of health services and reactions to preventive treatments. Specified population refers to those groups who indicate identifiable characteristics and application to prevention and control is aim of public health to protect, promote and restore health.
Epidemiological study focuses on a certain population that can be defined in terms of geographical or other criteria. The population may be selected from specific country or area at a specific time. Once population is selected, it can be further divided into subgroups based on age, gender, ethnicity or so on. Epidemiologists usually study on issues related to disability, illness, and death; they are more concerned about improving health and positive health states.
Public Health refers to combined actions in course of improving population health. One of the tools used for this purpose is epidemiology. In past, epidemiology studies focused more on cause of communicable diseases and that leads to work in identification of preventive methods. (Bonita, Beaglehole, & Kjellstorm, 2006)
Steps and Methods of Epidemiology
Epidemiology employs different sound scientific methods for the inquiry of the
Bibliography: AIDS. (2012). U.S. Statistics. Retrieved from Aids.gov: http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/statistics/ Bonita, R., Beaglehole, R., & Kjellstorm, T. (2006). Basic Epidemiology. China: World Health Organization. CDC. (2011). HIV Among Youth. USA: CDC. Health Knowledge. (2012). The Steps in Outbreak Investigation Including the Use of Relevant Epidemiological Methods. Retrieved from HealthKnowledge.org.uk: http://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/disease-causation-diagnostic/2g-communicable-disease/outbreak-investigation Highleyman, L. (2012, July 27). Latest Data on HIV Cure Research. Retrieved from Aidsmap.com: http://www.aidsmap.com/Latest-data-on-HIV-cure-research/page/2455081/ Last, J. M. (2001). A Dictionary of Epidemiology. Oxford University Press. The White House. (2012, July 21). Fact Sheet: The Global AIDS Epidemic. Retrieved from Whitehouse.gov: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/07/21/fact-sheet-global-aids-epidemic U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health Practice. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).