L4.1: Overview of Epidemiology

• ● Epidemiology

  ○ The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states and events in populations, and the application of this to control health problems.

  ○ Described as the basic science of public health.
• ● Epidemiology

  ○ Greek word:

  ■ epi = on or upon

  ■ demos = people

  ■ logos = the study

  ○ NCDs also have epidemiology, however, it is more appropriate to study in CDs because they are curable.
• ● Epidemiology

  ○ Concerned with the determinants of health events in a population.

  ■ Where causes and factors in understanding the processes behind the occurrence of the disease and other health-related events in the community take place.

  ■ Determinants as risk factors of epidemiology
• Determinants

  1. Frequency

  2. Pattern
• 1. Frequency

  ● Focuses on the relationship that exists between:

  a. the number of cases of a particular disease, and;

  b. the size of the population

  ● Ex: significant if from 0
• 2. Pattern

  ● Occurrence of health-related events by time, place, and person.

  ○ Ex: tuwing tag-ulan, mas marami ang cases ng leptospirosis.