epidemiology lecture 1 introduction
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Epidemiology An introduction to, Definition, Approach and AimsTRANSCRIPT
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Lecture 1: Introduction
Lecture Objectives
By the end of this lecture, the student will be able to:
1. Understand the importance of epidemiology in medical sciences by knowing some of its achievements.
2. Define epidemiology.3. Describe the epidemiologic approach.4. Enumerate the aims of epidemiology.
John
Sno
w
Chol
era
The contribution of John Snow
Cholera is spread by contaminated water
(1850)
Vibrio cholerae hadn’t yet been
discovered
Many years before Louis Pasteur’s
“Germ theory of disease” (1873)
How was Snow able to conclude that Cholera is spread by contaminated
water?
Some important achievements in Epidemiology
1. Smallpox Eradication
2. Methyl Mercury poisoning
3. Rheumatic fever and RHD
Penicillin
PovertyPoor housingOvercrowding
4. Tobacco use, Asbestos and Lung cancer
5. The HIV/AIDS Epidemic
The definition of epidemiology
The study of the 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
Observation, Surveillance, Hypothesis testing, ExperimentTime, Place, Person
Biological, Chemical, Social, Economic, Behavioural etc.
Entire populations, Groups of populations (Occupation, Residence, Gender, Education etc.)
The Epidemiological Approach
1 Asking Questions
WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? WH0? HOW? WHY?
2 Making Comparisons
Aims of Epidemiology
• Describe distribution and magnitude of health and disease problems in human populations.
• Identify etiological factors in disease pathogenesis.
• Provide data essential to planning, implementation and evaluation of services for the prevention, control and treatment of disease and to the setting up of priorities among those services.
Sir Richard Doll(1912-2005)