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Epidemiology, Social
Epidemiology and Popular
Epidemiology
Some questions to ponder
Will prolonging life result in additional years of health or
additional years of disability?
Will healthier lifestyles and the postponement of chronic disease retard the aging process?
Will death increase from other diseases?
Will there be continued outbreaks of epidemic disease (e.g., AIDS and the recent increases in rates of tuberculosis, Swine flu, SARS) that represent an inconsistency in epidemiological transition?
What are the factors contributing to the aging population? What are the impacts (or implications) of an aging population?
Epidemiology
Epidemiology: the study of the distribution
of a disease or a physiological condition in
human populations and of the factors that
influence this distribution.
Epidemiological Transition
From acute infectious diseases to chronic
degenerative diseases
Examples of degenerative diseases
– Heart disease, cancer, stroke
The Focus And Methods Of
Epidemiological Investigation
1. Disease Agents
– biological (insects, fungi, bacteria, viruses)
– nutritional (fats, cholesterol)
– chemical (gases, toxic chemicals that pollute the air, water, and land)
– physical (radiation, temperature, and humidity)
2. The Environment
– Biological: the presence or absence of the known disease agents above
– Physical: geography, climate
– Social: occupation, location of home
3. The Human Host
– Age, sex, race, culture, life styles
Social Epidemiology
The study of the patterns of distribution of
disease, impairment, and mortality by social
characteristics of a population.
Include not only epidemics, but also non-
epidemic diseases such as injuries, drug
addiction, alcoholism, suicide, and mental
illness.
Basic Measures
Basic Measures: "Incidence", "Prevalence", "Morbidity rates", "Mortality rates“
Morbidity (disease rate)
Mortality
Chronic disease: heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes socio-demographic variations (age, gender, socioeconomic status, race)
By identifying how frequently a disease appears in different groups in a population, we gain many clues as to its causes.
The groups studied may differ by demographic characteristics, such as geography, age, gender, class, or race. They may also differ by behaviors, e.g. smoking, dietary habits, exercise.
Hypertension among blacks
Example:
Explanations for higher rates of hypertension
among blacks
genetic, physical exertion, associated disorder
(syphilis), psychological stress, diet, medical care
Critic: hypertension was associated more with
social class than with racial factors, and it was
suggested that the greater prevalence of obesity in
the lower class might be a possible explanation.
Popular epidemiology
The process by which laypersons gather statistics and other information and also direct and marshall the knowledge and resources of experts in order to understand the epidemiology of disease.
Brown: community initiative with the aid of scientists uncovered the link between the corporate dumping of toxic wastes, the pollution of the drinking water, and the increase in childhood leukemia.
a strategy people can use to fight against forces that create dangerous and sickening environments.