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.