Course:

Principles of
Epidemiology
Title:
Introduction to Epidemiology
 Introduction to Epidemiology

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

● Define epidemiology.
● Describe the scope of epidemiology.
● Identify the components of epidemiology.
● Describe the purpose of epidemiology.
● Define key terms of epidemiology.

PERSONAL GOALS FOR THIS TOPIC

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Rack your brain 😊

Imagine a sudden outbreak of a mysterious illness in your community – people are geing
sick, but no one knows why. How would you go about figuring out what’s causing it, how
it’s spreading, and what can be done to stop it?
 Introduction to Epidemiology

Definitions of Epidemiology

● According to Merriam-Webster English dictionary, it defines

epidemiology as “a branch of medical science that deals with the
incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population.”
● Epidemiology is the study of "epidemics" and their prevention.
● Also, Epidemiology is the science to understand, and explain the
occurrences of health phenomena in a population (Antunez, 2022).
● Epidemiology can also be referred to as the study of disease in
populations and of factors that determine its occurrence over time.
Introduction to Epidemiology

Definitions of Epidemiology

● In addition, it is the study of the distribution and

determinants of health-related states among specific
populations and the application of that study to the control
of health problems.
● Similarly, Epidemiology is also concerned with the
distribution and determinants of health and disease,
morbidity, injury, disability, and death in populations.
 Introduction to Epidemiology

Scope of Epidemiology

● Originally, epidemiology was concerned

with investigation and management of
epidemics of communicable diseases.
● Lately, epidemiology was extended to Epidemics of
endemic communicable diseases and communicable diseases
non-communicable infectious diseases.
● Recently, epidemiology can be applied +
to all diseases and other health related
events. Endemic communicable
● Epidemiology study focuses on areas and non-communicable
infectious diseases
like disease causation, natural history,
transmission, outbreak investigation,
surveillance, screening, biomonitoring, +
and comparisons of
All diseases and other
interventions/treatment eects such as health-related events.
in clinical trials.

Assess health of
a population

Implement & Determine

evaluate causes of any
solutions health problems
 Introduction to Epidemiology

Components of Epidemiology
There are three components of epidemiology and they include:

1. Disease frequency: This refers to

the measurement of health related
event in the form of rates and ratios.
For example prevalence rate,
incidence rates, death rate etc.
These rates are essential for
comparing the disease frequency in
dierent populations or sub groups
of the same population. Such
comparison yield valuable
information on disease etiology. This
is a vital step in the development of
strategies for prevention and control
of health problems.

2. Distribution of disease: This

refers to the paern in which
disease occurs in a
population or subgroups, to
indicate increase or decrease
in distribution over time. The
result is useful in formulation
of a hypothesis.
 Introduction to Epidemiology

Components of Epidemiology

3. Determinants of disease: These are factors that can increase or

decrease the likelihood of developing a disease. These factors help in
developing scientifically sound health programmes, interventions and
policies. The determinants of disease generally include the
cause/agents, risk factors and modes of transmission. However, it does
not include the resulting public health action
 Introduction to Epidemiology

Purpose of Epidemiology

The aim of epidemiology is to identify risk and protective factors, which are
associated with a disease, and to define frequencies and distributions of
these factors in the population. The purpose is to describe and identify
opportunities for intervention. It focuses on disease management, vaccine
development and influences policy and decisions in disease management.

The aim of epidemiology can be achieved through the following objectives:

● Identify causes and risk factors for disease

● Determine the extent of disease in the community

● Study natural history and prognosis of disease

● Evaluate preventive and therapeutic measures

● Provide foundation for public policy

 Introduction to Epidemiology

Epidemiology Key Terms

● Epidemic or outbreak: disease ● Prevalence: the number or

occurrence among a population that proportion of cases or events or
is in excess of what is expected in a conditions in a given population
given time and place. regardless of when they first
occurred.
● Endemic: disease or condition ● Incidence: a measure of the number
present among a population at all or frequency with which an event,
times. such as a new case of illness, occurs
in a population over a period of time.
● Pandemic: is an epidemic occurring
over a very wide area (several ● Surveillance: the systematic
countries or continents) and usually collection, analysis, interpretation,
aecting a large proportion of the and dissemination of health data on
population. an ongoing basis, to gain knowledge
of the paern of disease occurrence
● Rate: number of cases occurring
and potential in a community, in
during a specific period; always
order to control and prevent disease
dependent on the size of the
in the community.
population during that period.
● Ratio: is the value obtained from
● Cluster: group of cases in a specific
dividing one quantity by another (
time and place that might be more
x/y ). The numerator and
than expected.
denominator may be independent of
● Disease: a condition that aects the each other.
normal functioning of the body or
● Risk factors: They identify and
mind, causing symptoms, distress, or
analyse various risk factors
impairment of bodily functions.
associated with the development
● Morbidity: state of being unhealthy and spread of diseases.
or symptomatic due to a specific
● Prognosis: a prediction of the
disease or health condition. It is the
course of a disease following its
measure of illness in a population.
onset.
● Mortality: occurrence of death due
to a specific disease or health
condition.
 Introduction to Epidemiology

MID-LESSON QUESTION

Describe the dierences between incidence and prevalence in epidemiological

studies.
Introduction to Epidemiology

SUMMARY OF THE LESSON

Some of the take-away from the lesson are:

● Epidemiology studies the incidence, distribution, and control of

diseases in populations, focusing on understanding and explaining
health phenomena like epidemics.

● Initially focused on communicable diseases, epidemiology now

includes all diseases and health-related events.

● Epidemiology measures disease frequency, distribution, and

determinants to inform health programs and policies.

● The goal is to identify risk and protective factors, describe disease

frequencies and distributions, and influence disease management
and public health policies.

● Epidemiology aims to identify causes and risk factors, determine

disease extent, study natural history and prognosis, evaluate
interventions, and support public health policies.

● Important terms include epidemic, endemic, pandemic, rate,

cluster, prevalence, incidence, morbidity, mortality, and prognosis.

● Rates, clusters, prevalence, and incidence are key metrics for

measuring and analysing health events.

● Morbidity refers to illness, mortality to death, and prognosis to the

prediction of disease course.

● Surveillance involves continuous health data collection, analysis,

and interpretation to control and prevent diseases.

● Identifying and analysing risk factors is crucial for developing

eective health interventions and preventive strategies.
Introduction to Epidemiology

REFERENCES & FURTHER READING

REFERENCES

● Antunez, H. G. (2022). Principles of Epidemiology. St.

Clouds State University. [email protected].

● Bovbjerg, M. L. (2023). Foundations of Epidemiology,

Oregon State University.

● Lash, T.L., VanderWeele, T. J., Haneuse, S. and Rothman,

K. J. (2020). Modern Epidemiology. LWW (4th Edition).
ISBN-13 : 978 1451193282

● Li, T. ; Bouter, L. & Zeegers, M. (2022). Textbook of

Epidemiology, 2nd Ed. Wiley.

● Webb, P., bain, C. & Page, A. (2021). Essential

Epidemiology, 4th Ed. Cambridge University Press.
 Introduction to Epidemiology

LESSON QUESTIONS

1. Which term describes a condition aecting the normal

functioning of the body or mind, causing symptoms,
distress, or impairment of bodily functions?

A Morbidity

B Disease

C Incidence

D Prognosis

2. Which epidemiological term describes the number of

new cases of a disease in a population over a specific
period of time?

A Prevalence

B Mortality

C Incidence

D Ratio
 Introduction to Epidemiology

LESSON QUESTIONS

3. Which component of epidemiology involves studying the factors

that can increase or decrease the likelihood of developing a
disease?

A Disease frequency

B Distribution of disease

C Determinants of disease

D Surveillance

4. What is meant by 'prevalence' in epidemiology?

The number or proportion of new cases of a disease in a population

A
over a specific period of time.

The systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination

B
of health data.

The number or proportion of cases or events in a given population

C regardless of when they first occurred.

D The occurrence of death due to a specific disease or health condition.

5. Discuss the role of epidemiology in public health policy.

6. Analyse how the study of determinants of disease contributes to the

development of public health interventions.
Yipee! You are
at the end!

Introduction to Epidemiology