Scope of Epidemiology and Important Components

The following are the important components and scope of epidemiology. Alright, let’s review one by one

An important component in epidemiology

1) Frequency of health problems

Determining health problems, by means of:

1. Reports from people who came to the health center
2. Home visits for family care
3. Health research/survey.
4. Case study

2) Spread of health problems

Classification of problems according to circumstances of time, place and person. Studying the spread of disease means seeking answers to the following questions:

1. Who is affected? (the condition of people, whether parents, children, women, men and so on
2. Where did the attack take place? (the condition of the place, whether urban areas, rural areas, beaches, mountains and so on
3. When/when did the attack occur? Conditions during the rainy season, summer, or at certain periods of time

3) Factors that influence the occurrence of health problems

The steps taken to determine the factors that influence health problems are:

1. Study the incidence of disease in each population group against existing risk factors
2. Develop a hypothesis
3. Test the hypothesis to prove it
4. Draw conclusions.

Epidemiology Goals

Collect facts and data about various problems that exist in society

1. Describe the nature and causes of the health problem
2. Finding / planning problem solving and evaluating implementation activities
3. Describe the health status of the population to set priority issues in planning
4. Study the natural history of a disease or health problem. Instructions for prevention and control mechanisms
5. Study the causes/risk factors of a disease/health problem
6. Developing a disease control and eradication system in an administrative system

Scope of Epidemiology

1. Health problems as subjects and objects of epidemiology

Epidemiology does not only study the problems of diseases, but also covers health problems that are widely found in society. Among them are family planning issues, environmental health issues, procurement of health workers, procurement of health facilities and so on. Thus, the subject and object of epidemiology are related to overall health problems.

2. Health problems in a group of people

Epidemiology work in studying health problems, will utilize data from the results of studies on a group of people, whether it is related to disease, family planning or environmental health problems. After being analyzed and knowing the cause, countermeasures are carried out as a follow-up.

3. Utilization of data on the frequency and distribution of health problems in formulating the causes of a health problem.

Epidemiology work will be able to find out a lot about health problems and the causes of these problems by analyzing data about the frequency and spread of health problems that occur in groups of people or communities. By utilizing the differences which are then carried out statistical tests, it can be formulated the causes of health problems.

Benefits / Uses Epidemiology

1. Can explain the causes of a health problem
2. Can explain the natural development of a disease
3. Can explain the state of health problems
4. Helping the work of health administration

Such are the references to the Objective Component and the Scope of Epidemiology. May be useful