Define epidemiology. Identify five objectives of epidemiology. Identify and explain three subspecialties within epidemiology. Refer to the “Areas of Epidemiology” resource. You are required to use a minimum of two scholarly resources. Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

Introduction to the field of epidemiology in Bio-550 Week 1 Assignment

Introduction:

It is a field that plays a major role in health science. Epidemiology helps to understand and prevent the spread of disease. The study and application of knowledge about the causes and distribution of disease and health in populations is called epidemiology. Researchers study the distribution, causes, effects, and trends of diseases and health within populations. This information is used to create and implement intervention strategies to control or prevent disease.

Objectives in Epidemiology

It is the primary objective of epidemiology to understand disease determinants, to determine high-risk groups, to develop interventions for disease prevention or control, as well as to measure the prevalence of diseases in populations. These are the five main objectives of Epidemiology.

1. In order to describe disease distribution, epidemiologists examine the incidence (numbers of new cases), and prevalence (total numbers of cases) in various populations. This helps identify groups at risk for certain diseases.
2. Identifying determinants: Epidemiologists examine the risks and causes of illnesses, which can help identify risk factors that are modifiable.
3. In order to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of interventions, epidemiologists plan and evaluate interventions that prevent or control diseases such as vaccine programs or public health campaigns.
4. Monitoring trends in disease. Epidemiologists are constantly monitoring trends to determine changes and patterns in disease. This helps inform public health policy.
5. For public health policy: To improve outcomes and inform policy, epidemiologists make evidence-based recommendations for policymakers.

Subspecialties in Epidemiology

There are different subspecialties of epidemiology. Each one focuses on a specific area. Three examples are:

1. Infectious Disease Epidemiology focuses on studying infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis. Infectious Disease Epidemiologists study the spread and transmission of diseases within populations. They also identify potential interventions and risk factors.
2. Environmental Epidemiology – This specialization focuses on factors in the environment that can cause disease. These include air pollution, contamination of water, and exposures to harmful substances. Environmental epidemiologists examine the impact of environmental factors on human health. They identify population at risk and devise interventions for disease prevention or control.
3. Genetic Epidemiology is a subspecialty that focuses on studying genetic factors, including inherited genetic defects. Genetic epidemiologists examine the role genetics plays in diseases, identify population at risk and create interventions to control or prevent disease.

Conclusion:

The field of epidemiology, although little-known in health science, is crucial. The field is crucial in the understanding of and control over diseases, and for improving outcomes on public health. Epidemiologists are able to control and prevent disease by identifying patterns of disease, determining risks, evaluating interventions and monitoring trends.