PRINCIPLES OF EPIDEMIOLOGY

Principles of Epidemiology



Principles of Epidemiology

Introduction

In the strictest sense, epidemiology is the study of epidemics. However, a broader definition is accepted today—epidemiology is the branch of medicine that specializes in studying the causes of disease, its distribution, and ways of controlling its spread in populations. Following its origins in the early 1800s, epidemiology has evolved through distinctive eras. These are characterized by its initial focus on sanitary conditions, then infectious diseases, and after World War II, heightened focus on chronic diseases. Nancy (2005) mentions that epidemiological research has traditionally been quantitative and concerned with the incidence and prevalence of ...