Role of Epidemiology
The study of disease in groups or populations through data collection to identify patterns and causes.|What is epidemiology?
Epidemiology?
The number of deaths in a given population over a period of time.
Mortality
Epidemiology does not explain the ______ of health inequities.
The causes (The Why)
Governments use five criteria to identify health priorities. Name one.
Prevalence, Cost, Social Justice Principles, Priority Population Groups, or Prevention/Early Intervention?
The “SEED” acronym stands for supportive environments, equity, and ______.
Diversity
Epidemiology considers incidence, prevalence, distribution, and ______ of disease.
Apparent causes
The number of deaths of children in their first year per 1,000 live births.
Infant mortality
Data may be outdated because of this factor in collection and analysis.
The time taken to collect and reliance on self-reporting (bias)
This principle involves removing inequality and promoting human rights.
Social Justice Principles
Providing resources according to need to achieve equality of outcomes.
Equity
One role of epidemiology is to analyse how ______ are being used.
Health services and facilities
The rate and patterns of illness, disease and injury in a population.
Morbidity
Epidemiology may not clearly show variations in health between these.
Population subgroups (e.g. ATSI vs. non-ATSI)?
These include financial, physical, emotional, and social costs of poor health.
Costs to the Individual?
Providing health information in multiple languages is an example of this principle.
Diversity
Give two groups who use epidemiological data to identify health issues.
Governments, Health Organisations, NGOs, or Researchers
The average number of years a person is expected to live.
Life expectancy?
Epidemiology cannot always measure this subjective aspect of health.
Quality of life
Give one example of a priority population group.
ATSI peoples, rural/remote Australians, low SES groups, migrants, or men and women
Rural and remote communities often lack these, making them a priority group.
Supportive Environments
Explain why epidemiology is important for identifying health priorities.
It provides a picture of population health and guides resource allocation
Name the four key measures of epidemiology.
Mortality, Infant Mortality, Morbidity, and Life Expectancy
Give two limitations of epidemiology.
It doesn’t explain causes, may be biased, misses mental health, ignores social determinants
Why does potential for prevention and early intervention make an issue a priority?
Because prevention and early treatment reduce burden and improve outcomes
Explain how social justice principles guide the selection of health priorities.
They address inequities, ensure fairness, and support vulnerable groups