Epidemiology it is the study of the frequency, distribution and determinants of health problems in human populations, as well as the application of these studies in the control of health-related events. is the main health information science, being the basic science for collective health.
Etymologically, "epidemiology" means the study that affects the population (epi=about; demio=people; logos= study).
Descriptive Epidemiology
THE descriptive epidemiology studies the behavior of diseases in a community, as a function of variables related to time (when), physical space or place (where) and the person (who).
Your objective is to answer where, when and about whom a given health problem occurs, providing important elements to decide which measures of prevention and control are more indicated, in addition to evaluating whether the strategies used reduced or controlled the occurrence of a certain disease.
Objectives of Epidemiology
The general objective of epidemiology is reduce health problems in the population
. In practice, she mainly studies the lack of health in the form of illnesses and injuries.Applications of Epidemiology
Inform the population's health situation: Determine the frequencies, study the distribution of events and the consequent diagnosis of the main verified health problems, also identifying the parts of the population that were affected, to a greater or lesser extent. proportion;
Investigate the determining factors of the health situation: Conduct a scientific study of the determinants of the appearance and maintenance of damage to health in the population;
Evaluate the impact of actions to change the situation found: Determine the usefulness and safety of isolated actions of health service programs.