Abhilasha Mali Lecture Epidemology

Basic Concepts and Principles of
Epidemiology
• Epidemiology is the basic science of Preventive and
Social Medicine.
• Epidemiology is scientific discipline of public health

to study diseases in the community to acquire
knowledge for health care of the society. (prevention,
control and treatment).
• Epidemiological principles and methods are applied
in –
- Clinical research,
- Disease prevention,
- Health promotion,
- Health protection and
- Health services research.
• The results of epidemiological studies are also used by

other scientists, including health economists, health
policy analysts, and health services managers.
MODERN EPIDEMIOLOGY
- Infectious disease Epidemiology.
- Chronic disease Epidemiology.
- Clinical Epidemiology.
- Genetic Epidemiology.
- Occupational Epidemiology.
- Cancer Epidemiology.
- Neuro-Epidemilogy.
Definition
“The study of the distribution and determinants of
health-related states or events in specified
populations, and the application of this study to the
prevention and control of health problems” .
As defined by John M. Last

(1988)
Ultimate Aim of Epidemiology
• 1. To eliminate or reduce the health problems of

community.
• 2. To promote the health and well-being of society as

a whole.
Aims & Objectives of Epidemiology
1. To describe the distribution and magnitude of

health and disease problems in human population.
2. To identify etiological factors (risk factors) in the
pathogenesis of disease.
3. To provide data essential to the planning,
implementation and evaluation of services for the
prevention, control and treatment of disease and
setting priorities among those services.
(Acc. to International Epidemiological

Association)
Epidemiological approach
• 1. Asking questions.
• 2. Making Comparisons.
Incidence and Prevalence
• These are fundamentally different ways of

measuring disease frequency.
• The incidence of disease represents the rate of

occurrence of new cases arising in a given period in a
specified population, while
• prevalence is the number of existing cases (old+

new) in a defined population at a given point in time.
Incidence
• “Number of new cases occurring in
defined population during specified period
of time”
• Incidence = Number of new cases during

given period / Population at risk x
1000
Prevalence
• Prevalence is total no of existing cases ( old + new)
in a defined population at a particular point in time or
specified period.
• Prevalence = Total no of cases at given point of time

/ Estimated population at time x 100
Relation between Incidence & Prevalence
Prevalence = Incidence x Mean duration of

d/se.
P = I x D
Example – if,
I= 10 cases per 1000 per
year. D = 5 years.
P = 10 x5
50 cases per 1000
SCOPE OF MEASUREMENTS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY
Measurements in Epidemiology
1. Measurement of mortality.
2. Measurement of morbidity.
3. Measurement of disability.
4. Measurement of natality.
5. Measurement of presence or absence of attributes.
6. Measurement of health care need.
7. Measurement of environmental & other risk
factors.
8. Measurement of demographic variables.
Types of Epidemiologic Study Designs
Types of Epidemiologic Study Designs
Descriptive Epidemiologic Studies
• A simple description of the health status of a community.
• Based on routinely available data or data obtained in

special surveys.
• is often the first step in an epidemiological investigation.

Mortality Indicators
Maternal and child mortality indicators
Morbidity Indicators
Secondary Attack Rate=
No. of susceptible contacts exposed to the
primary case, developing the disease, within the maximum
100
incubation period of the disease
Total no. of susceptible contacts exposed
to the primary case
Malaria Indicators
Crude death rate = Total no. of deaths in a defined area in a year 1000
Mid –year population of the area
CDR =(206 30,000) 1000 =6.9 deaths per 1000 population

2. In a town with a mid-year population of 60,000, there were
180 cases of hepatitis B during year 2015. Total 430 deaths
occurred in the same year; of these, 17 deaths were due to
hepatitis B. Calculate CSMR, proportionate mortality ratio
and CFR of hepatitis B.
Answer

Abhilasha Mali Lecture Epidemology

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Basic Concepts and Principles of

• Epidemiology is scientific discipline of public health

• The results of epidemiological studies are also used by

As defined by John M. Last

• 1. To eliminate or reduce the health problems of

• 2. To promote the health and well-being of society as

1. To describe the distribution and magnitude of

(Acc. to International Epidemiological

• These are fundamentally different ways of

• The incidence of disease represents the rate of

• prevalence is the number of existing cases (old+

• Incidence = Number of new cases during

• Prevalence = Total no of cases at given point of time

Prevalence = Incidence x Mean duration of

• A simple description of the health status of a community.

• Based on routinely available data or data obtained in

• is often the first step in an epidemiological investigation.

CDR =(206 30,000) 1000 =6.9 deaths per 1000 population

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