BONGA UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Introduction to epidemiology
BY MATHEWOS A. (BSc, MPH/EPIDEMIOLOGY AND BIOSTATISTICS)
11/21/2024 1
, Learning objectives
At the end of this unit the student is expected to:
üDiscuss public health and its functions
üDefine the term epidemiology
üDescribe the history of epidemiology
üDiscuss the basic epidemiologic assumptions
üDescribe the objectives of epidemiology
üDescribe the categories of epidemiology
üDiscus the causal concepts.
11/21/2024 2
, Basic terms definitions
v Health: A state of complete physical, mental and social well
being but not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
(WHO). This definition is also simplified to “ The ability to
lead a socially and economically productive life”
v Disease: is a physiological/psychological dysfunction.
v Illness: a subjective state of the person who feels aware of
not being well
v Sickness:- is a state of social dysfunction; a role that an
individual assumes when the other individual is ill or not well
11/21/2024 3
, Basic terms cont…
vSymptom: indication of illness felt by patient.
vS i g n : i n d i c a t i o n o f d i s e a s e o b s e r v e d b y h e a l t h
professionals.
vInfection: agent has achieved entry and begun to develop
or multiply, whether or not the process leads to disease.
vCommunity: refers to a group of people who share some
thing in common like (neighbourhood, work place, race,
religion or social activity).
11/21/2024 4
COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Introduction to epidemiology
BY MATHEWOS A. (BSc, MPH/EPIDEMIOLOGY AND BIOSTATISTICS)
11/21/2024 1
, Learning objectives
At the end of this unit the student is expected to:
üDiscuss public health and its functions
üDefine the term epidemiology
üDescribe the history of epidemiology
üDiscuss the basic epidemiologic assumptions
üDescribe the objectives of epidemiology
üDescribe the categories of epidemiology
üDiscus the causal concepts.
11/21/2024 2
, Basic terms definitions
v Health: A state of complete physical, mental and social well
being but not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
(WHO). This definition is also simplified to “ The ability to
lead a socially and economically productive life”
v Disease: is a physiological/psychological dysfunction.
v Illness: a subjective state of the person who feels aware of
not being well
v Sickness:- is a state of social dysfunction; a role that an
individual assumes when the other individual is ill or not well
11/21/2024 3
, Basic terms cont…
vSymptom: indication of illness felt by patient.
vS i g n : i n d i c a t i o n o f d i s e a s e o b s e r v e d b y h e a l t h
professionals.
vInfection: agent has achieved entry and begun to develop
or multiply, whether or not the process leads to disease.
vCommunity: refers to a group of people who share some
thing in common like (neighbourhood, work place, race,
religion or social activity).
11/21/2024 4
