Epidemiology Summary

1539 Words7 Pages

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease in human populations. It is a foundational science in public health in which its results will help clarify diseases causation, etiological hypotheses evaluation and serves as basis for public health programs implementation and evaluation. Epidemiological data can also be integrated with information from other disciplines such as genetics and industrial hygiene for a better understanding and provides evidence to support postulated theories in the area.
Ethics is being defined as moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity. It is a branch of philosophy that deals with the distinctions between right and wrong, explaining moral consequences …show more content…

Efforts to contain the spread of infectious diseases by restricting individual choices through isolation and quarantine of infected individuals to safeguard the community’s welfare demands justification. Furthermore, in the situation of limited resources for promotion and prevention activities, putting resources into untested interventions may result in depriving resources from other more effective programs. Awareness and accountability has definitely arises conflict between individuals and community …show more content…

There are questions of autonomy, individual rights, coercion, justice, multicultural values, the common good and the norms of research. Different types of political and moral theory overlap with one another in public health practice such as libertarianism, egalitarianism, utilitarianism, human rights framework and communitarianism. Libertarianism upholds liberty as its principal objective, maximizing autonomy and freedom of choice, voluntary association based on individual judgment whereas egalitarianism favors equality for all. Utilitarianism aims to maximize utility by maximizing total benefit and reducing suffering. Communitarianism emphasizes that a person's individuality is the product of community relationships, rather than a product derived only from personal