- Published: September 18, 2022
- Updated: September 18, 2022
- University / College: University of Minnesota Twin Cities
- Language: English
- Downloads: 25
The concept of Epidemiology is derived from Greek words which mean study upon populations. epi- means upon,-demos mean people and -elogy means study. This study deals with diseases and their impact on health. It analyzes data on how diseases spread among the population of a certain section and the findings are used to determine control measures and the causes of diseases, their relationship with other diseases and find a common measure to curb the effects. It has been widely accepted in the health sector across all concerned organizations including NGOs, hospitals Government health sector. It helps in providing basic information on the causes of disease in a certain population, the factors that influence the rapid spread of diseases and prevention and control measures of the diseases. Collected data is also used in formulation of healthy policy used to guide the management in the health sector. The main practice in epidemiology is observation. Health specialists are required to consistently observe the spread pattern of the disease, its speed and reaction of the drugs applied to the affected population. Data collected in this study can be categorized in terms of age, sex and places of residence.
Communicable diseases refers to those disease that are transmitted from one person to another . Its mode of transmission is through touch, saliva, sneezing , sharing of equipments and sharing of clothes. A bacteria releases toxins into the air and attaches itself to the human body or is inhaled thus affecting the functioning of the body cells. The chain of a communicable pathogen involves the micro-organism that causes infection, the source of infection, mode of transmission and finally the host of the bacteria. There are different transmission paths of the pathogens which include: congenital infection, Food/water- borne, air borne, droplet, contact, vector-borne and body fluid transmission.
The current health system has advanced in its research by adopting the population based method health care method. It involves reaching beyond the patient to the neighbors to assess whether the disease is epidemic or communicable. Homosexuality in the current century is ranked as one of the paths communicable diseases are prevalent. Gay and lesbians are at the highest risk of contracting communicable diseases . This is due to similar composition of genes, chromosomes and cell structure. The communicably bacteria spread from the infected to the host faces little objection due to similar genetic and cell composition of same sex individuals. However the immunity level of an individual matter regardless of the type of sex. An immigrant gay or lesbian infected with a certain bacteria may not communicate rapidly to the natives because of genetic and cell structure. A native’s cell structure may resist the bacteria and therefore cut the path of spreading the disease. The immigrant could be carrying a strong bacteria that may overwhelm the immunity of the native . The environment of the native area could be harsh for the bacteria to survive.
One of the key epidemiological characteristic the relationship between the infected and the host. Data collected may be hampered by the shared characteristics of the same sex individuals. Clinicaly the trend can only be biased on a single sex. Lesbians as carriers may spread the bacteria at a higher pace than gay. Comparing a Mexican immigrant as a carrier may face environmental barriers for the pathogen to spread at a high pace than its native.
References
Bhopal, R. S. (2002). Concepts of epidemiology: An integrated introduction to the ideas, theories, principles, and methods of epidemiology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Yuan, L., Henry, B., Peck, S., British Columbia., & British Columbia. (2013). Evidence review: Communicable disease (public health measures). Victoria, B. C.: Population and Public Health, BC Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport.