Epidemiology is the study of patterns of health, disease and illness associated factors at population level. It helps to identify risk factors for disease and optimal approaches for prevention and containment. This module will provide students with a basic understanding of epidemiology in a global setting. Following an introduction to some of the ‘big debates’ around global health inequalities and how the so-called ageing ‘time-bomb’ is shifting global patterns of health and illness, students will gain an understanding of how to design studies that measure and look for causes of disease as well as how to interpret epidemiological evidence. The module is structured around three core themes that have been designed to introduce you to some of the key topics and debates surrounding patterns of world disease and mortality.
These themes include: