University of the People

HS 3311- Epidemiology

Written Assignment Unit 1

Daete: Feb 7, 2024

Introduction:

A chronic lack of public health funding has long existed, in part because of the difficulty of

determining social and economic returns on investment in preventive care, or the difficulty of

recognizing these returns for those who have no experience in the field. In addition, efforts to

contain disease outbreaks or low mortality rates are often unrecognized, and unfortunately, a

major prevention failure is often required to alert the public and policymakers to the need for

increased preparedness. Therefore, the study of epidemiology is essential to reduce the spread of

diseases and know the resources needed to combat diseases. Studying epidemiology is keeping

track of health issues by applying knowledge about the prevalence and drivers of disease or other

health-related outcomes in human communities (Bovbjerg, 2020).

1/ Provide the information that should be requested to determine the number of limited resources

that should be invested in each country: A material requirements planning system should be

developed to meet the production schedule, analyzing the required supplies, dropping their

quantities, and determining when they will be needed. To determine how much of the few

resources available should be allocated to each country, a great deal of information should be

sought, including details regarding the government’s response to the pandemic and three types of

information related to the allocation of resources that should be provided:-

-It is necessary to take into account social and economic variables, as well as vulnerable

population groups. The World Health Organisation must collect demographic data. Demographic

data refers to information on groups of individuals based on characteristics such as age, gender,

and place of residence. Social and economic aspects including income, family status, and

occupation can be included. To identify communities most vulnerable to COVID-19

transmission and unfavorable consequences, data must be collected on access to health care,

health practices, housing conditions, and working patterns. Epidemiologists gather information

about the prevalence of diseases and their risk factors, evaluate them, and make conclusions

about patterns and trends using statistical techniques (Science Museum, 2019).

- Understanding the current state of the pandemic within each country is critical, and data and

information on the burden of disease is one of the main pillars in calculating the amount of

resources. WHO should obtain data on the number of confirmed cases, active cases, recovery

cases, and deaths related to COVID-19. This includes the total number of deaths,

hospitalizations, verified cases, and admissions to critical care. It is also necessary to have data

on transport patterns, as it will help identify high transport areas and allocate resources directly.

Examples include the frequency of cases that do not take symptoms and the effectiveness of

preventive interventions, and substances.

-The amount of assistance required to handle the current and possible future increases in

COVID-19 patients will be determined in part by understanding the healthcare system's

capabilities. To maintain proper patient care and avoid systemic misunderstanding, countries

with low resources for healthcare may require additional help (World Health Organization,

2021). As such, assessing the capacity of the system in each country as well as the availability of

the necessary health care infrastructure in the system is critical. WHO should make inquiries

regarding the availability of ventilators, hospital beds, intensive care unit beds, personal

protective equipment, and medical personnel.

2/ Collect data about the person, location, and time: In epidemiology, collecting data about a

person, place, and time is critical because it helps us understand how viruses spread across
communities. This understanding enables officials to control the spread of the disease by

assessing preventive measures and taking action. It also helps us determine how much-limited

resources should be made available for each country.

• Person: Individual data are useful in identifying populations at risk for COVID-19

interventions. Important factors to consider are age, gender, immunization status, and health

concerns. There are differences in needs and risks for different age groups and social

backgrounds. It is possible to allocate resources to protect vulnerable individuals effectively

through a comprehensive understanding of these demographics.

• Place: Collecting information on geographical distribution contributes to achieving the best

possible results in knowing the regions with the highest rate of disease and the spread of the

epidemic. It can be found in areas with higher infection rates, or locations where the disease is

spreading rapidly, by determining whether environmental factors play a role in the spread of the

disease. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection varies by region for some reasons, including

population density, local healthcare infrastructure, and environmental, social, and economic

factors. To stop the spread of epidemics and keep healthcare systems from overburdening

themselves, public health authorities can analyze data on the locations of outbreaks and then

direct resources, including testing facilities, medical personnel, and supplies, to the places that

most require them (Bovbjerg, 2020).

• Time: In epidemiology, time trends are useful for tracking disease progression, detecting

infection patterns, and adjusting treatment plans. This helps assess real-time intervention

measures and predict healthcare demand, especially in COVID-19. Time-related data collection

will enable officials to determine the virus's duration on surfaces or in the atmosphere, perhaps
resulting in life-saving measures (Kent State University, 2021). Seeing new trends and acting

quickly, makes it easier to track temporal trends in Covid-19, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Officials can see trends, predict outbreaks, and assign resources by studying how the virus

spreads and how control measures work.

3/ The importance of study groups in epidemiology: Epidemiology aims to identify patterns and

trends in the occurrence of diseases or health outcomes among the population. For epidemiology,

identification of disease risk factors, trend prediction, and intervention testing, population-level

statistics are essential. However, it is important to consider individual losses within the group. It

is possible to extrapolate results to bigger populations by concentrating on groups rather than

individuals, according to Coggon et al. (2020). Concluding remarks from epidemiological

research is intended to apply not only to the study participants but also to larger groups.

Studying groups over a long period facilitates a better understanding of efficacy and patterns,

allowing for better disease control and prevention. The study of groups plays a crucial role in

determining trends and patterns in disease. For example, examining differences in disease rates

between ethnic or geographic groups can help epidemiologists gain a better understanding of

how diseases are distributed and identify the factors that most influence the spread of diseases.

Overall, research groups yield more accurate results.

Conclusion: Finally, to effectively combat COVID-19, epidemiology is essential. This means

allocating resources according to the stage of the pandemic, the quality of health care, and social

and economic variables. In determining how much investment is invested in therapeutic,

preventive, and control treatments, accurate data collection provides validity for a large

population.
Reference:

Bovbjerg, M. L. (2020, October 1). Foundations of epidemiology. Oregon State University.

https://open.oregonstate.education/epidemiology/chapter/what-is-epidemiology/

Calanan, R. M., Sandoval-Rosario, M., Price, J. D., Samanic, C. M., Lu, H., & Barbour, K. E.
(2018). Achieving Excellence in the Practice of Chronic Disease Epidemiology. Preventing
chronic disease, 15, E146. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd15.180526

Kent State University. (2021). What is Descriptive Epidemiology?

https://onlinedegrees.kent.edu/college-of-public-health/community/what-is-descriptive-
epidemiology

Science museum. (2019, July 30). Epidemiology: The Public Health Science.
https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/medicine/epidemiology-public-health-
science

World Health Organization. (2021). COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan
Operational Planning Guideline.
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who_operationalplan_2021_v29022e776-
2869-4ce9-b40b-35c863ff3611.pdf?sfvrsn=5822e3c3_1&download=true