Photo AI
(a) Outline the measures of epidemiology - HSC - SSCE Personal Development and Physical Education - Question 21 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 21
(a) Outline the measures of epidemiology. Mortality is related to measuring the death rates within a population. Morbidity is concerned with measuring the prevalenc... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:(a) Outline the measures of epidemiology - HSC - SSCE Personal Development and Physical Education - Question 21 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
Outline the measures of epidemiology.
Answer
-
Mortality: Refers to the measurement of death rates in a given population. It helps to understand the overall health and longevity of a population.
-
Morbidity: Concerned with the prevalence and incidence of illnesses and injuries within the population. This measure is crucial for assessing the burden of diseases.
-
Infant Mortality: Specifically focuses on the deaths of individuals under one year of age, serving as an indicator of the overall health of both the infant population and the healthcare system.
-
Life Expectancy: Represents the average duration that an individual is expected to live based on current mortality rates. This metric provides insights into the general health and quality of life within a population.
Step 2
Describe the limitations of epidemiology.
Answer
-
Data Validity: Epidemiology heavily relies on valid data which can be challenging to gather, especially in emergency situations.
-
Resource Accessibility: In remote areas, health workers often have limited access to the necessary resources for effective data collection, impacting the reliability of the findings.
-
Communication Difficulties: There may be issues in conveying the collected data in a timely and efficient manner, hindering prompt decision-making.
-
Risk Population Challenges: The challenges arise in accurately representing the health status of at-risk populations, as this can lead to misinformed public health interventions.
-
Delayed Actions: By the time reliable data is collected and analyzed, the health situation might have worsened, making timely interventions less effective.