Article 398: Arabs Need Science of Epidemiology to make a Renaissance-Part One
Hasan A. Yahya, Ph.Ds, Professor of Sociology
"No renaissance without the grounds of Science and Art" (Yahya). The Arab nations renaissance is in serious need for scientific thinking to gain their position in world civilization. Epidemiology is one of these sciences. It is a science depends on research methodology, validity of measures, and absent of random, systematic or selection errors. Epidemiology, came to life depending on these factor. It is "the study of what is upon the people", it may suggest that it applies only to human populations. But the term is widely used in studies of zoological populations, it has also been applied to studies of plant populations (botanical epidemiology).
Epidemiology is the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine. It is considered a cornerstone methodology of public health research, and is highly regarded in evidence-based medicine for identifying risk factors for disease and determining optimal treatment approaches to clinical practice. In the study of communicable and non-communicable diseases, the work of epidemiologists ranges from outbreak investigation to study design, data collection and analysis including the development of statistical models to test hypotheses and the documentation of results for submission to peer-reviewed journals. Epidemiologists also study the interaction of diseases in a population, a condition known as a syndemic. Epidemiologists rely on a number of other scientific disciplines, such as biology (to better understand disease processes), Geographic Information Science (to store data and map disease patterns) and social science disciplines (to better understand proximate and distal risk factors).
Historically rhe Greek physician Hippocrates is sometimes said to be the father of epidemiology. He is the first person known to have examined the relationships between the occurrence of disease and environmental influences. He coined the terms endemic (for diseases usually found in some places but not in others) and epidemic (for disease that are seen at some times but not others).
In ancient times, epidemics and plagues were terrifying natural phenomena that cried out for a more rational explanation than that they were due to the wrath of god or the machinations of evil spirits. Hippocrates (c. 460–377 B.C.E.) described many kinds of epidemics and in On Airs, Waters, Places and other writings. He offered empirical insights into environmental and behavioral factors that might be associated with certain kinds of disease. Although doctors and others engaged in the healing arts did not clearly understand the concept of contagion until several hundred years later, Fracastorius (c. 1478–1553) identified several ways that infections can be transmitted—by direct contact, by what we now call droplet spread, and by contaminated clothing. (539 words) www.askdryahya.com
"No renaissance without the grounds of Science and Art" (Yahya). The Arab nations renaissance is in serious need for scientific thinking to gain their position in world civilization. Epidemiology is one of these sciences. It is a science depends on research methodology, validity of measures, and absent of random, systematic or selection errors. Epidemiology, came to life depending on these factor. It is "the study of what is upon the people", it may suggest that it applies only to human populations. But the term is widely used in studies of zoological populations, it has also been applied to studies of plant populations (botanical epidemiology).
Epidemiology is the study of factors affecting the health and illness of populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine. It is considered a cornerstone methodology of public health research, and is highly regarded in evidence-based medicine for identifying risk factors for disease and determining optimal treatment approaches to clinical practice. In the study of communicable and non-communicable diseases, the work of epidemiologists ranges from outbreak investigation to study design, data collection and analysis including the development of statistical models to test hypotheses and the documentation of results for submission to peer-reviewed journals. Epidemiologists also study the interaction of diseases in a population, a condition known as a syndemic. Epidemiologists rely on a number of other scientific disciplines, such as biology (to better understand disease processes), Geographic Information Science (to store data and map disease patterns) and social science disciplines (to better understand proximate and distal risk factors).
Historically rhe Greek physician Hippocrates is sometimes said to be the father of epidemiology. He is the first person known to have examined the relationships between the occurrence of disease and environmental influences. He coined the terms endemic (for diseases usually found in some places but not in others) and epidemic (for disease that are seen at some times but not others).
In ancient times, epidemics and plagues were terrifying natural phenomena that cried out for a more rational explanation than that they were due to the wrath of god or the machinations of evil spirits. Hippocrates (c. 460–377 B.C.E.) described many kinds of epidemics and in On Airs, Waters, Places and other writings. He offered empirical insights into environmental and behavioral factors that might be associated with certain kinds of disease. Although doctors and others engaged in the healing arts did not clearly understand the concept of contagion until several hundred years later, Fracastorius (c. 1478–1553) identified several ways that infections can be transmitted—by direct contact, by what we now call droplet spread, and by contaminated clothing. (539 words) www.askdryahya.com
Sources:
- Nutter, Jr., F.W. (1999). "Understanding the interrelationships between botanical, human, and veterinary epidemiology: the Ys and Rs of it all". Ecosys Health5 (3): 131–40.
- "Changing Concepts: Background to Epidemiology". Duncan & Associates. http://www.duncan-associates.com/changing_concepts.pdf Retrieved 2008-02-03.
- "The Republic, by Plato". The Internet Classic Archive. http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.4.iii.html. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
- "A Dissertation on the Origin and Foundation of the Inequality of Mankind". Constitution Society. http://www.constitution.org/jjr/ineq_03.htm.
