Principles of Epidemiology (Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Immunisation Techniques)

At the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. develop knowledge of quantitative and qualitative techniques of epidemiology; 2. plan and conduct valid epidemiological activities; 3. apply field method of primary and secondary data collection; 4. describe routine methods of data analysis; 5. compare the strength and weakness of various experimental designs; 6. implement and interpret result of a study to address health issues; 7. develop critical skills for evaluation of epidemiological findings in reports and studies; 8. define objectives of outbreak investigation in a population; 9. describe the basic principle of screening and outbreak investigation; 10. explain immunisation and its problems; 11. demonstrate knowledge of experimental design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of data of an outbreak; and 12. appreciate and identify risk factors of an outbreak and communicate same to health authorities.

The course gives the students an overview of epidemiology, disease control and surveillance. Specific areas highlighted include the uses of epidemiology; Epidemiology protocols and survey methods. Calculation of basic epidemiological measures. Epidemiology of communicable and non- communicable diseases. Vital statistical and national health information systems. Human ecology and disease processes. Public health laboratory practices methods and Intervention. Strategies in Disease Control and Surveillance. Immunisation for communicable diseases. Immunisation routine and procedures. Ethical issues on collection, use and dissemination of epidemiological data. Students are expected to participate actively in Disease control, surveillance as well as in the monitoring and evaluation processes of selected endemic diseases at the national, state, and local government operational levels. Students are expected to propose an appropriate epidemiological problem. Identify a population. choose a method and design for sampling from the population. Choose and propose records for ascertainment and classification of diseases and risk factors. Outline a plan of action for data collection and presentation. Students are expected to participate actively in fieldwork assignments and to submit reports. Both communicable and non-communicable morbidity and mortality patterns and trends in Nigeria and elsewhere should be highlighted.