SOPH-web-logoSOPH-web-logo3SOPH-web-logo3SOPH-web-logo
  • About Us
    • School Of Public Health
    • Staff
    • Bi-Annual Reports
    • Annual Jakes Gerwel Award in Public Health
    • Annual David Sanders Lecture in Public Health and Social Justice
    • Funders & Partners
  • Professional Development
  • Academic Programmes
    • Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (NQF Level 8)
    • Master of Public Health (NQF Level 9)
    • PhD in Public Health (NQF Level 10)
    • iKamva portal for registered students
  • Research & Publications
    • SARChI Chair in Health Systems, Complexity and Social Change
    • SARChI Chair in Health Systems Governance
    • SAMRC Extra Mural Research Unit – Health Systems to Services
    • Projects
    • Publications
  • Resources
    • SOPH Programme Handbook 2023
    • Open Education Resources
    • Guides
    • FAQ
  • News & Events
  • Contact
✕
  • Home
  • Resources Open Education Resources
  • Descriptive epidemiology
Categories
  • Open Education Resources
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Modules
Tags

Descriptive epidemiology

Welcome to the module, Descriptive Epidemiology. 

This module was designed to meet the growing need for an applied course in the measurement of a variety of health indicators and outcomes. Whether you manage a health programme, a health facility, or simply have to interpret health data in the course of your work, this module sets out to increase your capacity to deal with health and disease information. It aims to assist you in applying epidemiological knowledge and skills to a variety of Public Health problems. 

These are examples of the kinds of questions this module will help you to answer:

  • Is your DOTS programme succeeding? 
  • What does it mean if a TB prevalence is 850/100 000? 
  • Is this a Public Health problem or not? 
  • What is the “burden of disease” in different communities?

Although the module also addresses many of the topics usually associated with the traditional approach to epidemiology, e.g. rates, screening, surveillance, causation, etc, it embraces a wider perspective on health measurement. It does this by addressing the social determinants of health as well as known biomedical features of community health. In addition, emphasis is placed on the application of epidemiological concepts and methods to solving Public Health problems.

The module is designed for self-study or flexible learning, which enables you to work through the course material at your own pace. Flexible learning also allows you to explore the material to whatever depth you prefer, and to skip over parts with which you are already familiar. This involves a variety of learning activities including reading, reflection, observation, analysis, research, calculation and application of theory and concepts to practice. 

The Module Introduction outlines the module aims, learning outcomes and content that will be covered. It also includes the facts, figures and other information that you need to know about your assignment tasks and how they will be assessed, how to contact your lecturer, develop a work plan and other general information to help you complete the module. Remember also that the SOPH Programme Handbook provides additional contact information and administrative guidelines for submitting assignments. Please read the Module Introduction carefully and contact your lecturer if you have any concerns or questions. Take special note of section 3 which concerns Assignments and the submission process.

We hope that you will enjoy the module and find it useful in your own efforts to improve community health.

Click below to download the different units of the module guide:

Introducing Descriptive epidemiology – Introduction

Descriptive epidemiology Unit 1

Descriptive epidemiology Unit 2

Descriptive epidemiology Unit 3

Share

Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Modules

  • Management strategies
    21 June 2021
  • Health promotion
    21 June 2021
  • Population health and development 1
    21 June 2021
  • Descriptive epidemiology
    21 June 2021
  • Introducing Public Health
    14 June 2021

Announcements and Events

  • 2023 Annual David Sanders Lecture in Public Health and Social Justice
    6 April 2023
  • Tackling substandard and falsified health products in a post-COVID world: a multidisciplinary challenge grounded in health systems strengthening
    27 February 2023
  • DSI/NRF SARChI Chair in Health Systems, Complexity and Social Change – Postdoctoral Fellowship 2023 – Learning Partnership Project for a Gender Transformative Approach (LP4GT)
    16 February 2023
✕

Contact Details

Email: soph-enquiries@uwc.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 959 2809
Fax: +27 21 959 2872

School of Public Health
University of the Western Cape
Robert Sobukwe Road
Bellville 7535
Republic of South Africa

​Content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0.
© 2021 UWC | School Of Public Health. All Rights Reserved. Spotkolours Design

    Contact Us