Epidemiology foundations

Written for newcomers, this textbook opens the field of epidemiology in clear, approachable terms. It begins with the core principles and the historical development of the discipline, then looks at how health and disease are described and measured across populations. Readers are guided through the main study designs and the practical ways epidemiological findings are applied.

The book goes on to examine epidemics, social epidemiology, screening programs, community health, and global health. Its scope reflects the recommendations of the Consensus Conference on Undergraduate Public Health Education, which shaped its content and structure.

It is intended as an introductory text for a dedicated epidemiology course, and it also suits any class in which epidemiology is a significant topic.