Description

The introduction explains epidemiology as the scientific discipline concerned with understanding the distribution, causes, and control of health-related events in populations. It introduces epidemiology as a key foundation of public health, focusing not only on diseases but also on injuries, behaviors, environmental exposures, and other factors that affect population health.

The author explains that epidemiologists study health problems by examining who is affected (person), where problems occur (place), and when they occur (time). These factors help researchers identify patterns, discover possible causes or risk factors, and develop strategies for prevention and control.