|
Why have epidemiologists taken an interest in injuries?
Foremost, injuries have been identified through monitoring
systems as a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in both
the developed and developing world. Like other
non-communicable diseases, they present a challenge to
epidemiologists to both understand the basic underpinnings of
their occurrence (the frequency in which they occur, and the
risk factors for their occurrence) and to develop intervention
programs to reduce their impact. Secondly, the work of William
Haddon has elegantly outlined how epidemiologic applications
have relevance to injuries. This will be discussed in more
detail later in the lecture.
|