Module 53, “Social Epidemiology and Health Care..”

Definition: The study of the distribution of disease, impairment, and general health status across a population.
Evolution: Traditional epidemiology focused on epidemics; contemporary social epidemiology encompasses non-epidemic diseases, substance abuse, mental health, and injuries.

Responsibilities: Tracking bioterrorism (e.g., anthrax outbreak in 2001), studying disease spread, and gathering data across various scientific disciplines.
Collaboration: Works with sociologists, health officials, biologists, psychologists, etc.
Data Examples: In 2019, approximately 38 million people were living with HIV globally; however, the disease's spread is unevenly distributed, particularly affecting Sub-Saharan Africa.

Association with Health: Lower socio-economic classes experience higher morbidity and mortality rates.
Contributing Factors: Poor living conditions, lack of education regarding health, financial strains, cumulative effects of inadequate health care from childhood.
Access to Care: Poorer individuals often cannot afford quality care and medications.

Health Disparities: Racial and ethnic minorities like African Americans and Hispanics face higher rates of morbidity and mortality.
Environmental Factors: Their health conditions are often exacerbated by poor economic situations and discrimination within the healthcare system.
Specific Examples: Infant mortality rates among black Americans are over twice as high compared to whites; comorbidity with COVID-19 is more prevalent in racial minorities.

Health Outcome Trends: Women tend to live longer but experience a higher occurrence of illnesses than men.
Factors Affecting Longevity: Lower smoking rates and lower exposure to dangerous occupations contribute to women's longer lives.
Medicalization: The concept that society's medical approach has led women to experience higher morbidity due to their increased interactions with healthcare.

Elderly Health Concerns: Older individuals often have chronic illnesses; about half suffer from arthritis.
Dementia: Alzheimer’s Disease is prevalent in older adults, affecting nearly 6 million people in the US.
Healthcare Usage: Older adults utilize healthcare services significantly more than younger people, creating financial implications for health systems.

LGBTQ+ Healthcare: Historical intolerance affects access to care for LGBTQ+ individuals; studies indicate lower health self-ratings compared to heterosexual individuals.
Need for Inclusive Research: There’s a push for more studies on health impacts tailored to various gender identities and the unique healthcare needs of LGBTQ+ people.

Cost Issues: Healthcare costs have skyrocketed, projected to exceed $6.1 trillion by 2028.
Historical Context: From house calls to a large business model with hospital chains; changes affected patient-practitioner relationships.
Government Role: Significant federal involvement began in the 1940s with the Hill-Burton Act, hitting strides with Medicare and Medicaid in 1965, further expanded by the Affordable Care Act in 2010.

Definitions:
- Complementary: Used alongside conventional medicine.
- Alternative: Used instead of conventional medicine.
Types of Practices: Holistic medicine, acupuncture, yoga, herbal remedies are gaining popularity.
Integration with Traditional Medicine: Growing interest in holistic approaches shows the need for federal acknowledgment and potential regulation of alternative practices.

Health Disparities: Higher mortality and morbidity rates exist among lower socio-economic, racial, and gender-based groups.
Healthcare System Complexity: The U.S. healthcare delivery system evolved from simple structures to a complex, expensive model.
Need for Inclusive Approaches: Addressing disparities linked to class, race, gender, and age is essential for improving healthcare access and outcomes.