This course introduces epidemiology to public health graduate students and those interested in pursuing careers in research and practice to a range of different methodologies used to collect and analyze data on sexual and reproductive epidemiology and related public health topics.

These will include methods that produce quantitative data (i.e. computer-assisted interviews, survey data, clinic and hospital record data) and qualitative data (e.g. ethnographic interviews, focus groups, systematic observations and rapid assessments).

We also cover methods used to collect sensitive data or data on vulnerable populations (e.g. respondent driven and snowball sampling). Software used to analyze qualitative data will also be introduced. The emphasis will be to introduce students to the appropriate methods used for challenging and sensitive research topics such as sexual behavior, HIV/STI, drug use, sexual abuse and contraception.

Epidemiology—the fundamental science underlying public health—is the study of the distribution and determinants of health and diseases at the population level, including infectious and chronic diseases, mental disorders, community and environmental health hazards, and unintentional injuries. In contrast to medicine, which is the study of health at the individual level, epidemiology looks at the causes and outcomes of disease and health in groups of people. This course will introduce students to basic epidemiologic methods and the application of epidemiologic research to public health practice. The subject matter is applicable to a variety of fields, such as health promotion, medicine and other health professions, communication, education, psychology, environmental health, sociology, and social work. The goal of the course is to enable students to become informed and intelligent consumers of epidemiologic literature and to provide a basis for further studies and careers in public health sciences.

This course is intended to provide students with an introduction to conceptual and practical tools from epidemiology and biostatistics that are necessary for the study of public health problems. The course will cover epidemiologic concepts and methods, and basic statistical concepts and procedures used in public health research through applications, hands-on experience, and interpretations of statistical findings.