Question

1. Concerning the water supply system and structure from the two different water companies, explain the soundness of the research approach. Is this descriptive or analytic epidemiologic research design?

Answer 1

Snow ,father of epidemiology conducted a investigation regarding cholera outbreak in London in 1854. The research was conducted by him during cholera outbreak to find the cause of disease and its prevention. The research is an example analytical epidemiologic research design as it was done to evaluate association between exposure and disease outcome. Snow 's research was sound as his research involved scientific methods. Snow had noted that districts with the highest death rates were serviced by two water companies: the Lambeth Company and the Southwark and Vauxhall Company and conducted research regarding ways to discover cause of the disease.Snow found out Broad Street pump (Pump A) was source of infection as it was the pump providing water to the district. His research also concluded that cholera is transmitted through contaminated food and water as the pump supplied water was contaminated by sewer line.Snow demonstrated through epidemiologic studies that water could serve as a vehicle for transmitting cholera and that epidemiologic information could be used to direct prompt and appropriate public health action using these water companies .(CDC,.2012)

Ref:

1.Centers of disease control and prevention,Historical Evolution of Epidemiology,2012.