What field studies the distribution of disease or conditions in a population?

Epidemiology is the field that specifically focuses on studying the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in populations. It examines how diseases spread, the patterns of disease occurrence, and the factors that influence health in different groups of people. By analyzing data related to disease incidence, prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes, epidemiologists can identify trends and potentially develop public health interventions to control and prevent the spread of diseases. This discipline is essential for understanding health issues in communities and guiding effective public health policies.

While public health, environmental sanitation, and environmental health are related fields that also contribute to understanding health issues in populations, they do not specifically focus solely on the study of disease distribution. Public health is broader and encompasses various aspects of health promotion, disease prevention, and health policy. Environmental sanitation addresses the conditions that affect public health in relation to the environment, while environmental health looks at how environmental factors influence human health.