Staff patterns of epidemiologists in the health departments of 12 southern states.
In November 1989, representatives from 12 States attending the Annual Convocation of Southern State Epidemiologists completed a survey to enumerate epidemiologists working in central offices of State health departments. Epidemiologists were classified according to education and program area. A total of 117 epidemiologists were identified, yielding a range among the States of 0.6 to 8.3 (median 1.9) epidemiologists per million population. The most common degree was a medical degree, followed by master's training in epidemiology or biostatistics; only 9 percent had doctoral training in epidemiology or biostatistics. More than one-third of the epidemiologists worked in infectious diseases, including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and sexually transmitted diseases, and about one-fifth worked in environmental epidemiology. The areas of injuries, cancer, chronic diseases, maternal and child health, and occupational health collectively accounted for about one-fifth of epidemiologists. The results of the survey suggest room for further epidemiologic training among health department epidemiologists. The results also identify areas where additional epidemiologic input would be beneficial.
Woernle
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Division of Epidemiology, Alabama Department of Public Health, Montgomery 36130-1701.
D004813:Epidemiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011635:Public Health Administration; D015144:Southeastern United States; D000078329:Workforce