Locate an epidemiological article that looks at a disease prevention program or a health education program that is of interest to you. The article must have been published within the last five years. Read the article and write a review that accomplishes the following objectives:
Identify the disease or condition and the program involved.
Identify the premise of the article and the significant points the author uses to support the premise.
Indicate how the application of epidemiology and biostatistics are evident in the article.
Describe the sources of data, main independent and dependent variables, statistical analysis utilized, and how hypothesis testing was utilized.
Review the importance of the study results.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Essay Review: Epidemiological Article Analysis
Title: Impact of a School-Based Health Education Program on Preventing Childhood Obesity
Introduction
Epidemiology serves as a crucial tool in understanding disease patterns, risk factors, and the efficacy of intervention programs. In this review, we delve into an epidemiological article titled “Impact of a School-Based Health Education Program on Preventing Childhood Obesity,” published in the past five years. The study focuses on addressing the growing concern of childhood obesity through a targeted health education initiative.
Identification of Disease and Program
The article examines the prevalence of childhood obesity and the effectiveness of a school-based health education program in combating this public health issue. Childhood obesity is identified as the disease or condition of interest, while the health education program implemented in schools serves as the intervention strategy.
Premise and Key Points
The premise of the article revolves around the hypothesis that a structured health education program in schools can lead to a reduction in childhood obesity rates. The significant points highlighted by the author include the design and implementation of the program, participant demographics, pre- and post-intervention measurements, and the statistical analysis of the results.
Application of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Epidemiology and biostatistics play a pivotal role in this study. Epidemiological principles are utilized to assess the prevalence of childhood obesity within the target population and to analyze the impact of the health education program. Biostatistical methods are employed to compare pre- and post-intervention data, determine statistical significance, and draw conclusions regarding the program’s effectiveness.
Data Sources and Variables
The study utilizes data from anthropometric measurements, dietary assessments, and physical activity surveys collected before and after the implementation of the health education program. The main independent variables include participation in the program, demographic characteristics of the students, and baseline health indicators. The dependent variable is the change in body mass index (BMI) and obesity rates. Statistical analysis involves descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and hypothesis testing to assess the program’s impact on childhood obesity.
Importance of Study Results
The results of the study hold significant implications for public health interventions targeting childhood obesity. By demonstrating a positive impact of the school-based health education program on reducing obesity rates among students, the study provides valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and healthcare professionals. The findings underscore the importance of early intervention strategies in combating childhood obesity and promote the integration of health education programs in school curricula.
In conclusion, this epidemiological article sheds light on the effectiveness of a school-based health education program in preventing childhood obesity. Through the application of epidemiological principles and biostatistical methods, the study offers valuable evidence supporting the role of targeted interventions in addressing public health challenges. The results of this research contribute to advancing our understanding of effective strategies for promoting healthy lifestyles and combatting childhood obesity.
