Includes bibliographical references (p. [491]-595) and index.

Introduction to social epidemiology -- Basic concepts in health and illness -- The context for social epidemiology -- A history of public h ealth and medicine -- The development of modern social epidemiology -- Concepts and theories in social epidemiology: the SOCEPID model -- Meth ods of descriptive epidemiology -- Research design for the identificati on of risk factors -- Program evaluation in social epidemiology -- Foll owing social epidemiological research: then what? -- Social epidemiolog y applied to chronic disease: cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis , diabetes, and obesity -- Injury control and violence prevention -- Se xually transmitted diseases, HIV, and AIDS -- Environmental hazards, oc cupational health, and community exposures -- Immigrants, migrants, and special populations: new challenges in social epidemiology and applica tions for the future.