The basic principles of epidemiology and demography are generally associated with the issues of epidemic spread, development and defense. (Parker, 2008) Thus, the basic principles of this connection are mainly focused on the matters of the pandemics, the social origins of epidemics, and ways to arrange the society, for taking control over the epidemic flows. (Bailey, Vardulaki and Langham, 2005) In accordance with the basic principles, it should be emphasized that sociology and epidemiology are closely linked, as the necessity to consider the social processes during the massive health threats is of vital importance for controlling and regulating the spread of epidemics, if there is a threat of dangerous spread. Considering the matters of the social markets, it should be emphasized that the challenges, which are confronted by social markets, are linked with the inability to control the entire population, which is subject to epidemic danger. (Williams, Gabe and Calnan, 2000) Nevertheless, as it is stated in Young (2002) social marketing is heavily dependent on the matters of demographics, if there is a direct link with the epidemiology. Thus, social marketing is not able to target the entire audience in the case of epidemics.
The opportunities of applying the social marketing model to the epidemiology and demography depend on the requirements of the marketing strategy. (Ginzberg, 2001) Nevertheless, the key opportunities entail the possibility of fighting epidemics by the means of marketing strategies and advertisement, based on the marketing principles. In the light of this statement, the opportunities may be regarded as the only way of joining the demographic issues with epidemiology in the context of the marketing social models. (Morris. 2004) Nevertheless, in accordance with Button (2004) it should be emphasized that the marketing opportunities undermine the necessity to solve the humanitarian problems, as marketing presupposes the solution of the problems by the forces and attempts of the population, while humanitarian problems are solved with the attraction of the help from the outward. (National Library of Medicine, 2009)
The possible threats to survival of population health depend on the aims, and purposes, pursued by the marketing specialists. Thus, if the main aim of the marketing strategy is gaining profit without helping people and struggling with epidemic dangers, the threats are obvious. Thus, ineffective generics may be sold instead of effective remedies. (See, 2003) In the light of this statement, it should be emphasized that the necessity to set up the honesty principles, and strict competence and advertisement rules in the sphere of medical marketing is inevitable, and of particular importance. (Lingo, 2001)
Reference List
Bailey, L., Vardulaki, K., Langham, J., & Chandramohan, D. (2005). Introduction to Epidemiology. Maidenhead, England: Open University Press.
Ginzberg, E. (Ed.). (2001). Clinical Decisions and Societal Values Clinical Decisions and Societal Values. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Lingo, A. K. (2001). Medicine and Society in Early Modern Europe. Journal of Social History, 35(1), 252.
Morris, M. (Ed.). (2004). Network Epidemiology: A Handbook for Survey Design and Data Collection. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
National Library of Medicine Has Four for the Road. (2009). USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), 137, 8
Nutton, V. (2004). Medicine, Society and Faith in the Ancient and Medieval Worlds. Medical History, 41(1), 100
Parker, B. R. (2008). Understanding Epidemiology and Its Use in Drug and Medical Device Litigation. Defense Counsel Journal, 65(1), 35
See, A. (2003). Use of Human Epidemiology Studies in Proving Causation. Defense Counsel Journal, 67(4), 478
Williams, S. J., Gabe, J., & Calnan, M. (Eds.). (2000). Health, Medicine, and Society: Key Theories, Future Agendas. London: Routledge.
Young, T. K. (2002). The Health of Native Americans: Toward a Biocultural Epidemiology. New York: Oxford University Press.