Several critical questions must be addressed to define the problem effectively:
What is the health event or condition? Clearly describe the health issue, including its clinical manifestations and severity. Who is affected? Identify the population at risk, considering factors like age, gender, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. Where is the problem occurring? Determine the geographic distribution of the problem to understand its spread and potential environmental factors. When did it start, and how is it changing over time? Establish the timeline to identify trends, seasonal patterns, or emerging epidemics. Why is this happening? Investigate the potential causes, including biological, behavioral, and environmental factors.
