Eight cases of adenocarcinoma of the vagina in young women were reported at the Vincent Memorial hospital in Boston between 1966 and 1969. Prior to this the condition was rarely reported. The unusual occurrence of this tumor in these women– all born in New England hospitals between 1946 and 1951– led to an investigation. Attention was particularly directed at a history of maternal ingestion of estrogens during the pregnancy that might be associated with patients with vaginal adenocarcinoma
What type of study design is this? Support your answer with rationale. Name 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of this type of study design and how is this type of study design used in epidemiology and population health?