Prevalence
Prevalence
Prevalence (/prɪˈvɛləns/) is a term used in Epidemiology to refer to the proportion of a population who have a specific characteristic in a given time period. It is often used to measure the extent of diseases or conditions in a population.
Etymology
The term "prevalence" is derived from the Latin word "praevalentia", which means "having power or command". In the context of epidemiology, it refers to the 'dominance' of a disease or condition in a population.
Related Terms
- Incidence: This is a measure of the probability of occurrence of a given medical condition in a population within a specified period of time.
- Morbidity: This refers to the state of being diseased or unhealthy within a population.
- Mortality: This is the incidence of death in a population.
- Epidemiology: This is the study and analysis of the distribution, patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined populations.
Calculation
Prevalence is calculated by dividing the number of current cases in the population at a specified time by the total population at that time. The result is often multiplied by a factor such as 100,000 for ease of presentation.
Usage
Prevalence is a useful measure in public health as it indicates the overall burden of disease or health condition in a population. It helps in planning and allocation of health resources.
Limitations
While prevalence is a useful measure, it has its limitations. It does not provide information on when the health event occurred, which can be important in establishing causality. It is also influenced by the duration of the disease and the survival rate, which may vary across different diseases and conditions.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Prevalence
- Wikipedia's article - Prevalence
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