🦠microbiology review

key term - Prevalence

Definition

Prevalence is the proportion of a population found to have a condition at a specific time. It is often expressed as a percentage or ratio.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Prevalence helps epidemiologists understand the burden of disease within a population.
  2. It differs from incidence, which measures new cases over a specific period.
  3. High prevalence does not necessarily indicate high incidence; it could be due to long disease duration.
  4. Prevalence can be influenced by factors such as disease duration, cure rates, and mortality rates.
  5. It is crucial for planning public health interventions and allocating resources.

Review Questions