Lecture 1 and 2

Question 1

Define Prevalence

Answer 1

Prevalence = the frequency of a disease in a population at a point in time
Hence it is often called point prevalence

PREVALENCE IS A PROPORTION

PREVALENCE = number of cases in a population/number of people in the population

Question 2

Define incidence

Answer 2

Incidence = the number of NEW CASES of a disease within a specific time interval

The measure of incidence can be interpreted as the probability, or risk, that an individual will develop the disease during a specific time period.

Question 3

Relationship between incidence and prevalence? How do individuals leave the pool of prevalent cases?

Answer 3

Prevalence is dependent on the incidence (number of new cases) and the time that they remain cases for being they die or recover (duration of disease).

Individuals only leave the pool of prevalent cases if they RECOVER or DIE.

Question 4

Define mortality

Answer 4

Mortality - the number of deaths attributed to a specific conditions in a given time period

Mortality rate is normally expressed as deaths per 1000 in a given period of time. SO:

MORTALITY = number of deaths from disease over a given time period/population at the start of the time period and then convert this to per 1000

Question 5

Define morbidity

Answer 5

Similar to mortality, but;
Morbidity - the number of cases of ill health, complications, side effects attributed to a particular condition over a particular time period

Question 6

list the 6 commonest infectious causes of world mortality

Answer 6

lower respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS, diarrhoeal diseases, tuberculosis, malaria and measles. Most notably, infectious diseases are the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa

Question 7

Worldwide disparities in terms of deaths attributed to infectious diseases?

Answer 7

Africa= HIGHEST 62% caused by infectious diseases (probs HIV)

Eastern mediterranean=