Glossary A–Z

Exposure

Contact with a factor or agent that may affect health or increase disease risk.

Follow-Up

The observation of individuals over time to assess outcomes or changes in health status.

Frequency

The number of times an event occurs in a population or sample.

History

A record of a person's past health events, exposures, or clinical conditions.

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus, a virus that attacks the immune system.

Incidence

Number of new cases in a population over a period.

Index

A composite indicator or summary measure used to represent a concept or condition.

Infant

A very young child, usually under one year of age.

Infection

The invasion and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms in the body.

Intervention

An action or program implemented to improve health or reduce disease risk.

Measure

An action taken to prevent disease or improve health outcomes.

Model

A simplified mathematical or conceptual representation of a health-related process or system.

Mortality

The occurrence or frequency of death within a population.

Mother

A female parent, often considered as a demographic group in maternal and child health.

Occupation

A person's job or profession, often used as a demographic variable in health research.

Older Adult

An older person, typically considered within an elderly age group.

Outbreak

A sudden increase in disease occurrence in a specific place or population.

Pandemic

An epidemic that spreads across multiple countries or continents.

Perception

The way a person interprets or understands a health-related issue or risk.

Population

The total group of individuals under study or living in a defined area.

Positivity

The state of having a positive test or marker result for a condition or pathogen.

Prevalence

The proportion of a population that has a condition at a specified time.

Rate

A measure of how often an event occurs in a defined population over time.

Regression

A statistical method used to model the relationship between variables.