Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

prevalence-rate

noun

/ˈprɛv.ə.ləns reɪt/

Definition

The prevalence rate is a measure used in epidemiology that indicates the proportion of a population that has a specific characteristic or condition at a given time.

Examples

The prevalence rate of diabetes has increased significantly over the past decade.
Research showed a high prevalence rate of anxiety among students during exams.
The prevalence rate of smoking in adults decreased after the health campaigns.

Meaning

It represents the total number of cases of a disease or condition in a population divided by the total number of individuals in that population, typically expressed as a percentage or per 1,000 or 100,000 individuals.