1. What is Prevalence?

Prevalence measures the proportion of a population affected by a condition at a specific time. It's expressed as a percentage and helps understand disease burden in populations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the prevalence formula:

Where:

• Number of cases — Count of individuals with the condition
• Population — Total number of individuals in the group being studied

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of the population has the condition at the time of measurement.

3. Importance of Prevalence Calculation

Details: Prevalence is crucial for public health planning, resource allocation, and understanding disease patterns in populations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of cases (must be ≥0) and population (must be >0). The calculator will compute the prevalence percentage.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between prevalence and incidence?
A: Prevalence measures existing cases at a point in time, while incidence measures new cases over a period.

Q2: What are typical prevalence values?
A: Values range from 0% (no cases) to 100% (entire population affected). Common diseases might have 1-10% prevalence.

Q3: When is point prevalence vs period prevalence used?
A: Point prevalence is at a specific moment, period prevalence over a defined time frame (e.g., one year).

Q4: What affects prevalence measurements?
A: Case definition accuracy, population selection, and diagnostic methods all impact prevalence calculations.

Q5: How is prevalence used in public health?
A: It helps identify disease burden, prioritize interventions, and allocate healthcare resources.