Which of the following terms describes the level of illness in a given population? (A) Mortality (B) Morbidity (C) Prevalence (D) Health status - HSC - SSCE Personal Development and Physical Education - Question 1 - 2014 - Paper 1

To determine which term best describes the level of illness in a given population, we need to clarify the meanings of the options provided:

• Mortality refers to the number of deaths in a population. While this term is related to health, it specifically focuses on death and does not directly describe the level of illness.

• Morbidity refers to the presence of disease or illness within a population. This term is specifically concerned with the level of illness and is the correct answer to the question.

• Prevalence is the proportion of a population found to have a condition at a specific time. It is indirectly related to morbidity but does not specifically define the level of illness.

• Health status is a broader term that may include various factors affecting health but does not specifically pinpoint illness.

Given these definitions, the best choice that describes the level of illness in a given population is (B) Morbidity.