How do morbidity and mortality differ?

Morbidity and mortality are essential concepts in public health that help differentiate between various aspects of health outcomes. Morbidity specifically refers to the presence of disease or medical conditions within a population. It encompasses both the incidence and prevalence of diseases, indicating how often individuals experience health issues, affecting their quality of life.

Mortality, on the other hand, refers explicitly to death. It measures the frequency of death in a population over a given time period and is often used to evaluate the severity of health conditions and the effectiveness of healthcare systems.

Understanding the distinction between these two terms is crucial for analyzing public health data, making informed health policy decisions, and assessing healthcare interventions. This differentiation allows health professionals to address issues related to diseases while considering both the burden of illness (morbidity) and the ultimate outcome of death (mortality).