CERTIFIED IN PUBLIC HEALTH (CPH)
EXAMINATION QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
| INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary purpose of epidemiology?
A. To treat individual patients
B. To study distribution and determinants of health events in populations
C. To prescribe medications
D. To perform surgical procedures
Answer: B
Rationale: Epidemiology is the foundational science of public health that
focuses on the distribution (who, when, where) and determinants (causes
and risk factors) of health-related states in populations. It is not focused
on individual treatment but on patterns that inform prevention and
control strategies at the population level.
2. Which study design is best for determining causality?
A. Cross-sectional study
B. Case report
C. Randomized controlled trial
D. Ecological study
Answer: C
Rationale: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold
standard for determining causality because random assignment reduces
bias and confounding, allowing clearer attribution of outcomes to
interventions compared to observational designs.
,3. Incidence refers to:
A. Total number of existing cases
B. Number of new cases in a population over time
C. Severity of disease
D. Number of deaths
Answer: B
Rationale: Incidence measures the occurrence of new cases in a defined
population during a specific time period, making it useful for studying
disease risk and etiology.
4. Prevalence is best described as:
A. New cases only
B. Old cases only
C. All existing cases at a point or period in time
D. Death rate
Answer: C
Rationale: Prevalence includes both new and existing cases at a given
time, reflecting the overall burden of disease in a population rather than
risk of developing it.
5. A confounder is:
A. A measurement error
B. A factor related to both exposure and outcome
C. A random variable
D. A statistical test
Answer: B
Rationale: A confounding variable is associated with both the exposure
and outcome, potentially distorting the true relationship between them if
not controlled.
6. Herd immunity occurs when:
A. All individuals are vaccinated
B. Only sick individuals are isolated
C. A sufficient proportion of population is immune
, D. Disease becomes eradicated
Answer: C
Rationale: Herd immunity protects a population when enough individuals
are immune (through vaccination or prior infection), reducing disease
transmission even among non-immune individuals.
7. Which is a primary prevention strategy?
A. Screening for cancer
B. Rehabilitation
C. Immunization
D. Early diagnosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease before it occurs;
immunization is a key example as it prevents infection development.
8. Secondary prevention includes:
A. Vaccination
B. Health education
C. Early disease detection through screening
D. Palliative care
Answer: C
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and treatment
to halt disease progression, such as screening programs for cancers or
hypertension.
9. Tertiary prevention focuses on:
A. Preventing disease occurrence
B. Early detection
C. Reducing complications and disability
D. Health promotion only
Answer: C
Rationale: Tertiary prevention aims to minimize disability and
complications in established disease, often through rehabilitation and
long-term management.
EXAMINATION QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
| INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary purpose of epidemiology?
A. To treat individual patients
B. To study distribution and determinants of health events in populations
C. To prescribe medications
D. To perform surgical procedures
Answer: B
Rationale: Epidemiology is the foundational science of public health that
focuses on the distribution (who, when, where) and determinants (causes
and risk factors) of health-related states in populations. It is not focused
on individual treatment but on patterns that inform prevention and
control strategies at the population level.
2. Which study design is best for determining causality?
A. Cross-sectional study
B. Case report
C. Randomized controlled trial
D. Ecological study
Answer: C
Rationale: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold
standard for determining causality because random assignment reduces
bias and confounding, allowing clearer attribution of outcomes to
interventions compared to observational designs.
,3. Incidence refers to:
A. Total number of existing cases
B. Number of new cases in a population over time
C. Severity of disease
D. Number of deaths
Answer: B
Rationale: Incidence measures the occurrence of new cases in a defined
population during a specific time period, making it useful for studying
disease risk and etiology.
4. Prevalence is best described as:
A. New cases only
B. Old cases only
C. All existing cases at a point or period in time
D. Death rate
Answer: C
Rationale: Prevalence includes both new and existing cases at a given
time, reflecting the overall burden of disease in a population rather than
risk of developing it.
5. A confounder is:
A. A measurement error
B. A factor related to both exposure and outcome
C. A random variable
D. A statistical test
Answer: B
Rationale: A confounding variable is associated with both the exposure
and outcome, potentially distorting the true relationship between them if
not controlled.
6. Herd immunity occurs when:
A. All individuals are vaccinated
B. Only sick individuals are isolated
C. A sufficient proportion of population is immune
, D. Disease becomes eradicated
Answer: C
Rationale: Herd immunity protects a population when enough individuals
are immune (through vaccination or prior infection), reducing disease
transmission even among non-immune individuals.
7. Which is a primary prevention strategy?
A. Screening for cancer
B. Rehabilitation
C. Immunization
D. Early diagnosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease before it occurs;
immunization is a key example as it prevents infection development.
8. Secondary prevention includes:
A. Vaccination
B. Health education
C. Early disease detection through screening
D. Palliative care
Answer: C
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and treatment
to halt disease progression, such as screening programs for cancers or
hypertension.
9. Tertiary prevention focuses on:
A. Preventing disease occurrence
B. Early detection
C. Reducing complications and disability
D. Health promotion only
Answer: C
Rationale: Tertiary prevention aims to minimize disability and
complications in established disease, often through rehabilitation and
long-term management.
