Population Health Exam 2 Questions and Answers
with Complete Solution | Latest Update 2026
Rate - ANSWERS the primary measurement used to describe either the
occurrence or the existence of a specific state of health or illness
Risk - ANSWERS probability or likelihood that a disease or illness will occur in a
group of people who presently do not have the problem.
Risk Factor - ANSWERS characteristics of events that have been shown to
increase the probability that a specific disease or illness will develop
Epidemiology Triad - ANSWERS Classic model based on the belief that health
status is determined by the interaction of the characteristics of all three: host,
agent, and environment.
Host - ANSWERS the client whose health status is the concern, whether it is a
person, a family, a group of high-risk people, or the community as a whole.
Agents - ANSWERS element or force that under proper conditions can initiate
or perpetuate a health problem
5 groups of Agents - ANSWERS 1. Physical-heat or trauma
2. Chemical-pollutants, medications, and drugs
3. Nutritional- excess or absence of water, vitamins, fat, proteins, and carbs
,4. Psychosocial- stress social isolation and social support
5. Biologic-bacteria, viruses, arthropods, toxins, and conditions that interfere w/
normal body functioning.
Environment - ANSWERS refers to context w/in which the agent and host
interact; 3 categories:
1. biological- plants, animals, & toxins they produce
2. physical- light, heat, air, atmospheric pressure, radiation, geological, and
environmental structures
3. social- technology, educational opportunities, political systems, demographic
characteristics, sociological factors, economic and legal systems
Wheel of Causation - ANSWERS epidemiologic model that de-emphasizes the
agent as the sole cause of disease while emphasizing the interplay of physical,
biologic, and social environments
Web of Causation - ANSWERS Epidemiologic model that strongly emphasizes
the concept of MULTIPLE CAUSATIONS while de-emphasizing the role of agents in
explaining illness.
Chain of Infection - ANSWERS Includes: portal of entry, host, agent, reservoir,
portal of exit, and means of transmission
Portal of entry and exit - ANSWERS the way infectious diseases enter and exit
the body. Portals include skin, respiratory tract, alimentary tract, genital tract,
conjunctiva and vertical transmission from parent to offspring.
, Incubation period - ANSWERS the time between exposure to an infectious
agent and the manifestation of symptoms in the host.
Colonization - ANSWERS no clinical signs of disease but an infectious agent is
present.
Endemic - ANSWERS disease, infection, or infectious agent occurs when it
becomes prevalent within a population or geographic area.
- A disease regularly occurring within an area or community (google definition)
Epidemic - ANSWERS significant increase in the infection or infectious diseases
beyond the expected (endemic) level in a certain population and or/ geographical
area. Can also occur when a new infectious agent emerges or remerges
Pandemic - ANSWERS epidemic that spreads worldwide
Herd Immunity - ANSWERS protection due to the immunity of most
community members making exposure unlikely
Passive Immunity - ANSWERS Transfer of antibodies to the host either
transplacental from the mother to newborn or through transfusions of
immunoglobulins, plasma proteins, and antitoxins.
Natural Immunity - ANSWERS Natural defense mechanisms of the body to
resist specific antigens or toxins
with Complete Solution | Latest Update 2026
Rate - ANSWERS the primary measurement used to describe either the
occurrence or the existence of a specific state of health or illness
Risk - ANSWERS probability or likelihood that a disease or illness will occur in a
group of people who presently do not have the problem.
Risk Factor - ANSWERS characteristics of events that have been shown to
increase the probability that a specific disease or illness will develop
Epidemiology Triad - ANSWERS Classic model based on the belief that health
status is determined by the interaction of the characteristics of all three: host,
agent, and environment.
Host - ANSWERS the client whose health status is the concern, whether it is a
person, a family, a group of high-risk people, or the community as a whole.
Agents - ANSWERS element or force that under proper conditions can initiate
or perpetuate a health problem
5 groups of Agents - ANSWERS 1. Physical-heat or trauma
2. Chemical-pollutants, medications, and drugs
3. Nutritional- excess or absence of water, vitamins, fat, proteins, and carbs
,4. Psychosocial- stress social isolation and social support
5. Biologic-bacteria, viruses, arthropods, toxins, and conditions that interfere w/
normal body functioning.
Environment - ANSWERS refers to context w/in which the agent and host
interact; 3 categories:
1. biological- plants, animals, & toxins they produce
2. physical- light, heat, air, atmospheric pressure, radiation, geological, and
environmental structures
3. social- technology, educational opportunities, political systems, demographic
characteristics, sociological factors, economic and legal systems
Wheel of Causation - ANSWERS epidemiologic model that de-emphasizes the
agent as the sole cause of disease while emphasizing the interplay of physical,
biologic, and social environments
Web of Causation - ANSWERS Epidemiologic model that strongly emphasizes
the concept of MULTIPLE CAUSATIONS while de-emphasizing the role of agents in
explaining illness.
Chain of Infection - ANSWERS Includes: portal of entry, host, agent, reservoir,
portal of exit, and means of transmission
Portal of entry and exit - ANSWERS the way infectious diseases enter and exit
the body. Portals include skin, respiratory tract, alimentary tract, genital tract,
conjunctiva and vertical transmission from parent to offspring.
, Incubation period - ANSWERS the time between exposure to an infectious
agent and the manifestation of symptoms in the host.
Colonization - ANSWERS no clinical signs of disease but an infectious agent is
present.
Endemic - ANSWERS disease, infection, or infectious agent occurs when it
becomes prevalent within a population or geographic area.
- A disease regularly occurring within an area or community (google definition)
Epidemic - ANSWERS significant increase in the infection or infectious diseases
beyond the expected (endemic) level in a certain population and or/ geographical
area. Can also occur when a new infectious agent emerges or remerges
Pandemic - ANSWERS epidemic that spreads worldwide
Herd Immunity - ANSWERS protection due to the immunity of most
community members making exposure unlikely
Passive Immunity - ANSWERS Transfer of antibodies to the host either
transplacental from the mother to newborn or through transfusions of
immunoglobulins, plasma proteins, and antitoxins.
Natural Immunity - ANSWERS Natural defense mechanisms of the body to
resist specific antigens or toxins
