MCQs and Essay Questions on Epidemiology
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does the term 'incidence' refer to in epidemiology?
a) The total number of cases of a disease at a given time.
b) The number of deaths caused by a disease in a population.
c) The number of new cases of a disease in a population during a specific period.
d) The study of how diseases affect populations.
2. Which of the following is an example of primary prevention?
a) Chemotherapy for cancer patients.
b) Vaccination against hepatitis B.
c) Rehabilitation after a stroke.
d) Regular screening for breast cancer.
3. Which term describes a disease that is regularly found in a particular geographic area or
population?
a) Epidemic
b) Endemic
c) Pandemic
d) Sporadic
4. The 'stage of clinical disease' in the natural history of disease refers to:
a) The individual is exposed to risk factors but does not have the disease.
b) Symptoms appear, and the disease becomes detectable.
c) The disease process has begun, but symptoms are not yet evident.
d) The person recovers fully or experiences complications.
5. What is the primary focus of tertiary prevention?
a) Preventing the occurrence of disease.
b) Early detection and treatment of diseases.
c) Managing established diseases to prevent complications.
d) Administering vaccines to prevent infections.
6. Which of the following is a modifiable risk factor for heart disease?
a) Age
b) Gender
c) Smoking
d) Genetics
7. What is morbidity in epidemiology?
a) The total number of cases of a disease in a population.
b) The number of new cases of a disease.
c) Refers to having a disease or symptoms of a disease.
d) The number of deaths caused by a disease.
8. Which of the following best defines the term 'pandemic'?
a) A disease that regularly occurs in a particular region.
b) A sudden increase in disease cases above what is normally expected.
c) An epidemic that spreads across several countries or continents.
d) An outbreak that is contained within a single country.
9. An example of secondary prevention is:
a) Health education on the importance of physical activity.
b) Chemotherapy for cancer treatment.
c) Screening for hypertension.
d) Occupational therapy after an injury.
10. Which determinant of health is associated with factors like education, employment, and
income?
a) Biological determinants
b) Environmental determinants
c) Social determinants
d) Behavioral determinants
Essay Questions
1. Discuss the concept of epidemiology and its significance in disease prevention.
2. Explain the stages of the natural history of a disease and provide examples of how different
prevention strategies can be applied at each stage.
3. Compare and contrast primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention, giving examples of
interventions at each level.
4. Describe how social, environmental, and biological determinants of health contribute to disease
patterns in populations.
5. Evaluate the role of epidemiology in controlling infectious diseases, citing key achievements
and challenges faced in recent decades.
