What is meant by "mortality rate"?

Mortality rate refers specifically to the number of deaths in a defined population over a certain period of time, typically expressed per unit of population (such as per 1,000 or 100,000) to facilitate comparison between different populations or over time. This measure is crucial in public health to assess the severity of health issues within a community, guide policy decisions, and evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare interventions.

The distinction here is that while prevalence and incidence rates address the occurrence of disease, mortality rate directly quantifies the impact of that disease on the population through death count. By focusing on the deaths that occur due to particular diseases or conditions, mortality rates provide key insights into the overall health status and risks faced by a population.