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Public Health & Epidemiology vocabulary · Prevention and Vaccination

Secondary prevention

Meaning in public health & epidemiology, with examples

nounCommon term

In public health & epidemiology, secondary prevention means: Finding a disease early, before or soon after symptoms begin, and acting quickly to stop it from getting worse, for example through screening.

In Turkish: ikincil korunma, ikincil koruma

How it is used

The second level of prevention, mainly about early detection and prompt treatment. Cancer screening, blood pressure checks and testing for hepatitis C are typical. In cardiology the phrase also means preventing a second heart attack or stroke.

Example sentences

  1. Regular eye checks for people with diabetes are a form of secondary prevention.

  2. Funding for secondary prevention was cut, so fewer cancers were caught early.

Common collocations

  • secondary prevention programme
  • early detection
  • prompt treatment
  • secondary prevention of stroke
  • primary preventionAction taken to stop a disease or injury from happening at all, for example vaccination, seat belt laws or reducing the salt in processed food.
  • tertiary preventionReducing the impact of an illness that people already have, by preventing complications, disability and relapse and helping them live as well as possible.
  • screeningTesting people who have no symptoms to find a disease or its early signs, so that it can be treated earlier and more successfully.

More terms: Prevention and Vaccination

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.