The number of deaths due to a particular cause per 100/1000 total deaths is known as?

DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: DSSSB - 28 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Proportional Mortality Rate (PMR) is defined as the proportion of all deaths in a population that are attributed to a specific cause.
The key to identifying this rate is its denominator: the total number of deaths from all causes, not the total population or the number of disease cases.
This calculation helps to determine the relative burden of a specific disease in terms of mortality within a community.
For example, if a country has 1,000 total deaths in a year and 250 of them are from heart disease, the PMR for heart disease is (250/1000) * 100 = 25%.

Option A: The Age-Specific Death Rate compares the number of deaths within a particular age group to the total population of that same age group, not to the total number of deaths.
Option C: The Case Fatality Rate measures the proportion of people with a specific disease who die from it. Its denominator is the total number of diagnosed cases of the disease, not the total deaths in the population.
Option D: The Crude Death Rate measures the overall frequency of death in a population. Its denominator is the total mid-year population, not the total number of deaths.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition and differentiation of epidemiological mortality rates as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding PMR helps nurses and public health officials identify the leading causes of death in their community (e.g., heart disease, cancer, accidents), which is crucial for prioritizing health promotion, disease prevention programs, and resource allocation.
A high PMR for a preventable disease like measles or a treatable condition like diabetic ketoacidosis can signal failures in the public health system or lack of access to care, prompting investigation and intervention.
What if? If the question asked for the rate comparing deaths from a cause to the total population? The answer would then be the Cause-Specific Death Rate, which measures the risk of dying from that specific cause for an individual in the population.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core components of the rate described in the question stem. Here, the key elements are 'deaths due to a particular cause' (numerator) and 'total deaths' (denominator).
Carefully analyze the denominator. The question specifies 'per 100/1000 total deaths', not 'total population' or 'total cases of a disease'. This is the most critical clue.
Evaluate each option against this structure. 'Age-specific' and 'Crude' death rates use the total population as a denominator. 'Case fatality rate' uses the number of cases as the denominator.
Conclude that 'Proportional mortality rate' is the only term that compares deaths from a specific cause to the total number of deaths.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Definition and differentiation of epidemiological mortality rates
Stem keywords: deaths, particular cause, total deaths, mortality rate
Lead-in keywords: known as
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart A (pp 26-201 of 604) pp. 51-53, 10-12, 50-52