A screening for depression found 250 cases in a population of 1250 at a specific time. What is the term for this measurement?

The measurement described in the question is known as prevalence. This term refers to the total number of cases of a disease or condition in a population at a specific point in time. In this case, 250 cases of depression were identified among a population of 1250 individuals, which allows for a calculation of the proportion of the population currently affected by the condition.

Prevalence gives insight into the overall burden of disease in the population, helping public health officials understand how widespread a health issue is at a certain moment. Unlike incidence, which measures new cases that occur over a specific time period, prevalence encompasses all existing cases during the time of measurement, regardless of when they were diagnosed. This distinction is crucial in epidemiological studies, as it impacts resource allocation and healthcare planning.