For epidemiology, incidence is the number of new cases of a disease in a certain population and in a certain period.
The Latin word incĭdens , which refers to that or that which "comes or falls" , derived from the medieval Latin incidentia . This is the closest etymological antecedent of incidence , a term in our language that has several uses.
In a broad sense, the idea of incidence can refer to an event that breaks into the development of an issue, maintaining some type of link with it . Incidence, on the other hand, can also be an effect or an influence .
Incidence according to epidemiology
In the field of medicine , epidemiology is the branch dedicated to the analysis of epidemics (diseases that affect many individuals simultaneously and whose spread takes place during a certain period in a certain region).
The notion of incidence appears in the context of epidemiology to name the proportional relationship that is recorded between the appearance of new cases of a disease in a period of time and the number of people who are exposed to possible contagion . In other words: incidence is the number of new confirmed infections of a disease in a specific population at a given time.
It is often said that incidence reflects the probability that a subject in a community will be affected by the disease in question. While incidence focuses on new cases, prevalence points to existing cases.
Suppose that, in a population of 100 people , 20 contracted a disease in a one-year observation period. The incidence, in this case, is 20% .
The concept of incidence, in law, can refer to an anomalous situation caused by non-compliance with a formal procedure.
The concept in law
Within the framework of law , an incident is called an incident . It can be noted that an incident is an issue that is different from the main issue of a process . In some cases, the incident implies an anomalous situation that occurs due to the lack of compliance with a formal procedure.
For international law , a legal incidence involves the application of tools to guarantee human rights or strengthen an international standard through the use of safeguard mechanisms or strategic litigation.
At the fiscal level, the incidence arises when a tax reaches a person who cannot transfer the burden to another. Thus, the incidence of the tax causes it to fall on the taxpayer without the possibility of transfer, thereby becoming the final payer.
You can see the impact on the Value Added Tax ( VAT ). This tax reaches the final consumer, who does not have the chance to transfer it to a third party.
Impact on IT
The concept of incidence is also used in information technology ( IT ). Its use is linked to unforeseen behavior of a service .
When an incident arises, the quality of service suffers. In this way, a negative impact is produced that affects the ability to satisfy the needs of the user or client.
IT services companies, therefore, must have adequate incident management . Its purpose must be the rapid recovery of the normal quality of the service and the minimization of harmful consequences.