What is secondary prevention focused on?

Secondary prevention is focused on early detection and treatment of diseases, aiming to identify health issues at their earliest stages when they are often easier to treat and manage. This approach is crucial in reducing the severity or impact of illness once it has occurred. Techniques associated with secondary prevention include screening tests, regular check-ups, and self-examinations, which help find diseases such as cancer, diabetes, or hypertension before symptoms arise. The ultimate goal is to intervene early, which can lead to better health outcomes and potentially save lives.

Other options represent different levels of prevention. For instance, preventing disease transmission between individuals pertains to primary prevention, which focuses on preventing diseases from occurring in the first place. Similarly, controlling health inequities addresses a social determinant of health rather than a preventative measure for a specific individual’s health. Preventing diseases before they occur is also a characteristic of primary prevention rather than secondary. Thus, the focus of secondary prevention distinctly captures the importance of early detection and prompt treatment as a means of managing disease effectively.