Predisposing factors

Definition

Factors that increase the likelihood of an organism becoming susceptible to a particular disease.

Etymology

From Latin 'prae-', meaning 'before', and 'disponere', meaning 'to place'.

Example

Factors like malnutrition, poor sanitation, and lack of access to healthcare can predispose individuals to infectious diseases.

Related Terms

• Susceptibility
• Risk factors
• Disease resistance