BHS Public Health Policy and Systems 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which US federal agency is the lead agency for public health and is responsible for disease prevention and control?
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Correct answer)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Correct answer: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC is the leading national public health institute in the US, working to protect public health and safety through disease control, prevention, and preparedness.
Question 2: What are the three core functions of public health as defined by the Institute of Medicine?
- Assessment, policy development, and assurance (Correct answer)
- Prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation
- Research, education, and intervention
- Surveillance, enforcement, and evaluation
Correct answer: Assessment, policy development, and assurance
The IOM's 1988 report defined the three core functions of public health as assessment (monitoring health), policy development, and assurance (services are provided).
Question 3: The Healthy People initiative in the US sets national health objectives for what time period?
- Every 10 years (Correct answer)
- Every 5 years
- Every 2 years
- Annually
Correct answer: Every 10 years
Healthy People is published every decade (e.g., Healthy People 2030) by the US Department of Health and Human Services, setting national health promotion and disease prevention goals.
Question 4: Which social determinant of health has the greatest documented impact on overall health outcomes?
- Socioeconomic status (income and education) (Correct answer)
- Access to healthcare services
- Individual health behaviors
- Genetic predisposition
Correct answer: Socioeconomic status (income and education)
Research consistently shows that socioeconomic status — encompassing income, education, and occupation — has the largest influence on health outcomes across populations.
Question 5: What is 'primary prevention' in the context of public health?
- Actions taken to prevent disease before it occurs (Correct answer)
- Early detection of disease in asymptomatic individuals
- Treatment to prevent disease progression
- Rehabilitation after illness or injury
Correct answer: Actions taken to prevent disease before it occurs
Primary prevention aims to prevent the onset of disease through measures like vaccination, health education, and environmental modification before any disease occurs.
Question 6: Which landmark US legislation expanded health insurance coverage to millions of uninsured Americans starting in 2010?
- The Affordable Care Act (ACA) (Correct answer)
- The Social Security Act
- ERISA
- The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act
Correct answer: The Affordable Care Act (ACA)
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), signed into law in 2010, expanded Medicaid, created insurance marketplaces, and mandated coverage provisions to reduce the uninsured rate.
BHS Public Health Policy and Systems 1
Which US federal agency is the lead agency for public health and is responsible for disease prevention and control?