Community Health Nursing Flashcards

What is the primary goal of primary prevention in community health?

Answer: Prevent disease before it occurs through health promotion and risk reduction

Primary prevention targets healthy individuals to prevent disease onset. Examples include immunizations, health education, tobacco cessation, and sanitation. Secondary prevention is early detection (screening); tertiary prevention is reducing disability from established disease.

What does 'epidemiology' study?

Answer: The distribution and determinants of health and disease in populations

Epidemiology studies the frequency, distribution (who gets disease, where, when), and determinants (why — risk factors, causes) of health conditions in populations. This data drives public health policy, disease prevention, and control strategies.

Which is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease?

Answer: Hypertension, smoking, and dyslipidemia

Modifiable risk factors are those that can be changed through intervention. Hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, and poor diet are all modifiable. Age, sex, and genetic factors are non-modifiable.

What is the 'cold chain' in immunization?

Answer: The system maintaining vaccines at required temperatures from manufacture to administration

The cold chain is the end-to-end temperature-controlled supply chain (typically 2–8°C for most vaccines) that preserves vaccine potency from manufacturing through storage, transport, and administration. Cold chain breaks render vaccines ineffective.

Which indicators are used to measure maternal health in a population?

Answer: Maternal mortality ratio, antenatal care coverage, and skilled birth attendance

Maternal health is measured by: maternal mortality ratio (deaths per 100,000 live births), antenatal care coverage (% of women receiving ANC), proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel, and contraceptive prevalence rate.

What does the term 'herd immunity' mean?

Answer: Sufficient community vaccination coverage that protects even unvaccinated individuals by interrupting transmission

Herd immunity (community immunity) occurs when a high enough proportion of the population is immune (through vaccination or prior infection) that the pathogen cannot sustain transmission, indirectly protecting those who cannot be vaccinated (immunocompromised, infants).