UGC NTA NET/JRF Exam, Social Medicine & Community Health, January-2024

Chemoprophylaxis of malaria refers to the administration of antimalarial drugs to prevent the development of malaria in individuals who are at risk but not yet infected.

This form of prevention intervenes before the onset of disease, aiming to reduce the incidence of new cases.

It is thus categorized under primary prevention, which includes measures such as health education, vaccination, and chemoprophylaxis to prevent the initial occurrence of disease.

For example, antimalarial drugs like chloroquine, mefloquine, or doxycycline are given to travelers to endemic areas to prevent infection.

The 'YY' paradox describes a scenario where two individuals have the same Body Mass Index (BMI) but significantly different body fat percentages. This paradox demonstrates the limitation of BMI in reflecting actual body composition.

For instance, a physically active individual may have high muscle mass and low fat, while another with similar BMI may have higher fat and less muscle, especially seen among different ethnic populations like Asians and Caucasians.

This paradox is especially relevant in public health and clinical settings, where BMI alone may not accurately assess health risks related to obesity.

An ecological study is a type of observational epidemiological study where the unit of analysis is a population or group rather than individuals. Data is collected and analyzed at the population level to find associations between exposure and outcome.

For example, comparing average dietary salt intake and hypertension prevalence across different countries. Such studies are useful for generating hypotheses but limited in establishing causality due to ecological fallacy, where inferences made about individuals based on group data may not be accurate.

The basic physiological requirement of drinking water for mere survival in a temperate climate is approximately 2 litres per person per day. This quantity supports essential bodily functions such as cellular metabolism, thermoregulation, and waste elimination.

This figure is a minimum survival threshold and does not include water needed for cooking, hygiene, or other domestic uses, which are covered under broader public health norms like 40 litres per capita per day (Ipcd) recommended for rural areas in India.

As per the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), 2022, a Community Health Officer (CHO) is posted at Health and Wellness Centres - Sub Health Centres (HWC-SHC).

These CHOs are mid-level healthcare providers, typically nurses or AYUSH practitioners trained in primary healthcare and responsible for delivering comprehensive primary health services under the Ayushman Bharat initiative.

HWC-SHCs are the first point of contact in the health system and CHOs play a critical role in disease prevention, management of non-communicable diseases, maternal-child health, and coordination of health promotion activities.

As per the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCB & VI), economic blindness is defined as the condition where a person is unable to count fingers at a distance of 6 metres.

This category has been used in the Indian context to determine visual disability with reference to economic productivity and employment capacity. It reflects the impact of vision impairment on a person's ability to earn a livelihood.

The classification helps in identifying beneficiaries for disability certification and rehabilitation services.

The National Digital Health Mission (NDНМ) was launched by the Government of India on 15th August 2020. The mission aims to digitize the healthcare ecosystem by providing a unique Health ID to every citizen, ensuring efficient and secure access to health data.

Key components of the NDHM include the Health ID, DigiDoctor, Health Facility Registry, Personal Health Records (PHR), and Telemedicine.

The initiative was part of the government's vision to create a digital health infrastructure under the umbrella of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

Under the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) program, children aged 5-9 years are given weekly iron and folic acid supplementation in the dose of 45 mg elemental iron and 400 micrograms (µg) of folic acid.

The supplementation is colorcoded using blue tablets for this age group and is administered through schools and anganwadis to reduce the burden of iron-deficiency anemia, which significantly affects cognitive and physical development in children.

The acronym DASH stands for Dietary 11. Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It is a scientifically proven diet plan designed to lower or control high blood pressure (hypertension). The DASH diet emphasizes the intake of:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains
• Low-fat dairy
• Lean proteins
• Nuts and legumes

It limits foods high in saturated fats, sugars, and sodium. The diet has been recommended by organizations such as the American Heart Association and NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute).