Which of the following practices is essential for preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Frequent handwashing. Handwashing is essential for preventing the spread of healthcare-associated infections as it helps remove and kill harmful bacteria and viruses. By washing hands regularly, healthcare workers can reduce the risk of transmitting infections between patients. Sharing medical equipment (B) can actually increase the spread of infections. Reducing patient turnover (C) can help minimize exposure, but without proper hand hygiene, infections can still spread. Increasing hospital bed capacity (D) is unrelated to preventing infections. Therefore, A is the most effective practice for infection control.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Antiretroviral therapy. This is a key strategy because it involves giving HIV medications to the mother during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, as well as to the newborn, significantly reducing the risk of transmission. Antiretroviral therapy helps lower the viral load in the mother's body, making it less likely for the virus to be passed on to the child. Exclusive breastfeeding (choice A) can increase the risk of transmission, routine immunization (choice B) does not directly prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and nutritional supplementation (choice D) is not a primary strategy for preventing transmission.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Folic acid. Folic acid is critical for preventing neural tube defects as it is essential for proper development of the neural tube in the fetus. It helps in the formation of the baby's brain and spinal cord. Iron (A) is important for preventing anemia, not neural tube defects. Calcium (B) is crucial for bone health but not directly related to neural tube development. Vitamin D (D) is important for calcium absorption, but not specifically for preventing neural tube defects. Overall, folic acid stands out as the most critical nutrient for this purpose.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Emphasizes community participation. Primary Health Care is a holistic approach that focuses on involving the community in decision-making and care delivery. This empowers individuals and communities to take charge of their health. Choice A is incorrect as Primary Health Care prioritizes comprehensive and generalist care over specialized care. Choice C is incorrect as Primary Health Care aims to provide care at the grassroots level, not solely relying on hospital-based services. Choice D is incorrect as Primary Health Care places a strong emphasis on preventive measures to promote overall health and well-being.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The primary purpose of administering Vitamin K to newborns is to prevent bleeding disorders. Vitamin K is essential for the production of blood clotting factors, which helps prevent excessive bleeding. Newborns are born with low levels of Vitamin K, putting them at risk for bleeding disorders like vitamin K deficiency bleeding. Administering Vitamin K at birth helps ensure proper blood clotting function. The other choices are incorrect because Vitamin K does not directly prevent infection, promote growth, or enhance immune function in newborns.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Achieving a level of health that enables all people to lead economically productive lives. This is the main focus of WHO's Health For All strategy as it aims to ensure that individuals have good health to actively participate in society and the economy. Choice A is incorrect as the strategy doesn't necessarily focus on providing free healthcare to all individuals, but rather on improving overall health outcomes. Choice C is incorrect as simply building more hospitals and clinics does not address the holistic approach of the Health For All strategy. Choice D is incorrect as increasing the number of healthcare workers is important, but the main focus is on achieving better health outcomes for economic productivity.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Secondary prevention aims to detect and treat a disease in its early stages to prevent complications. Screening for hypertension (Choice C) is an example as it involves identifying individuals at risk of developing high blood pressure-related issues. Vaccination (Choice A) is a form of primary prevention. Health education (Choice B) is more focused on promoting healthy behaviors. Rehabilitation therapy (Choice D) is part of tertiary prevention, aimed at improving function after a disease has occurred.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Encouraging skin-to-skin contact after birth. This practice is part of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) as it promotes bonding, initiates breastfeeding, and helps regulate the baby's temperature and breathing. Skin-to-skin contact also supports the establishment of breastfeeding and enhances maternal-infant attachment. Incorrect Choices: A: Promoting the use of infant formula - This goes against the BFHI, which promotes exclusive breastfeeding. C: Separating mother and baby after delivery - BFHI encourages keeping mother and baby together to promote bonding and breastfeeding. D: Scheduling feedings at fixed intervals - BFHI promotes feeding on demand to support breastfeeding and responsive feeding practices.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: To boost the immune system. Vitamin A is essential for maintaining a healthy immune system by supporting the production and function of white blood cells. This helps the body fight off infections and illnesses. Administering Vitamin A to children can help prevent deficiencies and strengthen their immune response. Explanation of why the other choices are incorrect: A: Vitamin D is more closely associated with improving bone health, not Vitamin A. C: Cognitive development is primarily influenced by nutrients like iron and omega-3 fatty acids, rather than Vitamin A. D: Anemia is usually prevented by iron supplementation, not Vitamin A.