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: Ensuring skilled attendance at birth. This is a key component of the Safe Motherhood Initiative as it focuses on providing trained healthcare professionals during childbirth to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality rates. This ensures that complications during labor can be promptly identified and managed, improving outcomes for both mother and baby. A: Promoting exclusive breastfeeding is important for infant health but is not specifically a component of the Safe Motherhood Initiative. B: Providing routine immunizations is crucial for child health but not directly related to maternal care during childbirth. D: Offering genetic counseling is valuable for families at risk of genetic disorders but is not a primary focus of the Safe Motherhood Initiative.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: To provide immunizations to all children. The primary aim of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) is to ensure that all children receive essential vaccinations to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases. This program focuses on increasing vaccination coverage and reaching all children, especially those in underserved populations. Providing immunizations to all children helps in reducing the spread of infectious diseases and contributes to overall public health. Incorrect choices: A: To eliminate non-communicable diseases - This is not the primary aim of EPI. EPI primarily focuses on preventing communicable diseases through vaccinations. B: To increase hospital bed capacity - This is not the primary goal of EPI. Increasing hospital bed capacity is related to healthcare infrastructure, not vaccination programs. D: To train more healthcare workers - While training healthcare workers is important for delivering immunizations, it is not the primary aim of EPI. The main goal is to provide vaccinations to all children.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Early detection of pregnancy complications. Antenatal care involves regular check-ups during pregnancy to monitor the health of both the mother and the baby. Early detection of pregnancy complications through antenatal care allows for timely intervention and management, reducing the risks to both the mother and the baby. This can help prevent serious complications and improve outcomes. Incorrect choices: B: Increased risk of preterm labor - Antenatal care aims to reduce the risk of preterm labor through monitoring and appropriate management. C: Decreased maternal weight gain - Antenatal care focuses on ensuring appropriate weight gain for a healthy pregnancy. D: Delayed fetal growth - Antenatal care helps monitor fetal growth and detect any issues early to prevent delayed growth.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Prevention and treatment of childhood illnesses. The IMCI strategy focuses on a holistic approach that includes both prevention and treatment of common childhood illnesses. It emphasizes promoting healthy practices, early detection, appropriate treatment, and follow-up care. Hospital-based care (A) is not the primary focus as IMCI aims to improve health outcomes at the community level. Curative care only (B) is also not correct as prevention is a key component of IMCI. Surgical interventions (D) are not the primary focus of IMCI, which aims to address a wide range of common childhood illnesses with a comprehensive approach.