How much population is covered by a community health centre?

RRB Nsg. Superintendent 21 July 2019 (shift 1st)

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent 21 July 2019 (shift 1st)

Explanation

A Community Health Centre (CHC) is established to serve a population of 1,20,000 in plain areas and 80,000 in hilly, tribal, or difficult areas.
This range (80,000 to 1,20,000) aligns with the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) for CHCs.
CHCs function as secondary-level healthcare facilities and act as referral centers for multiple Primary Health Centres (PHCs), providing specialist care.

Option A: The range of 15,000 to 45,000 does not correspond to the standard population norms for any specific health facility (SC, PHC, or CHC) in India.
Option B: This population range (20,000 to 30,000) is the norm for a Primary Health Centre (PHC), not a Community Health Centre.
Option C: This population range (3,000 to 5,000) is the norm for a Sub-Centre (SC), which is the most peripheral health unit.

Visual 1: Flowchart: A diagram illustrating the three-tier rural healthcare system in India, showing Sub-Centres at the base, referring to PHCs, which in turn refer to CHCs at the top, with population norms listed for each level.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Population norms for healthcare facilities in India as per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding population norms is crucial for public health nurses and administrators for planning, resource allocation, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services.
These norms help in identifying gaps in the healthcare infrastructure, such as a shortfall of CHCs in a particular block, guiding policy decisions to strengthen the system.
What if? If a new industrial town develops rapidly in a rural block, the existing CHC might become overburdened. Public health officials would need to assess the new population density and potentially propose upgrading the CHC or establishing a new Sub-district hospital to meet the increased demand.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key term in the question: 'Community Health Centre' (CHC).
This is a factual recall question based on the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS).
Recall the three-tier rural health system in India: Sub-Centre, Primary Health Centre (PHC), and Community Health Centre (CHC).
Mentally review the population norms for each level.
Match the population norm for a CHC (80,000 in hilly/tribal areas, 1,20,000 in plain areas) with the given options.
Select the option that encompasses this range.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Population norms for healthcare facilities in India as per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS).
Stem keywords: population, community health centre
Lead-in keywords: How much
Clinical cues: The care setting changes urgency, monitoring level, and the expected nursing action.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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