RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2024
Obstetrics and Midwifery Nursing
Easy

Manual Vacuum Aspiration for termination of pregnancy can be performed at PHC-

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2024

Explanation

  • Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) at a Primary Health Centre (PHC) is restricted to pregnancies up to 8 weeks of gestation.
  • This guideline ensures patient safety, as PHCs have limited resources to manage complications that are more likely to occur at later gestational ages.
  • The 7th and 8th week of gestation are considered the optimal time for termination, with the lowest risk of complications.
  • Abortions beyond 8 weeks require higher-level facilities like Community Health Centres (CHCs) or District Hospitals with surgical and blood transfusion capabilities.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option B: While MVA is a first-trimester procedure and can be used up to 12 weeks, performing it between 8 and 12 weeks at a PHC is not recommended due to an increased risk of complications like hemorrhage and incomplete abortion, which a PHC is not equipped to handle.
  • Option C: This option is incorrect because 16 weeks falls into the second trimester of pregnancy. MVA is not the recommended procedure for second-trimester abortions.
  • Option D: This is incorrect as 20 weeks is well into the second trimester. The MTP Act allows termination up to 20 weeks (and now 24 weeks in special cases), but it requires advanced procedures and facilities.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain The question tests the knowledge of the appropriate gestational age limit for performing Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) for pregnancy termination at a Primary Health Centre (PHC) as per Indian public health guidelines as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • A nurse's primary role in this context is to accurately assess the gestational age, counsel the patient on her options, and refer her to the appropriate facility based on established guidelines to ensure her safety.
  • Adherence to these facility-level guidelines is a critical patient safety measure and a legal requirement under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.
  • Nurses at PHCs must be proficient in identifying high-risk cases and ensuring timely referral to prevent complications from unsafe or inappropriate procedures.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the key components of the question: the procedure (Manual Vacuum Aspiration), the location (PHC), and the purpose (termination of pregnancy).
  • Recall the structure of the public healthcare system in India (PHC, CHC, District Hospital) and the principle of tiered services based on complexity and risk.
  • Access your knowledge of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act and its associated guidelines, specifically focusing on which procedures are permitted at which level of care.
  • Evaluate the options based on safety and regulations. Recognize that PHCs are the most basic level and are therefore restricted to the safest, earliest-term procedures.
  • Eliminate the second-trimester options (16 and 20 weeks) immediately, as MVA is a first-trimester method.
  • Differentiate between the first-trimester options (8 and 12 weeks) by remembering that the 8-week cutoff for PHCs is a critical safety guideline. Conclude that 8 weeks is the correct limit for a PHC.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: The question tests the knowledge of the appropriate gestational age limit for performing Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) for pregnancy termination at a Primary Health Centre (PHC) as per Indian public health guidelines.
  • Stem keywords: Manual Vacuum Aspiration, MVA, termination of pregnancy, PHC
  • Lead-in keywords: can be performed at

Question ID

Q6-KWLxkPfmh4vfqnn_3ZR

Reference Book

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 199-200

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 8401-8404

E6 Gynecology Williams p. 161-195

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