NORCET -2 (shift-2): Purpose of national deworming day?

NORCET -2 (shift-2)

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET -2 (shift-2)

Explanation

The primary goal of National Deworming Day (NDD) is to combat Soil-Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections, commonly known as intestinal worms.
The program targets all children and adolescents aged 1 to 19 years for deworming.
By eradicating worms, the program helps improve nutritional uptake, reduce anemia and malnutrition, and enhance cognitive function and school attendance.
The WHO recommends periodic deworming in endemic areas to control morbidity by reducing the overall worm burden in the community.

Option B: Improving breastfeeding is not the purpose of National Deworming Day. NDD targets children aged 1-19, a group for whom breastfeeding is generally not the primary or sole source of nutrition.
Option C: While deworming improves child health and can indirectly contribute to reducing the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), it is not the program's primary, stated objective. Furthermore, it has no direct link to the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).
Option D: Eradicating poverty is a broad socio-economic objective. National Deworming Day is a specific public health intervention focused on disease prevention and morbidity control, not a direct economic program.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain National Health Programs as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses are central to NDD's success. They are involved in administering the Albendazole tablets in schools and Anganwadis, educating parents and children about the importance of deworming and hygiene (like handwashing and using footwear), and managing any minor side effects.
Understanding the correct dosage and contraindications (e.g., not giving the tablet to a sick child) is a critical nursing responsibility.
What if a child is acutely ill with fever or diarrhea on National Deworming Day? The nurse should advise the parent or teacher to postpone the administration of the Albendazole tablet until the child has recovered. The child can be covered during the mop-up day, which is typically held a few days later.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrase in the question: 'Purpose of national deworming day'. This points to a specific national health program.
Recall the fundamental objective of this program. The name itself, 'deworming day', is a major clue.
Evaluate each option based on this primary objective.
Option A, 'Eradicate intestinal worms', directly aligns with the term 'deworming'.
Options B, C, and D represent other health or social goals. Consider if they are the primary purpose. While better health can indirectly affect mortality rates (IMR) and economic status, the direct, targeted action is against worms.
Eliminate the broader, indirect, or unrelated options to arrive at the most specific and accurate answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 101-103