The coverage of the population by primary health centers (PHC) in plain areas is?

Appeared in: JODHPUR AIIMS SNO-2018

Explanation

According to Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), a Primary Health Centre (PHC) is established to cover a specific population size.
For plain (non-hilly, non-tribal) areas, the standard norm for one PHC is to serve a population of 30,000.
This norm ensures a structured delivery of primary healthcare services to the rural population.
A PHC acts as the first point of contact between the village community and a medical officer.

Option A: This figure represents the population norm for a Sub-Centre in a plain area, not a Primary Health Centre.
Option B: This figure is the population norm for a Primary Health Centre, but specifically for hilly, tribal, or other difficult-to-reach areas.
Option D: This value does not correspond to any standard population norm for Sub-Centres or Primary Health Centres under the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Population Norms for Primary Health Centers (PHC) in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding these population norms is crucial for community health nurses for planning and implementing health programs, resource allocation, and evaluating healthcare accessibility.
These standards guide the government in establishing new health facilities to ensure equitable healthcare distribution across the country.
What if? If a nurse is posted to a tribal area, they must know that the PHC there serves a smaller population (20,000) due to geographical challenges and scattered populations, which affects outreach planning and service delivery strategies.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Primary Health Center (PHC)', 'plain areas', and 'population coverage'.
Recall the structure of India's rural healthcare system, which is a three-tier model: Sub-Centre, PHC, and CHC.
Differentiate the population norms for each level of this system.
Crucially, remember that the norms differ for 'plain areas' versus 'hilly/tribal/difficult areas'.
Select the option that matches the specific combination asked in the question (PHC in a plain area).
Eliminate distractors by identifying the context in which they would be correct (e.g., 20,000 for a PHC in a hilly area, 5,000 for a Sub-Centre in a plain area).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health NursingShyamala D part 1 (pp 26-389 of 389) p. 80-82

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 125-127

Practise the full JODHPUR AIIMS SNO-2018

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.