MP CHO -2019 (Shift-2)
Community Health Nursing
Easy

The objective of National Deworming Day (De-worming day) is to de-worm Preschool And School Age children. What is their age?

Appeared in: MP CHO -2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

  • The National Deworming Day (NDD) program in India specifically targets all children and adolescents aged 1–19 years.
  • This comprehensive age range ensures coverage for preschool children (often reached through Anganwadi centers) and all school-aged children and adolescents (reached through schools), including those not enrolled.
  • This strategy aims to reduce the prevalence and morbidity of Soil-Transmitted Helminth (STH) infections, which are most common in this age group and can cause anemia, malnutrition, and impaired physical and cognitive development.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option B: This option is incorrect because it excludes children aged 1 year, who are a key target group. The program starts at age 1, not 2. It also incorrectly includes 20-year-olds, who are outside the program's scope.
  • Option C: This age range is too narrow. It incorrectly excludes children aged 1 and 2, as well as adolescents aged 19. The NDD program has a broader scope.
  • Option D: This is a significantly restricted age range that omits large, vulnerable populations at both the younger end (1-3 years) and the older end (17-19 years) of the target group.

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 National Health Programs in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Nurses, especially in community and school health settings, are at the forefront of implementing NDD. Their role includes administering the Albendazole tablet, ensuring correct dosage, observing for any adverse effects, and providing health education on hygiene practices to prevent re-infection.
  • Accurate knowledge of the target age group (1-19 years) is critical for nurses to ensure all eligible children are included and to achieve the public health goal of reducing worm infestation.
  • What if? A 10-year-old child is acutely ill with high fever and vomiting on National Deworming Day. The nurse should not administer the Albendazole tablet. The correct action is to advise the parents to give the tablet after the child has fully recovered from the acute illness.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the core subject of the question, which is a specific national health initiative: 'National Deworming Day'.
  • This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge base regarding major public health programs in India.
  • Recall the specific guidelines for the NDD program, focusing on the target population.
  • Systematically evaluate each option against the correct age range (1–19 years).
  • Eliminate the options that present a range that is too narrow or has an incorrect start or end age.
  • Select the option that perfectly matches the official target demographic of the program.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: National Health Programs in India
  • Stem keywords: National Deworming Day, de-worm, Preschool, School Age children, age
  • Lead-in keywords: What is their age
  • Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QSEacKw4UuGPiHaPodHYF3

Reference Book

E6 Text Book Of Pediatric Nursing 3rd Panchali Pal — Part 1 (pp 36-238 of 713) p. 18-20

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

Practise the full MP CHO -2019 (Shift-2)

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