The population covered by one sub-centre is

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2022

Explanation

A Sub-Centre is the most peripheral health unit designed to serve a specific population.
According to Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), the standard population norm for a Sub-Centre in plain areas is 5,000 people.
In the absence of specific information about the terrain (like hilly or tribal), the norm for plain areas is considered the standard answer.
This system ensures a structured delivery of primary healthcare services to the rural population.

Option A: A population of 1,000 is the norm for an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), who acts as a community health worker at the village level, not for a Sub-Centre.
Option B: The number 2,000 does not correspond to the established population norm for any of the three tiers of the rural health system in India (Sub-Centre, PHC, or CHC).
Option D: A population of 7,000 exceeds the standard norm for a Sub-Centre and does not align with the norms for other health facilities either.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Population norms for rural health infrastructure in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding population norms is crucial for nurses involved in community health for planning and implementing health programs, resource allocation, and evaluating service delivery.
These norms help in ensuring that healthcare services are accessible and equitably distributed across different geographical areas.
What if the question specified a 'tribal area'? In that case, the correct answer would change to 3,000, as the population norms are adjusted for sparsely populated and difficult terrains to ensure accessibility.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'population' and 'sub-centre'.
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of India's public health infrastructure.
Recall the three-tier system of rural healthcare: Sub-Centre (SC), Primary Health Centre (PHC), and Community Health Centre (CHC).
Remember the standard population norms for each level. For a Sub-Centre, the norm is 5,000 for plain areas and 3,000 for hilly/tribal areas.
Since the area type is not specified, select the standard norm for plain areas, which is 5,000.
Evaluate the other options to confirm they are incorrect. 1,000 is for an ASHA, while 2,000 and 7,000 are not standard norms.

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 RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2022

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