The primary prevention of Mental Retardation includes?

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2017

Explanation

Primary prevention aims to avert the occurrence of a disease or disability before it starts.
Genetic counselling is a primary prevention strategy because it informs prospective parents about genetic risks before conception or during early pregnancy.
This allows for informed decision-making to prevent the birth of a child with a genetically-linked intellectual disability.
Other primary prevention measures include maternal immunization (e.g., for rubella) and folic acid supplementation.

Option A: Early detection, such as newborn screening, is a classic example of secondary prevention, as it aims to identify a condition that is already present to allow for early treatment.
Option B: Psychiatric treatment is a tertiary prevention measure. It focuses on managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for individuals already diagnosed with intellectual disability and co-occurring mental health conditions.
Option C: Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment for an existing condition, making it a secondary prevention strategy. For example, it is used after a newborn is diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism through screening.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Levels of Prevention for Intellectual Disability as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in all three levels of prevention. In primary prevention, nurses educate women of childbearing age about immunizations, nutrition, and genetic counselling services.
In secondary prevention, nurses are often responsible for conducting newborn screenings and identifying developmental delays during well-child visits.
In tertiary prevention, nurses help manage care, administer medications for co-morbid conditions, and support families in accessing rehabilitative services.

How to Approach the Question

First, understand the question's core concept, which is 'primary prevention'.
Define 'primary prevention' in your mind: actions taken to prevent the disease or condition from occurring at all.
Analyze each option against this definition.
Evaluate 'Early detection': This happens after the potential for disease exists, so it's not primary. It's secondary.
Evaluate 'Psychiatric treatment': This is for an established condition, so it's not primary. It's tertiary.
Evaluate 'Hormone replacement therapy': This is a treatment for a diagnosed condition, so it's not primary. It's secondary.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Guide to Mental Health & PSYCHIATRIC NURSING R Sreevani— Part 2 (pp 290-564 of 579) p. 40-42

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 321-323

Practise the full KPSC Staff Nurse - 2017

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