What is the population covered by one common practice in hilly areas?

DSSSB 6 September 2024

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: DSSSB 6 September 2024

Explanation

80,000, which is the standard population norm for a Community Health Centre (CHC) in hilly, tribal, or difficult-to-access areas.
According to Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), CHCs are secondary-level referral centers designed to serve a larger population block than Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
The lower population norm for hilly areas (compared to 1,20,000 in plain areas) accounts for sparse population distribution and geographical challenges, ensuring better accessibility to specialized care.

Option A: This is the population norm for a Community Health Centre (CHC) in plain areas, not hilly areas.
Option C: This is the population norm for a Primary Health Centre (PHC), a lower-tier facility, in hilly areas. A CHC is a higher-level facility covering a larger population.
Option D: This figure does not correspond to any standard population norm for Sub-Centres, PHCs, or CHCs 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 rural health centers in India as per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding these population norms is crucial for public health nurses and administrators for effective planning, resource allocation, and management of healthcare services.
These norms ensure equitable distribution of health infrastructure, making sure that even sparsely populated and difficult-to-reach areas have access to essential and specialized medical care.
What if the question asked for the facility covering a population of 3,000 in a tribal area? In that case, the correct answer would be a Sub-Centre (SC), which is the most peripheral health unit.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrases in the question: 'population covered' and 'hilly areas'.
Recognize that 'common practice' in the context of public health in India refers to a standardized healthcare facility like a Sub-Centre, PHC, or CHC.
Recall the three-tier rural health system and the specific population norms for each tier.
Pay close attention to the distinction between norms for 'plain' areas and 'hilly/tribal' areas.
Evaluate the given options against the established norms. 80,000 matches the norm for a CHC in a hilly area, and 20,000 for a PHC in a hilly area.
Since CHC is a major 'common practice' and a higher referral unit, and 80,000 is a distinct option, select it as the most appropriate answer representing a significant health establishment.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Population norms for rural health centers in India as per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS).
Stem keywords: population covered, common practice, hilly areas
Lead-in keywords: What is

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