Which of the following is not one of the objectives of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram?

MP NHM CHO-2024 (Shift-1)

Community Health Nursing

Hard

Appeared in: MP NHM CHO-2024 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) aims to promote and enhance the mental health of adolescents, not just 'affect' it.
In public health policy, objectives are stated with precise, positive action verbs like 'improve', 'enhance', 'prevent', or 'reduce'.
The term 'affect' is too vague and neutral; it does not convey the specific, positive goal of the program's mental health component.
Therefore, 'affect mental health' is not a correctly stated objective of the RKSK program.

Option A: This is a core objective of RKSK. The program includes the Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) program specifically to combat high rates of anemia in adolescents.
Option B: This is a primary focus of RKSK. The program establishes Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs) to provide counseling and services for sexual and reproductive health issues.
Option D: This is a stated objective of the RKSK. The program aims to address injuries and violence, including gender-based violence, through education and creating safer environments.

Visual 1: Infographic - A circular diagram showing the six thematic areas of RKSK: Nutrition, Sexual & Reproductive Health, Mental Health, Injuries & Violence, Substance Misuse, and Non-Communicable Diseases. This helps in memorizing all the components of the program.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Objectives of Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in implementing RKSK at the community level, particularly in Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics (AFHCs), schools, and during Village Health Nutrition Days (VHNDs). They are responsible for screening, counseling, providing supplements, and referring adolescents as needed.
Understanding the specific objectives helps nurses to focus their interventions and health education sessions on the six key areas, ensuring comprehensive care for adolescents.
What if? If the question asked about the RMNCH+A strategy, the answer would be different. RKSK represents the 'A' (Adolescent) component of the broader RMNCH+A (Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health) strategy, which links adolescent health to the entire continuum of care.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the negative keyword 'not' in the question stem. This means you are looking for the option that is an exception or is incorrectly stated.
Recall or look up the main objectives of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK). The program has six key thematic areas.
Evaluate each option against the known objectives of RKSK.
Option A (Nutrition), B (Sexual/Reproductive Health), and D (Injuries/Violence) are all explicitly stated goals of the program.
Analyze Option C ('Affect mental health'). Pay close attention to the verb 'affect'. Compare it to the standard language used in health policies, which typically uses positive action words like 'improve', 'promote', or 'enhance'.
Conclude that 'affect' is too ambiguous and does not accurately represent the program's goal of promoting mental health, making it the correct answer for this negatively framed question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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