Within how much population is a primary health center established?

HP CHO -9 October 2022

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: HP CHO -9 October 2022

Explanation

A Primary Health Centre (PHC) is established to cover a population ranging from 20,000 in hilly/tribal/difficult areas to 30,000 in plain areas.
This range directly corresponds to the provided option of 20,000-30,000.
PHCs serve as the first point of contact between the community and a medical officer and act as a referral unit for several Sub-Centres.

Option A: This population range (3,000-5,000) is the norm for establishing a Sub-Centre, which is a lower-level facility than a PHC.
Option C: While this range includes the 30,000 norm for plain areas, it incorrectly sets the lower limit. The actual lower limit for a PHC in difficult areas is 20,000, making the 20,000-30,000 range more accurate and comprehensive.
Option D: This population size (2-3 lakhs or 200,000-300,000) is significantly larger than the norm for a PHC. A population of 1,20,000 in plain areas is served by a Community Health Centre (CHC), a higher-level facility.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Population norms for Primary Health Centre (PHC) establishment in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding population norms is crucial for community health nurses and public health professionals for planning, resource allocation, and implementing health programs effectively.
These norms, as defined by the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), aim to ensure equitable access to primary healthcare services across different geographical terrains in India.
What if? If a PHC in a plain area is found to be serving a population of 60,000, it indicates an overburdened facility. The nursing and public health priority would be to advocate for the establishment of a new PHC or the upgrading of existing Sub-Centres to effectively manage the population load and ensure quality of care.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is 'Primary Health Centre' and 'population'.
Recall the structure of the public health system in India, which includes Sub-Centres, PHCs, and CHCs.
Access your knowledge about the specific population norms for each level. Remember that there are different norms for 'plain' areas and 'hilly/tribal' areas.
The norm for a PHC is 30,000 in plain areas and 20,000 in hilly/tribal areas. This gives a range of 20,000-30,000.
Compare this recalled range with the given options to find the correct match.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Population norms for Primary Health Centre (PHC) establishment in India.
Stem keywords: primary health center, population
Lead-in keywords: how much
Negative lead-in flag: false

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