NEET-PG 2023 — Community Medicine
7 Previous Year Questions with Answers & Explanations
Which of the following reflects a key health initiative promoted by the Colombo Plan?
In a 10-year-old school child, which of the following vaccines is given as a part of the school immunization program?
A construction worker came to the OPD complaining of white fingers. He has been working in the cement and concrete industry and has been working on heavy machinery drills, wood, and furniture polishing for 20 years. What is the most likely etiology for this condition?
Which of the following is the sensitive indicator to assess the availability, utilization, and effectiveness of healthcare in a community?
What is the correct method for collecting water for bacteriological examination during a disease outbreak?
In a village, it is observed that several farmers have crossed gait and use a stick for support to stand up and walk. Due to poor yield from farms, they consume meals containing rice and pulses only. Supplementing their diet with which of the following vitamins could have prevented neurological symptoms associated with their condition?
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'Years of Potential Life Lost' (YPLL)?
NEET-PG 2023 - Community Medicine NEET-PG Practice Questions and MCQs
Question 1: Which of the following reflects a key health initiative promoted by the Colombo Plan?
- A. Promoting cobalt therapy initiatives for cancer treatment
- B. Strengthening human resources for healthcare (Correct Answer)
- C. Establishing treatment facilities for various diseases
- D. Support for diagnostic imaging technology in healthcare
Explanation: ***Strengthening human resources for healthcare*** - The Colombo Plan primarily focused on **technical cooperation** and **human resource development** in developing member countries - This included providing **fellowships** for training doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, and sending experts to assist in health education and infrastructure - The core mandate was **capacity building** through training and expertise, enabling countries to develop sustainable healthcare systems *Establishing treatment facilities for various diseases* - While improved health outcomes often lead to better facilities, the core mandate of the Colombo Plan was **capacity building** rather than direct construction or funding of treatment centers - The focus was on equipping local professionals to manage and develop their own health systems *Promoting cobalt therapy initiatives for cancer treatment* - While cancer treatment is crucial, cobalt therapy initiatives were not a primary or defining feature of the Colombo Plan's health strategy - The plan emphasized a broader approach to **healthcare infrastructure** and **human capital development** across multiple health domains *Support for diagnostic imaging technology in healthcare* - Support for specific technologies like diagnostic imaging was less prominent than the overarching goal of **human resource development** - The plan's emphasis was on foundational **training and expertise** across various health sectors rather than targeted equipment provision
Question 2: In a 10-year-old school child, which of the following vaccines is given as a part of the school immunization program?
- A. Measles vaccine
- B. Rotavirus vaccine
- C. TT/Td vaccine (Correct Answer)
- D. Hepatitis B vaccine
Explanation: ***TT/Td vaccine*** - The **tetanus toxoid (TT)** or **tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine** is commonly administered to school-aged children as a booster to maintain immunity against these diseases. - This is part of many national immunization programs, including those in schools, to ensure continued protection beyond early childhood vaccinations. *Measles vaccine* - The **measles vaccine (MMR)** is typically given at 9-12 months and a second dose around 4-6 years of age, much earlier than 10 years. - While essential, it's usually completed before a child reaches the age of 10 for primary vaccination. *Rotavirus vaccine* - The **rotavirus vaccine** is administered to infants, usually before 6 months of age, to protect against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis. - It is not part of school immunization programs for 10-year-olds. *Hepatitis B vaccine* - The **Hepatitis B vaccine** is typically given at birth and completed during infancy, with a series of doses before 1 year of age. - While crucial for early protection, it is not a routine vaccination for 10-year-olds within a school immunization program unless for catch-up reasons.
Question 3: A construction worker came to the OPD complaining of white fingers. He has been working in the cement and concrete industry and has been working on heavy machinery drills, wood, and furniture polishing for 20 years. What is the most likely etiology for this condition?
- A. Candidal infection of the fingers due to continuous exposure to water
- B. Exposure to thinners and paints
- C. Continuous exposure to cement and concrete
- D. Continuous exposure to drills and machines (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Continuous exposure to drills and machines*** - The use of **heavy machinery drills** subjects the hands to **vibration**, which is a well-known cause of **Raynaud's phenomenon**, presenting as "white fingers" due to **vasospasm**. - This condition, often referred to as **vibration white finger**, is a common occupational hazard for workers using vibratory tools over long periods. *Candidal infection of the fingers due to continuous exposure to water* - While prolonged exposure to moisture can cause **Candidal infections** (e.g., paronychia), this typically presents as **redness, swelling, and pain** around the nails or skin, not the characteristic "white fingers" of Raynaud's. - White fingers due to candidiasis are not a primary manifestation and lack the **vasospastic component** seen with vibration exposure. *Exposure to thinners and paints* - Exposure to chemicals like **thinners and paints** can cause **irritant or allergic contact dermatitis**, leading to redness, itching, and skin lesions. - However, direct exposure to these substances is not typically associated with the sudden, episodic **blanching of fingers** characteristic of Raynaud's phenomenon. *Continuous exposure to cement and concrete* - **Cement and concrete** exposure often leads to **irritant or allergic contact dermatitis** due to the alkaline nature of cement, causing dryness, cracking, and eczema. - This type of exposure does not directly cause the **vasospastic episodes** that result in "white fingers."
Question 4: Which of the following is the sensitive indicator to assess the availability, utilization, and effectiveness of healthcare in a community?
- A. Infant mortality rate (Correct Answer)
- B. Maternal mortality rate
- C. Immunization coverage
- D. Disability-adjusted life years
Explanation: ***Infant mortality rate*** - The **infant mortality rate (IMR)** is widely considered a sensitive indicator of a community's health status, including access to and quality of healthcare, nutrition, and environmental conditions. - A high IMR often reflects inadequate maternal and child health services, poor sanitation, and socioeconomic disparities within a population. *Maternal mortality rate* - While a critical indicator of the health system's ability to provide safe pregnancy and childbirth services, the **maternal mortality rate (MMR)** specifically reflects women's health during gestation and postpartum. - It does not encompass the broader spectrum of health determinants that affect infants, such as postnatal care, nutrition, and infectious disease control, as comprehensively as IMR. *Immunization coverage* - **Immunization coverage** is an excellent indicator of the reach and effectiveness of preventive health services for infectious diseases. - However, it is a specific measure of program implementation, not a comprehensive indicator of overall healthcare availability, utilization, or effectiveness across all health domains. *Disability-adjusted life years* - **Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)** measure the total healthy life years lost due to premature mortality and disability from specific diseases and injuries. - While a valuable concept for burden of disease analysis, DALYs are a complex measure of population health outcome, rather than a direct and sensitive indicator of the operational aspects of healthcare like availability and utilization.
Question 5: What is the correct method for collecting water for bacteriological examination during a disease outbreak?
- A. Collect water from already leaking taps
- B. Collect water from a tap after letting it flow for at least 1 minute to ensure freshness (Correct Answer)
- C. Collect from a gentle stream of water to avoid splashing
- D. Before collecting, let water flow for at least 1 minute
Explanation: ***Correct: Collect water from a tap after letting it flow for at least 1 minute to ensure freshness*** - This is the **standard protocol** for bacteriological water sampling as per WHO and APHA guidelines - Flushing for **at least 1 minute** removes stagnant water from pipes and tap fixtures that may contain biofilms or non-representative bacterial contamination - This ensures the sample represents the **actual water supply** rather than water sitting in pipes - The complete statement includes both the flushing step AND the collection, making it a **complete procedure** *Incorrect: Collect water from already leaking taps* - Leaking taps contain **stagnant water** with biofilm accumulation that is not representative of the main water supply - Continuous dripping allows **external contamination** from air and surrounding surfaces - Does not follow standard water sampling protocols *Incorrect: Collect from a gentle stream of water to avoid splashing* - While avoiding splashing is important to prevent external contamination, this option **omits the critical flushing step** - Without prior flushing, the sample may contain bacteria from **stagnant water in pipes** rather than the actual supply - Incomplete methodology *Incorrect: Before collecting, let water flow for at least 1 minute* - While this describes the flushing step correctly, it is **incomplete as a method** - It states "before collecting" but doesn't describe the actual collection process - The question asks for the "correct method" which should include the complete procedure, not just a preparatory step
Question 6: In a village, it is observed that several farmers have crossed gait and use a stick for support to stand up and walk. Due to poor yield from farms, they consume meals containing rice and pulses only. Supplementing their diet with which of the following vitamins could have prevented neurological symptoms associated with their condition?
- A. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) (Correct Answer)
- B. Vitamin A
- C. Vitamin D
- D. Vitamin C
Explanation: ***Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)*** - The symptoms described, such as **crossed gait** (ataxia) and difficulty standing and walking, are classic signs of **neurological dysfunction**. A diet primarily of **rice and pulses** is often deficient in thiamine, especially in regions where polished rice is a staple. - Deficiency in thiamine leads to **beriberi**, which can manifest as **dry beriberi** (neurological symptoms) or **wet beriberi** (cardiovascular symptoms). *Vitamin A* - Deficiency primarily affects **vision** (e.g., **night blindness**, xerophthalmia) and **immune function**, not gait or neurological coordination in this manner. - While essential for health, its deficiency does not typically present with the described neurological signs. *Vitamin D* - Deficiency primarily affects **bone health**, leading to conditions like **rickets in children** and **osteomalacia in adults**, causing bone pain and muscle weakness, but not typically a crossed gait. - It plays a role in calcium and phosphate metabolism, essential for bone mineralization. *Vitamin C* - Deficiency causes **scurvy**, characterized by **gingival bleeding**, **poor wound healing**, and **petechiae**, due to impaired collagen synthesis. - It does not directly cause the neurological symptoms or gait abnormalities described in the scenario.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'Years of Potential Life Lost' (YPLL)?
- A. Years lost due to illness or morbidity
- B. Years lost due to premature mortality (Correct Answer)
- C. Years lost due to disability
- D. Years lost due to poor health quality
Explanation: ***Correct Answer: Years lost due to premature mortality*** - **Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL)** is a measure of premature mortality, calculated by subtracting the age at death from a predetermined standard age (e.g., 75 or 65 years) - It quantifies the **societal and economic impact** of deaths occurring before a statistically expected lifespan, giving more weight to deaths at younger ages - YPLL emphasizes the burden of **early deaths** on society, making it particularly useful for prioritizing public health interventions *Incorrect: Years lost due to illness or morbidity* - This concept describes the **burden of living with illness**, not necessarily dying prematurely - While related to health outcomes, it is distinct from YPLL, which specifically focuses on the impact of **death** *Incorrect: Years lost due to disability* - This is a component of **Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)**, specifically the **Years Lived with Disability (YLD)** component - It does not directly account for **mortality**, but rather the impact of non-fatal health outcomes - YLD measures the burden of living with health conditions, not years lost to premature death *Incorrect: Years lost due to poor health quality* - This is a broad term that can encompass various aspects of health - While related to the overall societal health burden, it is not a specific, standardized metric like YPLL - YPLL has a precise definition and calculation method focused exclusively on **premature death**