UPSC-CMS 2012 - Community Medicine PYQs Practice Questions

Q: Consider the following statements : HIV can be transmitted to a healthcare worker from a patient through : 1. A needle stick injury 2. Contact with the patient's blood 3. External examination of the patient 4. Inhalation Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 and 2 only. ***1 and 2 only*** - **Needle stick injuries** pose a significant risk as they involve direct inoculation of infected blood into the healthcare worker's bloodstream. - **Contact with a patient's blood** can lead to transmission if there are cuts, abrasions, or mucous membrane exposures on the healthcare worker. *2 and 3 only* - **Contact with a patient's blood** is a known transmission route, but **external examination** alone, without blood contact or needle stick, typically carries no risk of HIV transmission. - HIV is not transmitted through casual contact or touch during an examination. *1 and 4* - **Needle stick injuries** are a recognized transmission route, but **inhalation** is not a mechanism for HIV transmission. - HIV is not an airborne virus and does not spread like respiratory illnesses. *1, 2 and 3* - While **needle stick injuries** and **contact with blood** are clear transmission pathways, **external examination** of a patient, in the absence of blood contact or needle stick injuries, does not transmit HIV. - HIV transmission requires specific fluid exchange (blood, semen, vaginal fluids, breast milk) entering the bloodstream or mucous membranes. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: A Health Assistant (Male) covers a population of

30,000. ***Correct Answer: 30,000*** - A Health Assistant (Male), also known as a **Multi-Purpose Worker (Male) [MPW(M)]**, is responsible for a population of **30,000** in a rural plain area. - Their duties include assisting with family planning, maternal and child health, immunization, and communicable disease control programs. - This is the standard population norm as per **Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS)**. *Incorrect Option: 1,000* - A population of **1,000** is typically covered by an **Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)**, who operates at the village level. - ASHAs are community health workers primarily focused on mobilizing the community for health services and providing basic health education. - This represents a much smaller coverage area than Health Assistant (Male). *Incorrect Option: 5,000* - A **Sub-Centre**, the most peripheral and first contact point between the primary health care system and the community, covers a population of **5,000 in plain areas** and **3,000 in hilly/tribal areas**. - Sub-Centre is staffed by one ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) and one Male Health Worker. - This is the coverage for a health facility, not specifically for Health Assistant (Male). *Incorrect Option: 1,00,000* - A **Community Health Centre (CHC)** serves as a referral unit for **4-5 Primary Health Centres** and covers a population of **80,000 to 1.2 lakh** in plain areas. - CHCs provide specialist services like obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, pediatrics, and emergency services. - This represents the coverage of a referral-level health facility, much larger than Health Assistant (Male) coverage. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: Case Fatality Rate of a disease is a measure of its

Virulence. ***Virulence*** - **Case fatality rate (CFR)** is defined as the proportion of persons with a disease who **die from that disease**. - It directly reflects the **severity** or **lethality** of a disease among those infected. - A higher CFR indicates that the disease is more **virulent**, causing a greater proportion of infected individuals to die. - CFR is the standard epidemiological measure of **virulence**. *Chronicity* - **Chronicity** refers to the **duration** of a disease, indicating whether it is long-lasting or recurrent. - It does not directly measure the disease's ability to cause death among those infected. *Endemicity* - **Endemicity** describes the **constant presence** and/or usual prevalence of a disease in a geographic area or population. - This term relates to the typical occurrence pattern, not the deadliness of the disease. *Infectivity* - **Infectivity** is the ability of an organism to **cause infection** in a susceptible host. - It measures how easily an agent can spread and establish itself, not its capacity to cause severe disease or death. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: The incubation period of mumps is

2-3 weeks. ***2-3 weeks*** - The incubation period for **mumps** is typically 16 to 18 days, with a range of 12 to 25 days, which falls within the 2-3 week timeframe. - This period is the time from exposure to the mumps virus until the onset of symptoms, such as **parotitis**. *4-5 weeks* - An incubation period of 4-5 weeks is longer than the typical range for mumps, suggesting a different viral infection. - This duration is more characteristic of diseases like **hepatitis B** rather than mumps. *1-2 weeks* - An incubation period of 1-2 weeks is shorter than the typical range for mumps. - This timeframe is more commonly associated with various **respiratory viruses** or **influenza**. *3-4 weeks* - While 3-4 weeks (21-28 days) can include the upper end of the mumps incubation period, it is not the most common or typical duration. - The average incubation is closer to **2.5 weeks**, making 2-3 weeks the more accurate general range. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: Which of the following specialists is mandatory at a Community Health Centre as per IPHS guidelines?

Paediatrics. ***Paediatrics*** - As per **Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS)** guidelines for Community Health Centres (CHCs), a **Paediatrician** is one of the **four mandatory specialists** required at CHCs. - The four mandatory specialists at CHC level are: **Surgeon, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Physician (General Medicine), and Paediatrician**. - This ensures comprehensive healthcare coverage for the community, including essential pediatric services. *Surgery* - A **Surgeon (General Surgery)** is actually **mandatory** at CHC level as per IPHS guidelines. - This is one of the four required specialist positions at CHCs. - However, in the context of this question (UPSC-CMS 2012), Paediatrics may have been the expected answer among the given options. *Obstetrics and Gynaecology* - An **Obstetrician/Gynecologist** is also **mandatory** at CHC level as per IPHS guidelines. - This specialist is essential for maternal and reproductive health services. - Like Surgery, this is one of the four required specialists at CHCs. *Dermatology and Venereology* - A **Dermatologist/Venereologist** is **not mandatory** as per IPHS guidelines for CHCs. - Dermatology services are typically available at district hospitals or on referral basis. - This is the only option among the four that is not a mandatory specialist position at CHC level. [Practice more Community Medicine PYQs on OnCourse]

Question 1

Consider the following statements : HIV can be transmitted to a healthcare worker from a patient through :

1. A needle stick injury
2. Contact with the patient's blood
3. External examination of the patient
4. Inhalation
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Accepted Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 4

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 2

A Health Assistant (Male) covers a population of

Accepted Answer

30,000

Answer

1,000

Answer

5,000

Answer

1,00,000

Question 3

Case Fatality Rate of a disease is a measure of its

Accepted Answer

Virulence

Answer

Chronicity

Answer

Endemicity

Answer

Infectivity

Question 4

The incubation period of mumps is

Accepted Answer

2-3 weeks

Answer

4-5 weeks

Answer

1-2 weeks

Answer

3-4 weeks

Question 5

Which of the following specialists is mandatory at a Community Health Centre as per IPHS guidelines?

Accepted Answer

Paediatrics

Answer

Surgery

Answer

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Answer

Dermatology and Venereology

Question 6

In a normal curve, how much per cent of the values will be included in the area between two standard deviations on either side of the mean (X ± 2σ) ?

Accepted Answer

95.4

Answer

68.3

Answer

90.4

Answer

99.7

Question 7

The ability of a test to identify correctly those who do not have the disease is called its

Accepted Answer

Specificity

Answer

Sensitivity

Answer

Positive predictive value

Answer

Negative predictive value

Question 8

The Relative Risk of a disease measures the

Accepted Answer

Strength of association between suspected cause and effect

Answer

Biological plausibility between suspected cause and effect

Answer

Temporal relationship between suspected cause and effect

Answer

Specificity of association between suspected cause and effect

Question 9

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

Accepted Answer

A→4  B→2  C→1  D→3

Answer

A→4  B→3  C→2  D→1

Answer

A→4  B→2  C→3  D→1

Answer

A→1  B→2  C→3  D→4

Question 10

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:

Accepted Answer

A→3  B→2  C→1  D→4

Answer

A→1  B→2  C→4  D→3

Answer

A→3  B→2  C→4  D→1

Answer

A→2  B→1  C→3  D→4

UPSC-CMS 2012 — Community Medicine