Rural Health — MCQs
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Swajaldhara yojana is to provide -
Health guide works at the level of
Village health guide scheme was started in -
The components included in Pareek's method of socio-economic classification for rural areas include the following EXCEPT:
Which principle primarily led to the shift in emphasis from urban to rural health services?
In which year was the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) launched?
A problem village is all of the following except:
National target of one village health guide is for population of:
Population covered by PHC in a tribal area:
As per RCH, the community health centre is a:
Rural Health Indian Medical PG Practice Questions and MCQs
Question 31: Swajaldhara yojana is to provide -
- A. Pension
- B. Nutrition
- C. Sickness Benefits
- D. Water (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Water*** - The **Swajaldhara Yojana** is a **community-led initiative** launched by the Indian government to provide **safe drinking water** in rural areas. - It emphasizes **decentralized, demand-driven, and community-managed water supply systems**, promoting local ownership and sustainability. *Pension* - Schemes related to **pension** provision are generally managed under different government programs, such as the National Pension System or specific social security schemes for the elderly. - These programs focus on providing **financial security** during retirement, which is distinct from water supply. *Nutrition* - Government programs focused on **nutrition** often include initiatives like the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) or Mid-Day Meal Scheme. - These programs aim to address **malnutrition** and food security, which is not the primary objective of Swajaldhara Yojana. *Sickness Benefits* - **Sickness benefits** are typically provided through social security schemes or health insurance programs, such as the Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESIS). - These benefits aim to provide **financial support** during periods of illness, which is unrelated to rural water supply.
Question 32: Health guide works at the level of
- A. CHC
- B. Sub-centre
- C. PHC
- D. Village (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***Village*** - Health guides are **community-level health workers** who serve as a crucial link between health services and the rural population. - Their primary role is to provide **basic health education** and facilitate access to healthcare at the local, village level. *CHC* - **Community Health Centers** (CHCs) serve a larger population (80,000 to 1.2 lakh people) and offer specialized services including surgery, obstetrics, and pediatrics. - They are typically managed by a team of doctors and specialists, placing them at a higher tier than the village level. *Sub-centre* - **Sub-centres** are the most peripheral and first contact point between the primary healthcare system and the community, usually catering to a population of 3,000-5,000. - They are staffed by a Female Health Worker (ANM) and a Male Health Worker, and while they are close to villages, the health guide operates directly within the village. *PHC* - **Primary Health Centres** (PHCs) serve a larger area, typically covering 20,000-30,000 people, and manage 4-6 sub-centres. - They provide general medical care, maternal and child health services, and disease control programs, representing a higher administrative and service point than the village level.
Question 33: Village health guide scheme was started in -
- A. 1974
- B. 1977 (Correct Answer)
- C. 1989
- D. 1986
Explanation: ***1977*** - The **Village Health Guide (VHG) scheme** was launched in **1977** as a key component of India's rural health strategy. - This initiative aimed to provide basic healthcare services and health education at the community level. *1974* - While 1974 was a period of health policy discussions in India, the VHG scheme was **not formally implemented** in this year. - Significant health programs were being conceptualized, but the VHG scheme came into effect later. *1989* - By 1989, the VHG scheme was already well-established; this year does not mark its **initiation**. - This period saw ongoing evaluations and modifications to various primary healthcare programs. *1986* - The year **1986** is not associated with the inception of the VHG scheme. - This period was marked by the launch of other health initiatives such as the **Universal Immunization Program**.
Question 34: The components included in Pareek's method of socio-economic classification for rural areas include the following EXCEPT:
- A. Income (Correct Answer)
- B. Education
- C. Caste
- D. Occupation
Explanation: ***Income*** - Pareek's socio-economic classification for rural areas (1965) focuses on non-monetary and tangible indicators of socio-economic status. - **Income is NOT included** in Pareek's scale as it is difficult to measure accurately in rural settings and subject to seasonal variations. - This makes Income the correct answer for this EXCEPT question. *Education* - **Education** is a key component in Pareek's scale, reflecting an individual's knowledge, skills, and potential for social mobility. - Higher educational attainment generally correlates with better socio-economic standing in rural settings. *Caste* - **Caste** is included in Pareek's classification as a significant social stratification indicator in rural India. - It reflects social hierarchy, access to resources, and traditional occupational patterns. *Occupation* - **Occupation** is a significant factor in Pareek's scale, indicating the type of work performed and its associated prestige and stability. - Different occupations in rural areas (e.g., landowning farmer vs. daily wage laborer) contribute differently to socio-economic status.
Question 35: Which principle primarily led to the shift in emphasis from urban to rural health services?
- A. Intersectoral coordination
- B. Decentralized planning
- C. Equitable distribution (Correct Answer)
- D. Community participation
Explanation: ***Equitable distribution*** - This principle emphasizes that health services should be accessible to all, regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status, leading to a focus on underserved rural areas. - The goal is to reduce health disparities between urban and rural populations by allocating resources where they are most needed. *Decentralized planning* - This principle involves shifting decision-making power from central authorities to local levels, which can lead to better responsiveness to local needs but does not inherently mandate a shift towards rural services. - While decentralization can facilitate rural health development, it is a mechanism rather than the primary driving principle for equitable distribution. *Intersectoral coordination* - This involves collaboration between the health sector and other sectors (e.g., education, agriculture) to address health determinants. While important for rural health, it's a strategy for improving health outcomes rather than the core principle for shifting resource allocation. - It focuses on a holistic approach to health, but not specifically on the relocation of services from urban to rural settings. *Community participation* - This principle involves engaging communities in planning and implementing health programs, which is vital for the sustainability and relevance of rural health services. - While essential for effective rural health initiatives, community participation is a method of delivery and engagement rather than the fundamental principle guiding the reorientation of services towards rural areas.
Question 36: In which year was the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) launched?
- A. 2002
- B. 2006
- C. 2011
- D. 2005 (Correct Answer)
Explanation: ***2005*** - The **National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)** was launched on **April 12, 2005**, by the then Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh. - Its primary goal was to provide accessible, affordable, and accountable quality health services to the rural population of India. *2002* - The year **2002** is associated with the National Health Policy of India, not the launch of NRHM. - The National Health Policy aimed to achieve an acceptable standard of good health amongst the general population of the country. *2006* - While significant work under NRHM was underway in **2006**, it was not the year of its inception. - This period marked an expansion phase of the mission, with increased focus on implementation and infrastructure development. *2011* - In **2011**, NRHM was in its sixth year of implementation, focusing on strengthening its initiatives, particularly in high-focus states. - The mission was later subsumed under the **National Health Mission (NHM)** in **2013**, which also included the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).
Question 37: A problem village is all of the following except:
- A. Water is more than 15m in depth
- B. Risk of Guinea worm infection (Correct Answer)
- C. There is excess of Na salts
- D. Where no water source is within a distance of 1.6 km from the community
Explanation: ***Risk of Guinea worm infection*** - A "problem village" is defined by **challenges in accessing safe and adequate drinking water**, not by the presence of a specific waterborne disease like Guinea worm infection. - While Guinea worm infection is associated with unsafe water, its presence is a consequence of existing problems rather than a defining criterion for a problem village in the context of water accessibility and quality. *Water is more than 15m in depth* - This is considered a problem because obtaining water from such **deep sources often requires significant labor or technology**, making access difficult for communities. - Excessive depth can also increase the **cost of drilling and maintaining wells**, posing an economic barrier to water access. *There is excess of Na salts* - The presence of excess **sodium salts (salinity)** in water makes it unsuitable for drinking and other domestic uses, thereby classifying it as a problematic water source. - High salinity can pose **health risks** and necessitate costly treatment processes or alternative sources, defining a problem village. *Where no water source is within a distance of 1.6 km from the community* - A community having to **travel more than 1.6 km (1 mile) to access a water source** is a key indicator of a problem village due to the significant time and effort expended. - This lack of proximity to a water source **hinders daily life and development**, and is a standard criterion for defining inadequate water access.
Question 38: National target of one village health guide is for population of:
- A. 50000
- B. 1000 (Correct Answer)
- C. 10000
- D. 5000
Explanation: ***1000*** - The **National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)** aims to provide healthcare services in rural areas, with one **Village Health Guide (VHG)** or **Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)** typically serving a population of **1000** people. - This ensures that primary healthcare information, basic medical aid, and referrals are accessible at the grassroots level for every **thousand individuals**. *50000* - A population of **50,000** is typically served by a **Community Health Center (CHC)**, which provides a higher level of care, including specialists and inpatient facilities. - This number is too large for a single Village Health Guide to effectively cover with primary healthcare services. *10000* - A **Primary Health Center (PHC)** generally serves a population of around **30,000** in plain areas and **20,000** in hilly, tribal, or difficult areas. - While this is a common unit for healthcare planning, it is not the target population for an individual Village Health Guide. *5000* - A population of **5,000** is typically served by a **Sub-Centre (SC)**, which is the most peripheral and first contact point between the primary healthcare system and the community. - While it's a critical unit in rural health, the individual VHG/ASHA is assigned to a smaller unit of 1000 people within this structure.
Question 39: Population covered by PHC in a tribal area:
- A. 20,000 (Correct Answer)
- B. 50,000
- C. 40,000
- D. 30,000
Explanation: ***20,000*** - In tribal, hilly, or difficult terrain areas, one **Primary Health Centre (PHC)** is established for every **20,000** people. - This reduced population coverage ensures better accessibility in challenging geographic areas with dispersed populations. - The question specifically asks for **tribal area**, making this the correct answer. *30,000* - In plains areas, a PHC typically covers a population of **30,000**. - This is the standard for areas with better connectivity and accessibility. - Not applicable for tribal areas. *50,000* - A population of 50,000 is typically covered by a **Community Health Centre (CHC)**, not a PHC, in plains areas. - CHCs offer a higher level of care, including specialist services. *40,000* - This figure does not correspond to the standard population coverage for a PHC in either plain or tribal areas. - It is neither the plains standard (30,000) nor the tribal/hilly standard (20,000).
Question 40: As per RCH, the community health centre is a:
- A. Secondary referral unit
- B. Tertiary referral unit
- C. First referral unit (Correct Answer)
- D. Not a referral unit
Explanation: ***First referral unit*** - As per **Reproductive and Child Health (RCH)** program and **Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS)**, a **Community Health Centre (CHC)** is officially designated as a **First Referral Unit (FRU)**. - It serves as the first point of referral for patients requiring specialist care from Primary Health Centres (PHCs). - CHCs provide **secondary-level care** with 4 specialist doctors (surgeon, obstetrician, physician, and pediatrician) and 30 indoor beds. - This is the **standard terminology** used in Indian public health system and NEET PG examinations. *Secondary referral unit* - While CHCs do provide secondary-level care in terms of service complexity, the official designation is **"First Referral Unit"** not "secondary referral unit." - The term "secondary" describes the level of care, but "First Referral Unit" describes its position in the referral chain. - Using imprecise terminology can cause confusion in competitive examinations. *Tertiary referral unit* - **Tertiary referral units** are district hospitals, medical colleges, and super-specialty hospitals that provide highly specialized care. - These facilities handle complex cases referred from CHCs. - CHCs do not provide tertiary-level super-specialized care. *Not a referral unit* - CHCs are explicitly designed as part of the referral system in India's three-tier healthcare structure. - They accept referrals from PHCs and sub-centers, and refer complex cases to tertiary facilities. - This option contradicts the fundamental function of CHCs in the healthcare delivery system.
Practice by Chapter
Rural Health Infrastructure
Practice Questions
Primary Health Care System
Practice Questions
Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee
Practice Questions
ASHA and Community Health Workers
Practice Questions
Rural Health Mission
Practice Questions
Rural Disease Patterns
Practice Questions
Rural Water Supply and Sanitation
Practice Questions
Rural Health Challenges
Practice Questions
Panchayati Raj in Health
Practice Questions
Rural Healthcare Access
Practice Questions
Referral System
Practice Questions
Healthcare Innovations for Rural Areas
Practice Questions
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