Family and Community Health
What this domain tests
This domain tests how family and community conditions affect nutritional health, how malnutrition is recognised, and how community programmes prevent disease. Expect questions on malnutrition forms, sanitation, immunisation and health education.
Core rules and concepts
- The family is the basic health unit. Health is influenced by income, education, housing, water, sanitation, food availability, culture and access to health services.
- Undernutrition includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight and micronutrient deficiencies. Marasmus is severe wasting without oedema; kwashiorkor has oedema, often with a swollen belly, skin and hair changes.
- Overnutrition and obesity raise the risk of diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. A person can be obese and still lack iron or vitamin A.
- Community health actions include safe water and latrines, handwashing, food hygiene, growth monitoring, immunisation, antenatal care, breastfeeding support, deworming, iodised salt and nutrition education.
- School feeding and community gardens improve diet quality and attendance when they are well managed and use local foods.
Worked example
A village reports many swollen necks, especially among children. Explain the likely problem and a community response. Reasoning: goitre is linked to iodine deficiency. The response should include using iodised salt, health education, screening and referral, and checking whether salt is stored and used correctly. Iodine is needed for thyroid hormones and growth. The answer should not blame “bad water” alone or recommend a single food as a cure. A sustained supply of iodised salt, not a one-off donation, is the key preventive measure.
Traps that cost marks
- Kwashiorkor oedema can mask low weight; do not call the swelling “fat”.
- Marasmus and kwashiorkor are both severe acute malnutrition but have different signs.
- Breastfeeding is a public health measure, not only a private family choice.
- Obesity does not rule out micronutrient deficiency.
- Community programmes need local participation and reliable supplies, not just one-off health talks.