Health, Hygiene and Personal Well-being
Health, Hygiene and Personal Well-being tests the WHO definition of health, everyday prevention habits, and correct first responses to common illness.
Core ideas
- WHO (1948): health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease.
- Handwashing: soap and water for about 20 seconds, covering palms, backs, between fingers and nails - before eating or cooking and after using the toilet.
- Balanced diet: energy-giving, body-building and protective foods; millets add fibre and micronutrients; adolescent girls need iron-rich food to prevent anaemia.
- Prevention: immunisation on schedule, safe drinking water, no stagnant water around the home (Aedes aegypti, the dengue mosquito, breeds in clean still water and bites by day).
- Diarrhoea: oral rehydration solution plus zinc; continue feeding.
- Tuberculosis: complete the full DOTS course even after feeling well, or resistance develops.
- Adolescent well-being includes 8–9 hours of sleep, limits on screen time, and refusing tobacco, alcohol and other substances.
Worked example
In the monsoon a student has high fever, severe body ache and a rash. Reasoning: these fit dengue, so do not self-medicate with aspirin or ibuprofen, which raise bleeding risk; drink fluids, use paracetamol only as advised, and see a doctor for monitoring. At home, empty water from coolers, pots and tyres every week.
Traps that cost marks
- Taking antibiotics for a viral cold - they act on bacteria only and build resistance.
- Stopping a TB course early once symptoms fade.
- Defining health as "not being ill", which ignores mental and social well-being.
- Making ORS too concentrated; follow the packet ratio exactly.