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WBBSE Madhyamik Vocational Health Care study materials
WBBSE Madhyamik Vocational Health Care study resources

WBBSE Madhyamik Vocational Health Care practice questions

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Question 1Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker finds an adult lying unresponsive on the floor of a village health centre. After confirming the scene is safe and there is no response, what is the correct first action according to basic life support principles?

  1. Give two rescue breaths immediately before doing anything else
  2. Call for help and check for normal breathing while preparing to start chest compressions Correct answer.
  3. Wait five minutes to see whether the person recovers on their own
  4. Sit the person upright and offer water

Explanation

In basic life support the sequence begins with safety, then checking responsiveness and normal breathing while help is summoned. Chest compressions should start promptly if breathing is absent or abnormal, because circulation must be supported without delay. Rescue breaths alone do not restore circulation.

Question 2Health Care (Vocational Subject)

Which vital sign is measured in beats per minute and is normally counted at the radial artery in an adult?

  1. Respiratory rate
  2. Blood pressure
  3. Pulse rate Correct answer.
  4. Body temperature

Explanation

Pulse rate records the number of heartbeats per minute and is commonly felt at the radial artery at the wrist. Respiratory rate counts breaths, blood pressure is recorded in millimetres of mercury, and temperature is measured in degrees. Each vital sign uses a different unit and site.

Question 3Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A patient with pulmonary tuberculosis is being counselled at a health centre. Which advice best reflects standard infection control for this disease?

  1. Sleep in the same closed room as infants without ventilation
  2. Stop taking medicines as soon as the fever subsides
  3. Share drinking glasses with family members to build immunity
  4. Cover the mouth and nose when coughing and take the full course of treatment Correct answer.

Explanation

Tuberculosis spreads through droplet nuclei released when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so cough etiquette reduces transmission. Completing the full prescribed course prevents relapse and the development of drug resistance. Good ventilation and separation from vulnerable people further reduce risk.

Question 4Health Care (Vocational Subject)

In the biomedical waste segregation system used in Indian health facilities, a used syringe needle after injection should be placed in which container?

  1. White translucent puncture-proof container Correct answer.
  2. Red bag for autoclaving
  3. Green bag for general waste
  4. Yellow bag for incineration

Explanation

Sharps such as needles, blades and broken glass are collected in white translucent puncture-proof sharps containers to prevent needle-stick injury. Yellow bags hold human anatomical and soiled waste for incineration, red bags hold recyclable contaminated plastics, and green bags hold general waste. Correct segregation protects waste handlers as well as staff.

Question 5Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A patient is advised to take a tablet after food. What is the main reason for giving a drug with or after a meal?

  1. To make the medicine act faster than an injection
  2. To allow the dose to be doubled safely
  3. To prevent the medicine from being absorbed at all
  4. To reduce gastric irritation and improve tolerance of the medicine Correct answer.

Explanation

Food buffers gastric acid and coats the stomach lining, which reduces irritation from drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Timing relative to meals also affects absorption for some medicines, which is why instructions must be followed. Giving a drug after food does not make it act like an injection or permit dose changes.

Question 6Health Care (Vocational Subject)

Which of the following is the correct way to lift a heavy patient from a bed to a trolley to protect the health worker's back?

  1. Keep feet together and twist the trunk while lifting
  2. Bend the knees, keep the back straight and hold the load close to the body Correct answer.
  3. Bend at the waist and lift with straight legs
  4. Lift with outstretched arms away from the body

Explanation

Safe lifting uses the strong muscles of the legs, keeps the spine in a neutral position and holds the load close to reduce the lever effect on the lower back. Twisting while loaded and lifting with outstretched arms both increase spinal strain. Team lifting and mechanical aids should be used where available.

Question 7Health Care (Vocational Subject)

What is the correct first aid for a minor superficial burn with intact skin?

  1. Burst any blisters that appear
  2. Apply ice directly to the burnt area
  3. Apply toothpaste or oil to the burn
  4. Cool the area under clean running water for about twenty minutes Correct answer.

Explanation

Cooling with clean running water for around twenty minutes limits tissue damage and relieves pain in superficial burns. Ice, oils and toothpaste cause further injury or infection and delay healing. Blisters should be left intact as a natural dressing.

Question 8Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health care worker is about to give an injection. Which action best prevents transmission of blood-borne infections to the worker?

  1. Washing gloves with alcohol and reusing them for the next patient
  2. Carrying used needles in the pocket to a distant bin
  3. Recapping the needle with two hands after use
  4. Wearing gloves and disposing of the needle in a sharps container without recapping Correct answer.

Explanation

Gloves provide a barrier, and immediate disposal of the needle into a puncture-proof sharps container without recapping prevents needle-stick injuries. Recapping is the commonest cause of such injuries. Gloves are single-use items and must not be washed and reused.

Question 9Health Care (Vocational Subject)

Which anthropometric measurement is most commonly used to assess the nutritional status of a young child in a community health programme?

  1. Chest circumference
  2. Mid-upper arm circumference and weight-for-age Correct answer.
  3. Foot length
  4. Head circumference only

Explanation

Weight-for-age, height-for-age and mid-upper arm circumference are standard tools for detecting undernutrition and growth faltering in children. Mid-upper arm circumference is especially useful for rapid community screening for severe acute malnutrition. Chest circumference and foot length are not routine nutritional indices.

Question 10Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A woman in the third trimester of pregnancy reports swelling of the feet and a sudden severe headache with blurred vision. What should the health worker do?

  1. Refer her urgently for assessment of possible pre-eclampsia Correct answer.
  2. Give a painkiller and send her home
  3. Reassure her that headache is normal in pregnancy
  4. Advise her to reduce salt and return after one week

Explanation

Headache with visual disturbance and oedema in late pregnancy are warning signs of pre-eclampsia, which can progress to eclampsia and endanger mother and baby. Such danger signs require urgent referral rather than reassurance or symptomatic treatment. Early detection of raised blood pressure and proteinuria is essential.

Question 11Health Care (Vocational Subject)

In a growth chart, a child's weight-for-age curve has been flat for three consecutive monthly visits. What does this most likely indicate?

  1. Normal growth variation that needs no action
  2. That the child should be given supplementary iron without review
  3. Growth faltering requiring assessment of feeding and illness Correct answer.
  4. An error in the weighing scale only

Explanation

A flattening weight curve means the child is not gaining weight as expected and signals growth faltering. The cause may be inadequate feeding, repeated infection or another illness, so a full assessment is needed. Growth charts are useful precisely because trends reveal problems earlier than a single measurement.

Question 12Health Care (Vocational Subject)

Which statement correctly describes the difference between disinfection and sterilisation?

  1. Both terms mean simply washing with soap and water
  2. Disinfection destroys all microorganisms including bacterial spores, while sterilisation removes only dust
  3. Disinfection is used only for surgical instruments and sterilisation only for floors
  4. Sterilisation destroys all microorganisms including spores, while disinfection reduces most pathogens but may not kill spores Correct answer.

Explanation

Sterilisation is a process that kills or removes all microorganisms, including bacterial spores, and is used for surgical instruments and other critical items. Disinfection reduces the number of pathogenic organisms on inanimate surfaces but does not reliably destroy spores. Cleaning with soap and water is a separate first step that removes organic matter.

Question 13Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A community health worker is recording a patient's blood pressure as 150/95 mm Hg. What does the second number represent?

  1. The pulse rate per minute
  2. The oxygen saturation of the blood
  3. The pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats Correct answer.
  4. The pressure during the heart's contraction

Explanation

The higher first number is the systolic pressure during ventricular contraction, and the lower second number is the diastolic pressure when the heart relaxes. A reading of 150/95 mm Hg is raised and needs confirmation and follow-up. Pulse rate and oxygen saturation are separate measurements.

Question 14Health Care (Vocational Subject)

Why is the first dose of a vaccine often given in infancy according to a fixed schedule?

  1. To reduce the cost of the vaccine
  2. Because older children cannot be vaccinated
  3. To ensure the child receives immunity before exposure to the disease and at an age when the immune response is adequate Correct answer.
  4. Because vaccines expire within one month of manufacture

Explanation

Immunisation schedules are timed so that protection develops before children are likely to meet the pathogen, and so that each dose builds on the previous immune response. Maternal antibodies and the maturity of the infant immune system also influence timing. Cost and expiry are not the reasons for the schedule.

Question 15Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A patient is unconscious but breathing normally and has no suspected spinal injury. Which position should be used while waiting for transport?

  1. Recovery position lying on the side Correct answer.
  2. Flat on the back with the head raised on two pillows
  3. Sitting upright in a chair
  4. Face down with the head turned away

Explanation

The recovery position keeps the airway open and allows vomit or secretions to drain out, reducing the risk of aspiration in an unconscious but breathing casualty. The head is tilted slightly back and the chin forward. A supine position risks the tongue falling back and blocking the airway.

Question 16Health Care (Vocational Subject)

Which of the following best explains why oral rehydration solution is preferred over plain water in a child with acute diarrhoea?

  1. Plain water contains more sodium than oral rehydration solution
  2. Oral rehydration solution stops all diarrhoea immediately
  3. Plain water is absorbed too quickly and causes constipation
  4. Oral rehydration solution contains glucose and electrolytes that promote water absorption and replace losses Correct answer.

Explanation

Glucose in oral rehydration solution enhances sodium and water absorption through the intestinal wall, while the salts replace electrolyte losses. Plain water lacks these solutes and can dilute body sodium if given alone in large amounts. Oral rehydration solution treats dehydration but does not stop the diarrhoea itself.

Question 17Health Care (Vocational Subject)

During a home visit, a health worker notices that a family stores drinking water in an open pot and uses a shared cup. What is the most appropriate advice?

  1. Store water in a covered container and use a long-handled ladle or tap Correct answer.
  2. Add sugar to the water to improve taste
  3. Keep the pot in sunlight to kill all germs
  4. Use the same cup for everyone to save water

Explanation

Covered storage and a ladle or tap prevent hands and cups from contaminating drinking water, which reduces diarrhoeal disease. Household water treatment and safe storage are core messages of community health education. Sunlight and sugar do not make water microbiologically safe.

Question 18Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker must move a patient who has a suspected fracture of the lower leg. What is the correct principle of first aid?

  1. Massage the injured area to reduce swelling
  2. Immobilise the limb in the position found and support it during transfer Correct answer.
  3. Ask the patient to walk to the vehicle
  4. Straighten the limb forcefully before moving

Explanation

A suspected fracture is immobilised in the position found, using splints and padding, before the casualty is moved. Attempting to straighten the limb or making the patient walk may worsen the injury and increase pain and bleeding. Massage is harmful in acute injury.

Question 19Health Care (Vocational Subject)

Which practice is essential before a health worker performs any invasive procedure on a patient?

  1. Skipping hand hygiene if the procedure is short
  2. Removing gloves to improve grip
  3. Hand hygiene and use of appropriate personal protective equipment Correct answer.
  4. Reusing a sterile pack opened the previous day

Explanation

Hand hygiene and correct personal protective equipment are the foundation of preventing health-care-associated infection during invasive procedures. Sterile packs must be used immediately after opening and discarded if compromised. Short procedures carry the same risk as long ones.

Question 20Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A patient with diabetes reports numbness and a small painless ulcer on the sole of the foot. Why is this finding important?

  1. It means the patient should walk barefoot more often
  2. It indicates that the patient no longer needs glucose monitoring
  3. Loss of protective sensation allows injuries to go unnoticed and progress to serious infection Correct answer.
  4. It shows that the diabetes has been cured

Explanation

Peripheral neuropathy reduces pain sensation, so minor injuries on the foot may be ignored and become infected or ulcerated. Regular foot inspection and protective footwear are essential parts of diabetes care. A painless ulcer is a warning sign, not evidence of recovery.

Question 21Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker is asked to record the temperature of a patient using a digital thermometer. Which action gives an accurate reading?

  1. Shake a digital thermometer down before use
  2. Read the display immediately after switching on
  3. Clean the probe, place it correctly and wait for the signal before reading Correct answer.
  4. Place the thermometer under the tongue after the patient has drunk hot tea

Explanation

A digital thermometer must be cleaned, positioned correctly and read only after it signals that the measurement is complete. Recent hot or cold drinks alter oral readings, so a short wait is advised. Digital thermometers do not require shaking down, unlike mercury types.

Question 22Health Care (Vocational Subject)

Which statement about the cold chain is correct for storing vaccines in a health sub-centre?

  1. Vaccines should be kept in the freezer compartment of a domestic refrigerator
  2. Most routine vaccines are stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius and protected from freezing Correct answer.
  3. Vaccines can be stored in direct sunlight if the container is closed
  4. The cold chain matters only during transport, not at the facility

Explanation

Most routine vaccines must be kept at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, and freeze-sensitive vaccines such as hepatitis B and DPT are damaged by freezing. Direct sunlight and heat destroy potency. The cold chain must be maintained from manufacture through transport to the point of use.

Question 23Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A woman who is 32 weeks pregnant has a haemoglobin of 7 g/dL. Which combination of actions is most appropriate at the health centre?

  1. Only advise rest and repeat the test after delivery
  2. Give a blood transfusion immediately at the sub-centre without referral
  3. Assess for causes, start iron and folic acid therapy and refer for further management of moderate to severe anaemia Correct answer.
  4. Reassure her that anaemia is normal in pregnancy

Explanation

Anaemia in pregnancy increases the risk of maternal and fetal complications, so the cause must be assessed and iron and folic acid therapy started promptly. Moderate to severe anaemia needs referral for further evaluation and management, including consideration of transfusion at an appropriate facility. Anaemia is a treatable condition, not a normal part of pregnancy.

Question 24Health Care (Vocational Subject)

In a community, several children develop fever with rash and cough over two weeks. Which action best reflects the principle of outbreak investigation?

  1. Treat each child individually and take no further action
  2. Notify the health authority, collect case details and identify common exposures to guide control measures Correct answer.
  3. Stop all immunisation in the area to avoid confusion
  4. Wait for the outbreak to end before informing anyone

Explanation

Outbreak investigation begins with notification, systematic case finding and analysis of time, place and person to identify the source and mode of spread. Control measures such as immunisation and isolation follow from that analysis. Stopping immunisation would increase susceptibility rather than control the outbreak.

Question 25Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A patient on anti-tuberculosis treatment reports yellowing of the eyes and dark urine. What is the most likely interpretation?

  1. Possible drug-induced liver injury requiring urgent review of treatment Correct answer.
  2. A sign that the dose should be increased
  3. A normal effect of the medicines that needs no attention
  4. Evidence that the tuberculosis has been cured

Explanation

Jaundice and dark urine during anti-tuberculosis therapy may indicate drug-induced hepatotoxicity, a known serious adverse effect. Treatment must be reviewed urgently by a clinician, and the patient should not adjust doses independently. Ignoring the signs can lead to severe liver damage.

Question 26Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker finds an adult lying on the floor of a room, awake and able to speak. After confirming the scene is safe and the person responds, what is the most appropriate next step in the primary assessment?

  1. Immediately give two rescue breaths before any other step
  2. Check whether the airway is open and whether breathing is normal Correct answer.
  3. Wait ten minutes to see whether the condition improves on its own
  4. Ask the person to stand up and walk to a chair

Explanation

Primary assessment follows a fixed order: danger, response, airway, breathing and circulation. Once the person responds, the airway and breathing are checked first because a blocked airway or absent breathing kills within minutes. Moving or delaying assessment risks missing a life-threatening problem.

Question 27Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker needs to count the pulse of an adult patient. Which technique gives the most reliable count?

  1. Estimate the pulse from the patient's reported feeling of heartbeat
  2. Place two fingers over the radial artery at the wrist and count beats for a full minute Correct answer.
  3. Count the beats felt over the chest wall while the patient is walking
  4. Press the thumb firmly over the radial artery and count for fifteen seconds

Explanation

The radial artery is compressed gently with two fingertips, never the thumb, and beats are counted for a full minute to capture an irregular rhythm. The thumb has its own pulse and can be mistaken for the patient's beat. Counting while the patient is active or relying on the patient's sensation gives unreliable figures.

Question 28Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker is preparing a tray for a dressing change. Which action maintains surgical asepsis of the sterile pack?

  1. Open the pack so that the inner sterile surface is never touched by bare hands Correct answer.
  2. Place the sterile pack on a damp cloth near the wash basin
  3. Blow on the sterile gauze to remove loose threads before use
  4. Keep the sterile field open while fetching forgotten items from another room

Explanation

In surgical asepsis the sterile article must be handled only by its outer wrapper or with sterile forceps, so the inner surface is never contaminated. Moisture, air currents and leaving the field unattended allow micro-organisms to reach sterile items. Anything that touches a non-sterile surface is no longer sterile.

Question 29Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A patient is prescribed a tablet to be taken three times a day after meals. What does this instruction mean for the health worker explaining it?

  1. The tablet is crushed into the drinking water once daily
  2. All three tablets are taken together at bedtime
  3. The tablet is swallowed after breakfast, lunch and the evening meal Correct answer.
  4. The tablet is taken only when the patient remembers the dose

Explanation

'Three times a day after meals' links each dose to a main meal, which spaces the doses through the day and reduces stomach irritation. The timing is part of the prescription and must be followed as written. Changing the timing or combining doses alters the drug level in the blood.

Question 30Health Care (Vocational Subject)

In a village health register, a birth is recorded together with the child's weight at birth. Why is birth weight a useful community health indicator?

  1. It shows whether the mother was given iron tablets during pregnancy
  2. It predicts the exact adult height the child will reach
  3. Low birth weight identifies babies at higher risk of illness and death who need extra follow-up Correct answer.
  4. It replaces the need for growth monitoring in later childhood

Explanation

Birth weight reflects the health of the pregnancy and strongly predicts newborn survival and later growth. Babies below about 2.5 kg are flagged for warmth, feeding support and closer follow-up. It is a screening indicator, not a predictor of adult height or a substitute for later growth monitoring.

Question 31Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker is asked to collect a sputum sample from a patient with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Which instruction gives the most useful specimen?

  1. Collect early-morning sputum brought up from deep in the chest into a clean container Correct answer.
  2. Collect saliva from the mouth into the container
  3. Collect the sample after the patient has eaten a heavy meal
  4. Collect a single drop of blood on a slide instead of sputum

Explanation

Sputum coughed from deep in the chest contains the bacilli, and the early-morning specimen is concentrated. Saliva is mostly oral fluid and gives poor results. The patient should be taught to rinse the mouth and cough deeply rather than spit saliva.

Question 32Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker is recording a patient's height and weight in the health register. Which practice gives accurate anthropometric data?

  1. Estimate the weight by asking the patient how much they weighed last year
  2. Weigh the patient with shoes on and a heavy coat to save time
  3. Weigh the patient at the same time of day, in light clothing, on a scale checked against zero Correct answer.
  4. Record the weight from the previous visit without measuring again

Explanation

Accurate anthropometry requires a calibrated scale, a standard light dress and a consistent time of day, since weight changes with meals and clothing. These controls make readings comparable between visits. Estimates and copied values defeat the purpose of monitoring.

Question 33Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker is explaining the importance of hand hygiene to a family. Which statement correctly describes when hands must be washed with soap and water?

  1. Only when the hands look visibly dirty
  2. Only after touching an animal
  3. Before preparing food and after using the toilet, among other key moments Correct answer.
  4. Once at the start of each working day

Explanation

Hand hygiene is tied to key moments such as before food preparation, before eating, after toilet use and after handling waste. Micro-organisms are present even when hands look clean, so appearance is not a guide. A single wash at the start of the day does not protect anyone during the day.

Question 34Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A patient with a colostomy bag is being cared for at home. Which practice best protects the skin around the stoma?

  1. Cut the bag opening much larger than the stoma to avoid touching it
  2. Leave the skin damp before applying the new bag
  3. Clean the surrounding skin gently, dry it fully and fit the bag so the opening matches the stoma Correct answer.
  4. Scrub the skin hard with a strong antiseptic at every change

Explanation

Stoma skin care depends on gentle cleansing, thorough drying and a correctly sized opening so that stool does not contact the skin. A well-fitting bag prevents leakage, which is the main cause of excoriation. Harsh scrubbing and trapped moisture damage the skin barrier.

Question 35Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A patient has been on bed rest for two weeks. Which nursing measure most directly prevents pressure sores over the sacrum?

  1. Rub the reddened area firmly to improve blood flow
  2. Keep the bed sheets loose and wrinkled for ventilation
  3. Raise the head of the bed as high as possible for most of the day
  4. Reposition the patient at planned intervals and inspect the skin at each turn Correct answer.

Explanation

Pressure sores arise from unrelieved pressure over bony points, so regular turning with skin inspection is the core preventive measure. Massaging reddened skin causes further tissue damage. Wrinkled sheets and prolonged high sitting increase shearing and pressure.

Question 36Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A mother brings a two-month-old baby for immunisation. The baby has a mild cold with a runny nose but no fever and is feeding well. What is the appropriate advice?

  1. Stop breastfeeding for three days after the vaccine
  2. Postpone all vaccines until the child is completely free of symptoms for a month
  3. Give only half the dose because the child is unwell
  4. Give the scheduled vaccine, since a minor illness without fever is not a contraindication Correct answer.

Explanation

Minor illness without fever is not a reason to delay immunisation, and delaying leaves the infant unprotected. True contraindications are limited, such as severe allergic reaction to a previous dose or certain live vaccines in immune deficiency. Reducing the dose or stopping breastfeeding has no basis.

Question 37Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker is counselling a pregnant woman about her diet. Which advice is most appropriate for preventing anaemia in pregnancy?

  1. Eat iron-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables and take iron-folic acid tablets as scheduled Correct answer.
  2. Drink strong tea with meals to improve iron absorption
  3. Avoid all green vegetables to prevent gas formation
  4. Take extra salt with every meal to increase blood volume

Explanation

Iron requirements rise in pregnancy and are met by iron-rich foods plus the standard iron-folic acid supplementation. Vitamin C aids absorption, while tannins in strong tea reduce it. Avoiding green leafy vegetables removes a major dietary iron source.

Question 38Health Care (Vocational Subject)

During a home visit a health worker finds a two-year-old with watery diarrhoea and sunken eyes, who is drowsy and drinking poorly. What should the health worker do?

  1. Advise the family to stop all fluids until the diarrhoea settles
  2. Give oral rehydration solution at home and review after two days
  3. Give a home remedy of plain water and continue normal feeding only
  4. Refer urgently for intravenous fluids because the child shows signs of severe dehydration Correct answer.

Explanation

Sunken eyes, drowsiness and poor drinking indicate severe dehydration, which needs urgent parenteral rehydration in a facility. Oral rehydration is used for no or some dehydration, but a child this ill cannot safely be managed at home. Withholding fluids worsens dehydration.

Question 39Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker is asked to measure the blood pressure of an adult. Which step improves the accuracy of the reading?

  1. Take the reading immediately after the patient climbs two flights of stairs
  2. Place the cuff loosely over a thick shirt sleeve
  3. Let the patient sit quietly for five minutes with the arm supported at heart level Correct answer.
  4. Inflate the cuff only until the gauge reads 100 mm Hg

Explanation

Rest and correct arm position reduce falsely high readings caused by exertion and hydrostatic effects. The cuff must be the right size and placed on the bare arm, and it must be inflated above the expected systolic level to detect the true pressure.

Question 40Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker must give a prescribed intramuscular injection. Which site and technique are correct for an adult?

  1. Inner side of the thigh near the main blood vessels
  2. Upper outer quadrant of the buttock or the outer thigh, with the needle inserted at a right angle Correct answer.
  3. Into the middle of the forearm just below the elbow crease
  4. Directly over a bony prominence such as the kneecap

Explanation

Intramuscular injection uses a well-developed muscle away from major nerves and vessels, such as the upper outer buttock or the outer thigh, with the needle at about 90 degrees. Sites over bone, near large vessels or in thin tissue risk injury and poor absorption.

Question 41Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker is cleaning a wound that contains grit and small foreign particles. Which action is correct?

  1. Irrigate and clean the wound from the cleanest area outwards, then dress it Correct answer.
  2. Pour undiluted antiseptic into the depth of the wound
  3. Apply a tight bandage over the dirt without cleaning
  4. Pick out particles with ungloved fingers

Explanation

Wound cleaning removes dirt and reduces infection, and cleaning from clean to dirty prevents spreading contamination into the wound. Gloves protect both worker and patient, and the wound must be inspected before dressing. Strong antiseptics in deep tissue damage healing cells.

Question 42Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker notices that a newborn has not passed urine for 20 hours and feels cold to touch. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Wait until the next routine visit because newborns pass urine irregularly
  2. Provide skin-to-skin warmth and refer the baby for assessment of feeding and urine output Correct answer.
  3. Give the baby water by bottle to encourage urine output
  4. Wrap the baby in several thick blankets and review after a week

Explanation

Coldness and delayed urine output in a newborn may indicate hypothermia, poor feeding or serious illness, so warmth and prompt assessment are needed. Kangaroo care or skin-to-skin contact stabilises temperature. Giving water to a newborn is dangerous and delay risks deterioration.

Question 43Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker is explaining the use of a sanitary latrine to a village family. Which reason best explains its public health value?

  1. It removes the need to wash hands after defecation
  2. It makes the household waste safe to use as drinking water
  3. It separates faeces from flies, water sources and food, breaking the faecal-oral route Correct answer.
  4. It reduces the amount of water the family must drink

Explanation

Safe excreta disposal keeps human faeces away from flies, water and food, which interrupts the faecal-oral transmission of diarrhoeal disease and worms. Hand washing remains essential even with a latrine. A latrine has no effect on drinking water needs and does not make waste potable.

Question 44Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A patient with hypertension is being counselled at a health centre. Which combination of advice is most appropriate?

  1. Add extra salt to food to raise low blood pressure readings
  2. Start a very heavy exercise programme without medical advice
  3. Stop the medicine once the headache disappears
  4. Reduce salt intake, take prescribed medicines regularly and attend follow-up checks Correct answer.

Explanation

Hypertension control depends on sustained lifestyle change and regular medication, with follow-up to check blood pressure and side effects. Stopping medicines when symptoms settle allows pressure to rise again silently. Heavy unaccustomed exercise and added salt both raise risk.

Question 45Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker finds an adult who is not breathing and has no signs of circulation. A defibrillator is not available. What should be done?

  1. Apply a cold compress to the forehead and wait
  2. Start chest compressions and rescue breaths in cycles and continue until help arrives Correct answer.
  3. Place the person in a sitting position and loosen clothing only
  4. Give the person water to drink and watch for improvement

Explanation

In cardiac arrest, immediate chest compressions with rescue breaths maintain some circulation to the brain until advanced help arrives. Cycles are repeated with minimal interruption. Giving fluids, cooling the head or simply sitting the person up does nothing to restore circulation.

Question 46Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker is reviewing records to find why several children in one lane developed jaundice within a month. Which approach best reflects epidemiological reasoning?

  1. Assume the cases are unrelated because they occurred in different families
  2. Blame the first family that reported the illness
  3. Compare the affected and unaffected households for a shared water source or other exposure Correct answer.
  4. Treat each child and stop investigating the pattern

Explanation

Clustering of cases in place and time suggests a common source, so comparing exposed and unexposed households identifies the likely vehicle. This is the basis of outbreak investigation. Treating individual cases without investigating the pattern allows transmission to continue.

Question 47Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A patient on treatment for tuberculosis reports nausea and vomiting after the morning drugs. Which interpretation is most appropriate for the health worker?

  1. Ignore the vomiting because nausea always settles by itself
  2. Stop all drugs permanently without informing anyone
  3. Report the vomiting to the treating doctor, as persistent vomiting may prevent the drugs being absorbed and needs review Correct answer.
  4. Double the dose at the next meal to make up for the loss

Explanation

Persistent vomiting during tuberculosis treatment threatens drug absorption and may signal drug intolerance, so the prescriber must review the regimen. The health worker does not alter the regimen independently. Doubling doses risks toxicity and stopping treatment risks resistance.

Question 48Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A woman who delivered at home two days ago has a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius, foul-smelling lochia and lower abdominal pain. What is the most likely interpretation?

  1. Anaemia caused by poor diet during pregnancy
  2. Normal involution of the uterus needing only rest
  3. Puerperal sepsis requiring urgent referral and antibiotic treatment Correct answer.
  4. Mastitis that can be managed by stopping breastfeeding

Explanation

Fever, offensive lochia and abdominal pain after delivery point to puerperal sepsis, a life-threatening infection that needs urgent referral and antibiotics. Normal involution does not cause high fever or foul discharge. Mastitis affects the breast, and anaemia does not produce a foul discharge.

Question 49Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker is planning a nutrition education session for mothers of children under five. Which design is most likely to change feeding practice?

  1. Give one lecture and never repeat the session
  2. Demonstrate preparing a low-cost local complementary food and let mothers practise and ask questions Correct answer.
  3. Read out a long list of nutrients from a textbook without discussion
  4. Distribute printed leaflets in a language most mothers cannot read

Explanation

Practical demonstration with return demonstration and discussion is more effective than information alone because it builds skill and confidence with locally available food. Materials must match the literacy and language of the audience, and reinforcement improves retention.

Question 50Health Care (Vocational Subject)

A health worker accidentally spills a patient's blood on the floor of the clinic. Which sequence correctly follows standard precautions?

  1. Wipe the spill with bare hands and a dry cloth
  2. Cover the spill with a chair and continue other work
  3. Rinse the area with plain water only and resume work immediately
  4. Restrict the area, wear gloves, remove the spill with absorbent material and disinfect the surface Correct answer.

Explanation

Blood spills are managed by limiting access, using gloves and other barriers, absorbing the spill and then disinfecting the surface with an appropriate agent. This protects staff and other patients from blood-borne pathogens. Bare-hand contact or leaving the spill in place exposes everyone to infection.