Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
This domain tests how health is promoted and how communicable and non-communicable diseases are prevented at personal, school and community level.
Core concepts
- Communicable diseases spread through the chain of infection: pathogen, reservoir, exit, transmission, entry and susceptible host. Break any link to prevent spread.
- Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease share risk factors: unhealthy diet, inactivity, tobacco, harmful alcohol use and obesity.
- Levels of prevention: primary - prevent onset (immunisation, safe water, health education, mosquito control); secondary - early detection and treatment (screening, early diagnosis); tertiary - limit disability and rehabilitate.
- Health promotion includes health education, supportive environments, school health programmes, policy and community action.
Worked example
A village has a dengue outbreak. Reasoning: dengue spreads by Aedes mosquitoes that breed in standing water. Primary prevention includes emptying or covering water containers weekly, clearing blocked drains, using nets and repellent, and covering the body. Fever should be investigated early, which is secondary prevention. Spraying adult mosquitoes and cleaning breeding sites are environmental measures. Telling people to drink more water is supportive care, not a prevention measure.
Traps that cost marks
- Vaccination is primary prevention, not secondary.
- Screening is secondary prevention because it detects disease early.
- Rehabilitation after a stroke is tertiary prevention.
- Health promotion is not only giving leaflets; it also includes policy, environment and community action.