IGNOU MEDS-073 Solved Question Paper PDF Download

IGNOU MEDS-073 Previous Year Solved Question Paper in Hindi

IGNOU MEDS-073 Previous Year Solved Question Paper in English

Q1. What do you understand by Disability? Explain the factors contributing to health inequalities.

Ans. Disability is a complex and multi-faceted concept. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), disability is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions . It is not just a health problem, but rather a result of the complex interaction between a person’s bodily features and the features of the society in which they live. The model of disability can be understood from two main perspectives: 1. Medical Model: This views disability as an individual problem of the person, directly caused by disease, trauma, or other health conditions, which requires medical care. 2. Social Model: This views disability as a socially constructed problem. It argues that people are disabled not by their physical or mental impairments, but by the barriers created by society (e.g., inaccessible buildings, unsupportive policies, negative attitudes). Factors Contributing to Health Inequalities: Health inequalities are systematic, avoidable, and unjust differences in health outcomes between different groups of people. The key factors contributing to these inequalities are:

• Socioeconomic Status: Income, education, and occupation are among the most powerful determinants of health. People with lower income and education often experience poorer health outcomes as they are more likely to experience poor nutrition, insecure housing, and have limited access to health services.
• Geographical Location: People living in rural and remote areas often face limited access to health facilities, clean water, and sanitation, leading to poorer health compared to urban dwellers.
• Discrimination: Discrimination based on caste, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, or sexual orientation can increase stress and hinder access to health services, education, and employment opportunities.
• Access to Healthcare: Differences in the availability, affordability, and quality of health services contribute significantly to health inequalities. This includes lack of insurance coverage, distance to health facilities, and culturally incompetent care.
• Lifestyle and Behaviours: Behaviours such as smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity impact health outcomes. These behaviours are often shaped by an individual’s social and economic environment.
• Environmental Factors: Exposure to air and water pollution, unsafe workplaces, and poor housing conditions can adversely affect health, and these risks are often higher in marginalized communities.

In essence, health inequalities are not the result of individual choices but are largely produced by social and economic factors that shape the conditions in which people live and work.

Q2. Explain the concept of Digital Divide. Discuss the relation between Digital Divide and Elderly.

Ans. The concept of the Digital Divide refers to the gap between individuals who have access to modern information and communication technology (ICT), such as the internet, computers, and smartphones, and are able to use it, and those who do not have such access or skills. It is not just a matter of access, but also includes digital literacy (the ability to use technology effectively) and the quality of usage. The digital divide can exist along geographic, socioeconomic, and demographic lines. Relation between Digital Divide and the Elderly: The elderly population is one of the groups most affected by the digital divide. This is due to several reasons:

• Access Barriers: Many elderly individuals live on fixed incomes, making expensive devices like smartphones, computers, and broadband internet connections difficult to afford.
• Skills Gap: Seniors who did not use computers in their working lives often lack digital literacy. They may feel intimidated or apprehensive about learning new technology, a phenomenon sometimes called technophobia .
• Physical Challenges: Age-related physical disabilities, such as declining vision or hearing, arthritis, or reduced fine motor skills, can make using small screens and keyboards difficult.
• Lack of Relevance: Some elderly individuals may not see the relevance of the internet to their daily lives. They may not understand how it can improve their social life, health management, or other activities.
• Security Concerns: The elderly are often worried about online scams, fraud, and violation of their privacy, which discourages them from participating in the online world.

Consequences:

The digital divide can have serious consequences for the elderly. In an increasingly digital world, many essential services (such as banking, government schemes, telehealth) are moving online. Elderly individuals who are offline may be unable to access these services. Furthermore, it can exacerbate

social isolation

, as they are unable to connect with family and friends online, a fact starkly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bridging this divide requires targeted training programs, affordable devices, and user-friendly design.

Q3. Discuss different categories of domestic violence. Explain how to reduce violence on women.

Ans. Domestic violence , also known as intimate partner violence, is a pattern of behaviour in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. It can take many forms and occurs across all cultures, religions, and socioeconomic levels. Different Categories of Domestic Violence:

1. Physical Violence: This is the most obvious form of violence. It includes any act that causes physical harm, such as:
   • Slapping, hitting, kicking, punching
   • Pushing, burning, choking
   • Using or threatening to use weapons
2. Sexual Violence: This involves coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual act for which there is no consent. Examples include:
   • Forced intercourse (including marital rape)
   • Forcing someone to perform sexually degrading acts
   • Sexual harassment
3. Emotional or Psychological Violence: This is often invisible but can destroy a victim’s self-esteem. It includes:
   • Insults, threats, name-calling
   • Constant criticism, controlling behaviour
   • Isolating the person from family and friends
4. Economic or Financial Abuse: This aims to make the victim financially dependent. It includes:
   • Controlling or withholding money
   • Preventing the victim from getting or keeping a job
   • Taking on debt in the victim’s name

How to Reduce Violence on Women:

Reducing violence on women requires a multi-pronged approach:

• Legal and Policy Measures: Enacting and strictly implementing strong laws against domestic violence (e.g., the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 in India). Sensitizing the police and judiciary.
• Empowerment of Women: Empowering women through education, economic independence, and skill development can help them leave abusive relationships.
• Changing Social Norms: Running awareness campaigns to challenge patriarchal attitudes and gender stereotypes. It is crucial to engage men and boys in this conversation.
• Support Systems: Establishing accessible and effective support systems for victims, such as helplines, shelter homes, counseling services, and legal aid.
• Role of the Health Sector: Training healthcare providers to recognize the signs of violence, inquire about it, and provide appropriate support to victims.
• Education: Integrating education about gender equality and respectful relationships into school curricula.

Q4. Describe various roles of civil society. What is the scope of civil society organizations in Primary Health Care?

Ans. Civil society refers to the ‘third sector’ of society, separate from the state (government), family, and the market (private sector). It includes non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community groups, trade unions, religious organizations, professional associations, and other voluntary associations. Civil society is the arena of collective action around shared interests and values. Various Roles of Civil Society:

1. Service Delivery: Civil society organizations (CSOs) often provide essential services in areas where the state’s reach is weak or ineffective, such as health, education, and disaster relief.
2. Advocacy and Policy Influence: They lobby governments for better policies on issues like human rights, environmental protection, and health. They act as a voice for marginalized communities.
3. Watchdog Role: Civil society monitors the actions of the government and the private sector to hold them transparent and accountable. They expose corruption and monitor the implementation of policies.
4. Awareness and Mobilization: They educate the public on social issues and organize and mobilize communities for social change.
5. Capacity Building: They strengthen the ability of local communities to solve their own problems by providing skills, knowledge, and resources.

Scope of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Primary Health Care (PHC):

CSOs play a vital role in primary health care, especially in achieving the goal of ‘Health for All’.

• Community Mobilization: CSOs encourage community participation in health programs like immunization drives, sanitation initiatives, and health camps.
• Health Education and Behaviour Change: They spread awareness on topics like nutrition, hygiene, family planning, and prevention of communicable diseases. They often communicate effectively using local culture and language.
• Increasing Access to Services: They can provide health services by running mobile health vans and community clinics in remote and inaccessible areas, thus reaching marginalized groups.
• Monitoring and Accountability: CSOs can monitor the functioning of Primary Health Centres (PHCs), ensuring that doctors and staff are present, medicines are available, and services are delivered properly.
• Advocacy: They can advocate with the government for better health infrastructure, more funding, and health policies that meet the community’s needs.
• Innovation: CSOs often pilot and demonstrate new and cost-effective models of healthcare delivery that can be later scaled up by the government.

In sum, CSOs are an essential part of the primary healthcare system due to their deep community roots, flexibility, and capacity for innovation.

Q5. What constitutes a healthy diet? Explain harmful eating habits.

Ans. A healthy diet is one that helps to maintain or improve overall health. It provides the body with essential nutrients: fluid, adequate amino acids (from protein), essential fatty acids (from fat), vitamins, minerals, and sufficient calories. A healthy diet helps protect against chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Key constituents of a healthy diet:

• Balance: Consuming foods from different food groups in the right proportions, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
• Variety: Eating a wide range of foods ensures that you get all the necessary nutrients. Avoid eating the same meals every day.
• Moderation: Controlling portion sizes to avoid overeating. No food needs to be completely forbidden, but unhealthy foods should be consumed in limited quantities.
• Key elements:
  • Plenty of fruits and vegetables.
  • Whole grains like brown rice, whole-wheat bread, and oats.
  • Lean protein sources such as lentils, beans, fish, and poultry.
  • Healthy fats like those found in nuts, seeds, and olive oil.
  • Limited intake of processed foods, which are high in sugar, salt, and saturated/trans fats.
  • Adequate hydration, primarily by drinking water.

Harmful Eating Habits:

Harmful eating habits are patterns that can negatively impact health and contribute to the development of chronic diseases. Some common harmful habits are:

1. Skipping Meals: Especially skipping breakfast can slow down metabolism and lead to overeating later in the day.
2. Excessive Consumption of Processed and Junk Food: These foods are often high in calories, unhealthy fats, sugar, and sodium, but low in nutrients.
3. Emotional Eating: Eating in response to stress, boredom, sadness, or other emotions rather than hunger. This often leads to overconsumption of unhealthy foods.
4. Eating Too Quickly: When you eat too fast, your brain doesn’t have time to register that your stomach is full, which can lead to overeating.
5. Late-Night Eating: Eating heavy meals just before bed can interfere with digestion and sleep, and may contribute to weight gain.
6. High Intake of Liquid Calories: Sugary drinks, sodas, and fruit juices contain a lot of sugar and calories but do not provide a feeling of fullness.
7. Fad Diets: Following extreme and restrictive diet plans that are not sustainable and can lead to nutrient deficiencies.

Q6. What is intersectoral coordination? Explain areas of intersectoral coordination in health.

Ans. Intersectoral coordination is a process by which different sectors of society (e.g., health, education, agriculture, finance, transport) work together to achieve shared goals, such as improving health outcomes. It is based on the recognition that health is not solely the responsibility of the health sector, but is also influenced by policies and actions undertaken in many other sectors. These influences are known as the ‘social determinants of health’ . This approach is at the core of the ‘Health in All Policies’ concept, which seeks to ensure that the health implications of all public policies are considered. The goal of intersectoral coordination is to pool resources, avoid duplication of efforts, and achieve more effective and sustainable outcomes by leveraging the expertise of different sectors. Areas of Intersectoral Coordination in Health: Collaboration between various sectors is crucial for improving health outcomes. Some key areas include:

• Health and Education:
  • School Health Programs: Providing health check-ups, immunization, and nutritional support in schools.
  • Health Education: Incorporating subjects like hygiene, nutrition, and sexual education into the curriculum.
• Health and Agriculture/Food:
  • Food Security and Nutrition: Ensuring the production and availability of nutritious foods to combat malnutrition.
  • Food Safety: Policies for the safe use of pesticides and prevention of food-borne illnesses.
• Health and Water/Sanitation:
  • Clean Drinking Water: Ensuring a supply of safe drinking water to prevent water-borne diseases (e.g., cholera, typhoid).
  • Sanitation: Promoting the construction and use of toilets to reduce the spread of diseases (e.g., Swachh Bharat Mission).
• Health and Environment:
  • Pollution Control: Controlling air, water, and noise pollution to reduce respiratory illnesses and other health problems.
  • Waste Management: Safe disposal of solid and liquid waste to reduce vectors of disease.
• Health and Transport:
  • Road Safety: Design of safer roads, enforcement of traffic laws, and promotion of helmet/seatbelt use to reduce injuries and deaths.
  • Active Transport: Creating safe infrastructure for walking and cycling to combat obesity and related diseases.
• Health and Housing:
  • Adequate Housing: Ensuring safe and clean housing to prevent diseases associated with overcrowding, dampness, and poor ventilation.

Effective coordination across these sectors can lead to comprehensive and lasting improvements in the health and well-being of the population.

Q7. Describe the determinants of women’s health. Explain the measures to be taken to promote women’s health status.

Ans. The determinants of women’s health are the biological, social, economic, and cultural factors that influence the health and well-being of women. These can differ from the determinants for men as they are shaped by unique biological experiences and different societal roles and inequalities. The key determinants are:

1. Biological Factors: These include women’s unique physiological and reproductive health needs, such as menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. Women are also more susceptible to certain diseases, like breast and cervical cancer.
2. Socio-cultural Factors:
   • Gender Inequality: In many societies, women are valued less than men, leading to neglect in education, nutrition, and healthcare.
   • Patriarchal Norms: Limited autonomy in decision-making, restrictions on mobility, and pressure for early marriage and childbearing negatively impact health.
   • Violence: Women experience high rates of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence, which have severe physical and mental health consequences.
3. Economic Factors: Poverty severely affects women’s health. Lack of economic independence, limited rights to property, and the burden of unpaid domestic work prevent them from affording health services and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
4. Educational Factors: Lower levels of education are linked to a lack of health awareness, lower use of family planning methods, and an inability to make informed decisions about their own health.
5. Access to Healthcare: Women often face barriers in accessing healthcare services, including cost, distance, lack of transport, shortage of female health providers, and the need to seek permission from family.

Measures to Promote Women’s Health Status:

• Policy and Legal Reforms: Enforcing laws that promote gender equality and protect women’s rights, such as those related to inheritance, marriage, and equal opportunity in the workplace.
• Improving Health Services: Strengthening maternal and child health services (e.g., Janani Suraksha Yojana), increasing access to family planning services, and increasing the number of female health workers in rural areas.
• Education and Empowerment: Investing in girls’ education, providing vocational training, and creating economic opportunities for women to become self-reliant.
• Nutritional Programs: Implementing programs targeting anemia and malnutrition in adolescent girls, pregnant, and lactating women (e.g., ICDS).
• Addressing Violence: Implementing strict laws to prevent violence against women, providing support services for victims, and running gender sensitization programs.
• Awareness Campaigns: Raising awareness about women’s health, nutrition, hygiene, legal rights, and available government schemes.

Q8. Write short notes on the following: (a) Negative effect of social media use (b) Factors influencing health status of the marginalized

Ans. (a) Negative effect of social media use While social media is a powerful tool for connection and information sharing, its excessive and unregulated use can have several negative effects:

• Impact on Mental Health: Social media use has been linked to increased feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Constantly seeing the curated and idealized lives of others can lead to unrealistic comparisons and low self-esteem. “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out) is a common phenomenon. Cyberbullying is also a serious issue, causing severe emotional distress in victims.
• Impact on Physical Health: Spending excessive time on social media can lead to a sedentary lifestyle , contributing to obesity and other health problems. The blue light from screens can disrupt sleep patterns . Additionally, constant screen time can cause eye strain.
• Social Connections: While it promotes online connections, it can reduce face-to-face interactions in the real world, leading to a sense of social isolation.
• Spread of Misinformation: Misinformation and ‘fake news’ can spread rapidly on social media platforms, leading to harmful perceptions about health, politics, and social issues.
• Privacy Concerns: Users often share a great deal of personal information, sometimes unknowingly, which can pose a threat to their privacy and security.

(b) Factors influencing health status of the marginalized

Marginalized groups are those who are excluded from the mainstream of society socially, economically, and politically. This can include Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), women, persons with disabilities, sexual minorities, and the extremely poor. Several factors influence their poor health status:

• Socioeconomic Disadvantage: Poverty, low education levels, unemployment, and inadequate housing are common among marginalized groups. These factors lead to poor nutrition, unhygienic living conditions, and an inability to afford healthcare.
• Discrimination and Social Exclusion: Discrimination based on caste, gender, or ethnicity creates stress and acts as a barrier to their access to health, education, and employment opportunities. They may also face discriminatory treatment within healthcare facilities.
• Geographical Isolation: Many marginalized communities, especially tribal populations, live in remote areas that lack basic services like health facilities, clean water, and roads.
• Limited Access to Health Services: It is difficult for marginalized groups to access quality healthcare due to cost, distance, lack of transport, and cultural or linguistic barriers.
• Political Powerlessness: A lack of ability to voice their concerns and influence policies that affect their health often leaves their needs unaddressed.
• Increased Vulnerability: They are often more vulnerable to hazardous work, exposure to environmental hazards (like pollution), and being victims of violence, which further worsens their health.