Compare the four levels of prevention (primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary) with the levels of service provision available across the life span. (Course Learning Outcome #2)
Compare the purposes, benefits, and limitations of Medicare, Medicaid, and other government-sponsored programs in achieving health equity. (CLO #2)
Discuss selected cultural factors that may have an impact on the health and well-being of emerging populations. (CLO #1)
Describe initiatives to address the health care concerns of emerging populations.
Sample Answer
. Compare the four levels of prevention (primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary) with the levels of service provision available across the life span. (CLO #2)
The four levels of prevention—primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary—represent a public health framework aimed at reducing disease incidence, morbidity, and mortality. These levels can be compared and contrasted with the types of health services typically provided across an individual's lifespan, from birth to end of life.
- Primordial Prevention: This level aims to prevent the development of risk factors in the first place, focusing on broad societal changes like promoting healthy urban planning, discouraging the adoption of unhealthy diets, or limiting tobacco advertising. This aligns most closely with policies and public health initiatives that shape the environment across the lifespan. For example, implementing sugar taxes (affecting children and adults) or creating smoke-free zones (affecting all ages) are primordial efforts that influence service needs indirectly by reducing the overall burden of disease.
- Primary Prevention: This level targets the prevention of disease before it occurs, focusing on individuals or populations who do not yet have the disease but may be at risk. Examples include vaccinations, health education on safe sex or nutrition, and fluoride in water. Primary prevention is directly linked to services available across the lifespan, such as well-child visits, adolescent check-ups, adult wellness exams, and vaccinations at various ages. Public health campaigns (e.g., anti-smoking ads) also fall here, influencing behaviors across age groups.
- Secondary Prevention: This level focuses on the early detection and prompt treatment of disease after it has begun but before symptoms become severe or complications arise. Examples include cancer screenings (mammograms, colonoscopies), blood pressure checks, and diabetes screening. Secondary prevention services are prominent across the lifespan but often increase with age, such as routine screenings recommended at specific intervals (e.g., vision/hearing checks in childhood, cholesterol checks in adulthood, bone density scans in older age). These services aim to detect conditions like autism, hypertension, or cancer early when treatment is most effective.. Compare the four levels of prevention (primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary) with the levels of service provision available across the life span. (CLO #2)