College of Nursing, SGPIMS, Lucknow

Subject-Nursing Foundation
Unit-2nd
Topic- level of prevention.
Venue- B.Sc. Nursing 1st Semester Class Room

-Presented By-

Mr. Arun Kumar

Tutor, College of Nursing, SGPGIMS, Lucknow
Definition of prevention "prevention is
the action aimed at eradicating,
eliminating or minimizing the impact
of disease and disability."- John M
last.
Levels of preventions
Level of prevention are classified into 4
stages
1. Primordial prevention
2. Primary prevention
3. Secondary prevention
4. Tertiary prevention.
Primordial prevention is defined as prevention
of risk factors themselves, beginning with
change in social and environmental conditions
in which these factors are observed to develop,
and continuing for high risk children,
adolescents and young adults.
Itis the prevention of the emergence
or development of risk factors in
countries or population groups in
which they have not yet appeared.
 Primordial prevention, a relatively new concept,
is receiving special attention in the prevention of
chronic diseases.
✓For example, many adult health problems (e.g.
Obesity, hypertension) have their early origins in
childhood, because this is the time when
lifestyles are formed(for example, smoking,
eating patterns, physical exercise).
Primordial prevention begins in childhood when
health risk behavior begins. Parents, teachers
and peer groups are important in imparting
health education to children. The main
intervention in primordial prevention is through
individual and mass education·
 Primordial prevention refers to actions and
measures taken to prevent the development of
risk factors and determinants of health in order to
promote overall well-being and prevent the
emergence of diseases and health problems. This
level of prevention addresses the root causes of
diseases and aims to create a favorable
environment that supports healthy behaviors and
lifestyles from the very beginning, even before
risk factors have a chance to develop.
Examples of primordial prevention National
policies and programs on nutrition involving
the agricultural sector, the food industry, and
the food import-export sector Comprehensive
policies to discourage smoking Programs to
promote regular physical activity Making
major changes in lifestyle.
It is the prevention of the development of the
risk factors.
2.Primary prevention

Primary prevention can be defined as the action

taken prior to the onset of disease, which
removes the possibility that the disease will ever
occur.
Primary prevention may be
accomplished by measures of-

1.)Health promotion
2.)Specific protection
1.)Health Promotion
It is the process of enabling people to
increase control over the determinants of
health and thereby improve their health.
Health promotion is directed towards
strengthening the host. Main aims of
health promotion is to enable people to
increase control over health & to improve
the over all health.
The aim can be achieved by the following
intervention: health education, environmental
modification, behavioral changes, life style
change, nutritional intervention etc..
Health education to improve healthy habits and
health consciousness in the community.
Improvement in nutritional standards
of the community. Healthful physical
environment (housing, water supply,
excreta disposal etc. Good working
condition periodic selective
examination of risk population.
2).Specific protection

Efforts directed toward protection

against specific diseases. The provision
of conditions for normal mental &
physical functioning of the human
beings & in group. It includes the
promotion of health, prevention of
sickness ,& care of individuals
Aims of specific protection

Use of Specific immunization (BCG,DPT,MMR

vaccines)and use of contraceptives.
Chemoprophylaxis (tetracycline for Cholera,
dapsone for Leprosy, Chloroquine for malaria,
etc.
Use of specific nutrients (vitamin A for
Children, iron folic acid tablets for Pregnant
mothers)
Protection against accidents (Use of helmet,
seatbelt, etc.
Protection against occupational hazards.
Avoidance of allergens.· Protection from air
pollution
 3.Secondary prevention

It is defined as “ an action which halts the progress

of a disease at its incipient stage and prevents
complications. ”The specific interventions are:
A) early diagnosis (e.g. Screening tests,
case findings, breast self examination ,
pap smear test, radiographic
examinations etc.
B) adequate treatment)
C)referral
Secondary prevention attempts to arrest the
disease process, restore health by seeking out
unrecognized disease and treating it before
irreversible pathological changes take place, and
reverse communicability of infectious diseases.
It protects others in the community from acquiring
the infection and thus provide at once secondary
prevention for the infected ones and primary
prevention for their potential contacts.
Objectives of secondary prevention
Complete cure and prevent the progression of
disease process.
To prevent the spreads of disease by curing all
the known cases.
To prevent the complications and sequel of
disease.
(i)Early Diagnosis
The Disease complications can be prevented &
Health can be Restored by Diagnosing the Disease
at it's Early stages & by providing the adequate
Treatment according to the Health problem.
Includes :-
Arrests/Stops the Disease Process.
Restore the Health.
Treat the Disease before Irreversible
pathological changes occur.
Reverse the Communicability of
infectious Disease.
 Screening Surveys ( urine
Examination for Diabetes)
Mass treatment approach includes

 Selectivemass treatment
 Total mass treatment
The type of approach used depends upon nature
of disease & incidence of disease.
4.Tertiary prevention
It is used when the disease process has advanced
beyond its early stages. It is defined as “all the
measures available to reduce or limit
impairments and disabilities, and to promote the
patients' adjustment to irremediable conditions.
"Intervention that should be
accomplished in the stage of tertiary
prevention are-
Disability limitation
Rehabilitation.
1) Disability limitation
Diseases are often known to be medical
conditions that are associated with specific
symptoms and signs. Any loss or abnormality of
physiological, psychological, or anatomical
structure or function. Any restriction or lack of
ability to perform an ability in normal range of
human being. Permanent disability or
impairment of an individual.
2)Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is “ the combined and

coordinated use of medical, social,
educational, and vocational measures for
training and retraining the individual to
the highest possible level of functional
ability. "Requires cooperation from
different sections of society.
 Types of rehabilitation
Medical rehabilitation: (restoration of Bodily
Function).
Vocational rehabilitation:( restoration of the capacity
to earn a livelihood)
Social rehabilitation: (restoration of family and
social relationship).
Psychological rehabilitation: (Restoration of personal
dignity and confidence).
Examples of Rehabilitation·

Establishing schools for the blind.

Exercises in neurological disorders·
Drug de-addiction.
Reconstructive surgery in Leprosy.
Assessments…
pap smear test for detection of
carcinoma of cervix is which level
of prevention?
a) Primordial
b) Primary
c) Secondary
d) Tertiary.
Which of the following is not a
primary prevention strategy?
a) Cancer education
b) Control of tobacco
c) Radiation protection
d) Breast self examination.
School health check-up comes
under……….level of prevention.
1. Primordial
2. Primary
3. Secondary
4. Tertiary
In an area with fluoride rich
water, the defluorination of water
is which level of prevention?
1. Primordial
2. Primary
3. Secondary
4. Tertiary
Question: What is the primary focus of
primordial prevention?
• a) Early disease detection
• b) Reducing risk factors before they develop
• c) Treating existing diseases
• d) Preventing complications of diseases
Rationale: Primordial
prevention aims to address the
root causes of diseases by
reducing risk factors before they
even develop.
 Question: Which of the following strategies is an
example of primordial prevention?
• a) Vaccination campaigns
• b) Routine health check-ups
• c) Implementing smoking cessation programs
• d) Promoting healthy diets from early childhood
Rationale: Promoting healthy diets from
early childhood focuses on preventing the
development of risk factors for diseases,
which aligns with primordial prevention.
 Question: The administration of vaccines to prevent
infectious diseases is an example of:
• a) Primordial prevention
• b) Secondary prevention
• c) Tertiary prevention
• d) Primary prevention
Rationale: Administering vaccines to
prevent the occurrence of infectious
diseases falls under primary prevention.
 Question: A school's initiative to educate students about
the dangers of substance abuse is an example of:
• a) Primordial prevention
• b) Tertiary prevention
• c) Secondary prevention
• d) Quaternary prevention
Rationale: Educating students about the
dangers of substance abuse aims to prevent
the development of risky behaviors, making
it a form of secondary prevention.
 Question: Which of the following is a characteristic
of secondary prevention?
• a) Focuses on early disease detection and treatment
• b) Aims to prevent risk factors from developing
• c) Targets root causes of diseases
• d) Deals with rehabilitation and minimizing disability
 Rationale: Secondary prevention is centered around
early disease detection and treatment to minimize the
impact of diseases.
 Question: Mammography screenings for early detection
of breast cancer are an example of:
• a) Primordial prevention
• b) Tertiary prevention
• c) Secondary prevention
• d) Primary prevention
 Rationale: Mammography screenings for early
detection of breast cancer fall under the category of
secondary prevention.
 Question: What is the primary goal of tertiary
prevention?
• a) Reduce the prevalence of risk factors
• b) Prevent the occurrence of diseases
• c) Identify diseases in their earliest stages
• d) Minimize the impact of existing diseases
 Rationale: Tertiary prevention aims to minimize the
impact of existing diseases and prevent complications.
 Question: Cardiac rehabilitation programs for
individuals who have suffered a heart attack are an
example of:
• a) Primary prevention
• b) Secondary prevention
• c) Tertiary prevention
• d) Quaternary prevention
 Rationale: Cardiac rehabilitation programs after a heart
attack focus on minimizing disability and improving
quality of life, aligning with tertiary prevention.