Community Health II: Main Exam, 17 July 2025

Mount Kenya University · Department of Environmental Health and Health System Management / Community Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics · Diploma in Health Records and Information Technology · DPH2103

Community Health II (DPH2103) past paper from Mount Kenya University 2024-2025 with model answers.

Instructions: ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN SECTION A AND ANY OTHER TWO IN SECTION B.

SECTION A (40 marks)

1. Define the following terms as used in community health.

  1. a) Primary health care
    Model answer
    • Primary health care: Essential health services that are universally accessible, affordable, and delivered through community participation, focusing on prevention, promotion, treatment, and rehabilitation.
  2. b) Communicable disease
    Model answer
    • Communicable disease: An illness caused by infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi) that can be transmitted directly or indirectly from one person or species to another.
  3. c) Community health
    Model answer
    • Community health: The health status of a defined group of people and the actions taken to promote, protect, and improve that health through collective, organized efforts.

2. Name any three indicators used in assessing community health.

Model answer
  • Mortality rate
  • Infant mortality rate
  • Prevalence of communicable diseases
  • Nutritional status (e.g., prevalence of under‑nutrition)
  • Access to safe water and sanitation
  • Immunisation coverage

3. List four aims of primary health care.

Model answer
  • Provide universal access to essential health services
  • Promote health education and community participation
  • Ensure equitable distribution of resources
  • Emphasise disease prevention and health promotion

4. Explain any three principles of managing communicable diseases.

Model answer
  • Surveillance: Systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of health data to detect outbreaks early.
  • Isolation & quarantine: Separating infected individuals and restricting movement of contacts to break transmission chains.
  • Health education: Informing the public about modes of transmission and preventive measures such as hand‑washing and safe practices.

5. Describe three principles of PHC according to Alma Ata Declaration-WHO 1978.

Model answer
  • Equity – health services should be accessible to all individuals regardless of income, location or social status.
  • Community participation – people should be involved in planning, implementing and evaluating health programmes that affect them.
  • Appropriate technology – use of scientifically sound, culturally acceptable, affordable and easily maintainable health interventions.
  • Intersectoral coordination – health outcomes depend on actions of sectors beyond health (education, agriculture, housing, etc.).
  • Universal coverage – aim to provide essential health care to the entire population without financial hardship.

6. Elaborate any four elements of primary health care.

Model answer
  • Health promotion – activities that empower individuals and communities to increase control over their health (e.g., nutrition education, school health programmes).
  • Disease prevention – measures to reduce incidence of illness, such as immunisation, vector control and screening.
  • Curative care – provision of basic diagnostic, treatment and referral services at the primary level.
  • Rehabilitation – services that restore functional ability and improve quality of life after illness or injury.
  • Community participation – involvement of local people in decision‑making and delivery of health services.
  • Appropriate technology – use of low‑cost, culturally suitable and easily maintainable health technologies.

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