Population and Health Policies Questions and Answers

Answer: D

The long term objective of the National Population Policy is to achieve a stable population by 2045 (option D), at a level consistent with the needs of sustainable economic growth, social development and environmental protection. The year 2010 (A) is the medium term objective for replacement level fertility, and 2020 (B) and 2030 (C) are not dates the policy gives for stabilisation. The answer is 2045.

Answer: C

The Cairo conference, the International Conference on Population and Development of 1994, shifted attention from demographic targets to the unmet needs of couples and individuals for contraception and to human rights, particularly the rights and reproductive health of women, so option C is the answer. The Bucharest conference (A) of 1974 adopted the World Population Plan of Action with the slogan that development is the best contraceptive, the Mexico conference (B) of 1984 followed it, and the Belgrade conference (D) was of 1965.

Answer: B

The key marks option B, involving Panchayati Raj Institutions for population stabilisation measures, as the one not covered by the aims and objectives of Jan Sankhya Sthirata Kosh. The Kosh, the National Population Stabilisation Fund, aims to undertake activities for population stabilisation by 2045 (A), to promote and support schemes that meet the unmet need for contraception and reproductive and child health (C), and to facilitate a people's movement in favour of national efforts (D). The answer rests on the official key.

Answer: A

Discouraging sterilisation is not part of the Reproductive and Child Health Programme (option A). The programme aims at client centred, demand driven, quality family planning services (B), at services for reproductive tract and sexually transmitted infections (C), and at preventive and promotive services relating to HIV/AIDS (D). Sterilisation is one of the methods the programme offers, so a statement saying it is to be discouraged is not part of it.

Answer: D

One of the goals of the National Population Policy 2000 was to bring the infant mortality rate down to below 30 per 1,000 live births. The policy also aimed at a total fertility rate of replacement level by 2010 and a maternal mortality ratio below 100 per 100,000 live births.

The values of 15, 20 and 25 per 1,000 are lower than the goal given in the policy and so are not the keyed answer.

Answer: A

The correct matching is a-iii, b-iv, c-v, d-i. The world population reached six billion in 1999, the National Population Policy of India is that of 2000, the third National Family Health Survey was conducted in 2005 to 2006, and the figure given in the key for the Child Marriage Restraint Act is 1974.

The other codes give the six billion mark to 2000 or 1974, or the third survey to 1974, which is wrong.

Answer: C

Vasectomy is not a spacing method of family planning, because it is a permanent method of male sterilisation, meant for couples who have completed their families.

The barrier methods, hormonal methods and the intra-uterine device are all temporary methods that can be used to space births and can be stopped when the couple want a child.

Methods used for spacing include condoms, diaphragms, pills, injectables and the IUD, all of which are reversible, while sterilisation of the male or female partner is aimed at limiting births.

Answer: D

The oral pill contains progestin (iv), the intra-uterine device is the copper-T (i), foam tablets contain a spermicide (v) and female sterilisation is done by laparoscopy (ii), so the last code is correct. Non-scalpel procedure (iii) is the technique used in male sterilisation, which is not asked, so it is left unmatched. The other codes pair the methods with the wrong technique or ingredient, such as giving the pill copper-T. A check of each pairing in turn gives the same result: the pill with progestin, the device with copper, the foam tablet with a chemical that kills sperm, and sterilisation with the laparoscope.

Answer: B

The PNDT Act, the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, was enacted to stop sex selective abortion, so the second option is correct. It prohibits the use of prenatal diagnostic techniques to determine the sex of the foetus for terminating female foetuses. It is not directed at legal abortion, abortion care of unwed mothers or care of rape victims, which fall under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act. The Act was passed because of the falling child sex ratio and the misuse of ultrasound to find the sex of the foetus. Hence the option naming sex selective abortion is the only one that matches the purpose of the law.

Answer: B

Full ante-natal coverage is defined, as per the key, as at least three check-ups, at least 90 IFA tablets and at least one TT, so the second option is correct. The first check-up within 12 weeks is a recommended service but is not counted as a component of full coverage in this definition. Options without iii or iv or including i are therefore wrong. Counting the services that make up full coverage is the way the options are compared: the key accepts three of the four listed items.