Question

Use of iodized salt in the iodine deficiency control programme is an example of?

• A. Primary prevention
• B. Secondary prevention
• C. Tertiary prevention
• D. None

Hint:

Adding a nutrient to prevent disease before it starts is specific protection under primary prevention.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: The levels of prevention map to the stage of disease. Primary prevention acts before the disease begins, secondary prevention detects and treats early or sub-clinical disease, and tertiary prevention limits disability in established disease.

Step 2: Fortifying salt with iodine adds a missing nutrient to the diet so that iodine deficiency disorders never develop in the first place. This is done in healthy people before any disease, so it is primary prevention. Hence option a is correct.

Step 3: Within primary prevention there are two arms: health promotion and specific protection. Food fortification, such as iodized salt, falls under specific protection (along with immunization and supplementation), which is a recognized component of primary prevention.

Step 4: Screening for goitre would be secondary prevention and rehabilitation of cretinism would be tertiary prevention, but adding iodine to salt to prevent deficiency is clearly primary prevention.