UPSC CSE PRELIMS 2024 | Science and Technology | PSM | Medical sciences related questions | Solutions

QUESTION:

Total Fertility Rate in an economy is defined as:
a. Number of children born per 1000 people in the population in a year
b. Number of children born to a couple in their lifetime in a given population
c. Birth rate minus death rate
d. Average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child-bearing age (Correct Answer)

Fertility related statistics

1. Birth rate : Number of live births per 1000 estimated mid-year population
2. General Fertility Rate (GFR) : Number of live births per 1000 women in the reproductive age-group (15-44 or 49 years) in a given year
3. General Marital Fertility Rate (GMFR) : Number of live births per 1000 married women in the reproductive age group (15-44 or 49 years) in a given year
4. Age-specific fertility rate (ASFR) : Number of live births in a year to 1000 women in any specified age-group
5. Age-specific marital fertility rate (ASMFR) : Number of live births in a year to 1000 married women in any specified age-group
6. Total Fertility Rate (TFR) : Average number of children a woman would have if she were to pass through her reproductive years bearing children at the same rates as the women now in each age group. It is computed by summing the age-specific fertility rates for all ages.
7. Total Marital Fertility Rate (TMFR) : Average number of children that would be born to a married woman if she experiences the current fertility pattern throughout her reproductive span
8. Gross Reproduction Rate (GRR) : Average number of girls that would be born to woman if she experiences the current fertility pattern through out her reproductive span (15-44 or 49 years), assuming no mortality.
9. Net Reproduction Rate (NRR) : Number of daughters a newborn girl will bear during her lifetime assuming fixed age-specific fertility and mortality rates. NRR of 1 is equivalent to attaining approximately the 2-child norm.

Governments set targets for TFR for the purpose of population control.   TFR of 2.1 is considered as the replacement level fertility rate at which population stability is achieved (i.e., population replaces itself).

As per National Health Policy 2017 : Goal is to Reduce TFR to 2.1 at national and sub-national level by 2025.

TFR as per NFHS-5 fact sheet (2019-21) is 2.0

QUESTION

With reference to the ‘Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan’ Consider the following statements:
1. This scheme guarantees a minimum package of antenatal care services to women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy and six-months post-delivery health care service in any government health facility
2. Under this scheme, private sector health care providers of certain specialities can volunteer to provide services at nearby government health facilities
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only (correct Answer)
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

PMSMA:

1. Launched to provide fixed-day assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care universally to all pregnant women (in 2^nd and 3rd trimester) on the 9th of every month.
2. PMSMA guarantees a minimum package of antenatal care services to women in their 2nd / 3rd trimesters of pregnancy at designated government health facilities
3. While antenatal care is routinely provided to pregnant women, special ANC services are provided by OBGY specialists/ Radiologist/ Physicians at government health facilities under PMSMA
4. It is envisaged that a minimum package of investigations and medicines such as IFA and calcium supplements etc would be provided to all pregnant women attending the PMSMA clinics.
5. To improve the quality and coverage of Antenatal Care (ANC) including diagnostics and counselling services as part of the Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) Strategy.
6. Ensure at least one antenatal checkup for all pregnant women in their second or third trimester by a physician/specialist
7. PMSMA is based on the premise — that if every pregnant woman in India is examined by a physician and appropriately investigated at least once during the PMSMA and then appropriately followed up — the process can result in reduction in the number of maternal and neonatal deaths in our country.

JSSK: Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram: 

• Launched on 1st june 2011, a new national initiative to make available better health facilities for woman and child (New born till 30 days). It entitles all pregnant woman delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and no expense delivery, including free cesarean section.

JSY: Janani Suraksha Yojana

• Aims to reduce maternal mortality among pregnant women by encouraging them to deliver in government health facilities, and focusing on institutional care among women in below poverty line families.

Vandemataram Scheme:

• Voluntary scheme to provide safe motherhood services
• Any obstetric and gynaecology specialist, maternity home, nursing home, lady doctor/mbbs doctor can be a part of it
• After enrollment, doctors will display Vandemataram logo at their clinic.

QUESTION

Which one of the following is synthesised in human body that dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow?
(a) Nitric oxide (Correct Answer)
(d) Nitrous oxide
(c) Nitrogen dioxide
(d) Nitrogen pentoxide

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signaling molecule that readily diffuses across cell membranes and regulates a wide range of physiologic and pathophysiologic processes including cardiovascular, inflammatory, and neuronal functions.

Nitric oxide should not be confused with nitrous oxide (N2O), an anesthetic gas, or with nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a toxic pulmonary irritant gas.

NO has a significant effect on vascular smooth muscle tone and blood pressure. Numerous endothelium-dependent vasodilators, such as acetylcholine and bradykinin, act by increasing intracellular calcium levels in endothelial cells, leading to the synthesis of NO.

Apart from being a vasodilator and regulating blood pressure, NO also has antithrombotic effects.