SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Define special health.
This refers to the health needs conditions or services that go beyond ordinary
medical care. It’s used often in public health, nursing, education to describe
people who need extra attention tailored support or specialized intervention
due to certain circumstances.
2. Outline 4 health disparities that affect individuals with special health
a) Social and educational inequalities
- Individuals with special health needs may experience stigma,
discriminations and reduced opportunities in education or employment
which worsen their overall health and quality of life.
b) Inadequate preventive care
- Preventive services like immunizations, screening and routine checkup
are often missed due to fragmented care, provider bias, focus only on the
primary condition
c) Higher financial burden
- Families often incur higher out-pocket expenses for medications for
therapies, assistive devices or long turn care, which can strain
household resources.
d) Limited access to health care services.
- People with special health needs may face physical, financial or
geographic barrier in accessing healthcare e.g lack of wheelchair-
accessible facilities, specialized provider or transport.
3. Explain 2 factors that lead to under-utilization of preventive health
services among the special health group.
i) Lack of awareness and provider bias
- Preventive care is often overlooked because patients, caregivers or even
health care providers may focus mainly on managing the primary
condition. Some providers assume people with special needs don’t
require routine screening or vaccination while families may not be
adequately informed about the importance of prevention
ii) Accessibility barriers.
- Many individuals face physical, financial or logistical challenges that
make it hard to reach preventive services.
- An example is lack of transport, non-wheelchair, friendly facilities, long
waiting times or inability to afford regular check-ups can discourage
attendance.
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4. List four common causes of visual impaired.
i) Age related macular degeneration of the central part of the retina leading
to loss of central vision.
ii) Refractive errors- uncorrected conditions like myopia, hyperopia and
astigmatism.
iii) Glaucoma – damage to the optic nerve often from increased eye pressure
iv) Cataracts – clouding of the eye lens, common in older adults.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
a) Define visual impairment (2mks)
- Refers to a condition in which a person’s ability to see is reduced even
after treatment or use of corrective lenses and it interferes with normal
daily activities.
b) Discuss 4 roles of family in early childhood development in visual
impaired child (8mks)
i) Providing emotional support and acceptance.
- The family nurtures the child with love, patience and encouragement
which build self-esteem, reduces feelings of isolation and fosters a sense
of belonging.
ii) Advocacy and access to services
- Parents and caregivers play a vital role in seeking medical care, special
education, rehabilitation services and ensuring the child gets necessary
assistive devices (e.g braille materials , white cane)
iii) Facilitating learning and skill development
- Families can stimulate child’s development by using alternative methods
such as tactile materials, sound-based play and guiding the child in daily
living skills like dressing, eating and mobility.
iv) Creating inclusive home environment
- Families adopt the home by organizing spaces safety, labeling items
with textures or sounds and encouraging independence.
c) Discuss the role of a registered health community nurse in
management of individuals with visual impairment and preventive
measures (10mks)
i) Health assessment and early detection.
- To conduct vision screening on communities and schools.
- Identify cases of educed vision and refer for specialized eye care.
ii) Health education and counseling
- Educate patients and families on coping strategies, use of assistive
devices and importance of adherence to treatment offering emotional
and psychological support to reduce stigma and promote social
inclusion.
iii) Assessment and early identification.
- Carrying out vision screening in school, clinics and communities.
- Identifying individuals with eye problem and making timely referrals to
specialties.
iv) Referrals and collaboration.
- Referring clients to ophthalmologist optometrists or low vision
specialists.
- Collaborating with leaders’ social workers and community leaders to
ensure a supportive environment.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
1. Community awareness creation
- Educating the public about common causes of blindness such as cataracts,
glaucoma, trachoma and refractive errors.
- Promoting eye hygiene and safe practices to avoid infections and injuries
2. Immunization and nutritional programs
- Supporting measles immunization campaigns to prevent measles- related
blindness.
3. Screening and early treatment.
- Organizing regular eye screening camps in schools and communities
- Encourages people with diabetes and hypertension to go for regular eye
checks to prevent complications such as diabetic retinopathy.
4. Environmental and occupational safety
- Promoting the use of protective gears in work places to prevent eye
injuries.
- Encourages safe home and community environments free of hazards that
could cause eye trauma.
