A public health nurse working in a rural area is developing a program to improve health for the local population.

Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

The correct answer is choice C. Provide anticipatory guidance classes to parents through public schools. This is because anticipatory guidance is a type of health teaching that involves sharing information and experiences through educational activities designed to improve health knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and skills. Anticipatory guidance helps parents to prevent or reduce health problems in their children by providing them with information on topics such as nutrition, immunization, injury prevention, and developmental milestones. Providing anticipatory guidance classes through public schools is an example of a population-based public health intervention that aims to improve the health of a large group of people who share common characteristics or risks.

Choice A is wrong because tertiary health interventions are not the best way to improve health for the local population. Tertiary health interventions are those that focus on treating and rehabilitating people who have already developed a disease or disability. They are more costly and less effective than primary or secondary health interventions, which aim to prevent or detect diseases early.

Encouraging rural residents to focus health spending on tertiary health interventions would not address the underlying causes of poor health in the community.

Choice B is wrong because having a nurse from outside the community provide health lectures at the county hospital is not a culturally appropriate or accessible way to deliver health education. A nurse from outside the community may not understand the needs, values, beliefs, and practices of the rural residents, and may not be able to establish trust and rapport with them. Moreover, the county hospital may not be a convenient or comfortable location for many rural residents to attend health lectures, especially if they have transportation, financial, or time barriers.

A better approach would be to involve local community members and leaders in planning and delivering health education programs that are tailored to the rural context and culture.

Choice D is wrong because launching a media campaign to increase awareness about industrial pollution is not a sufficient action to improve health for the local population. While increasing awareness is an important first step, it does not necessarily lead to behavior change or environmental improvement.

A media campaign alone would not address the sources and effects of industrial pollution, nor would it provide solutions or resources for the rural residents to protect themselves from exposure.

A more comprehensive action would be to collaborate with other stakeholders, such as environmental agencies, industry representatives, and community groups, to develop and implement strategies for reducing and monitoring industrial pollution and its impact