Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

An unemployed client with AIDS experiences recurrent infections demonstrating which concept?

1. Barriers to access

2. Cascade effects

3. Cumulative risk

4. Socially based inequity

The correct answer is: Cascade effects

The concept of cascade effects is particularly relevant when understanding the situation of an unemployed client with AIDS who experiences recurrent infections. Cascade effects describe how an initial issue or condition can lead to a chain of subsequent health problems or challenges. In this case, being unemployed may lead to a lack of access to essential healthcare services, proper nutrition, and social support. These factors can contribute to a weakened immune system, making the individual more susceptible to infections. As a result, the initial condition of AIDS, coupled with unemployment, creates a cycle where the client experiences worsening health outcomes due to the cumulative impact of the various factors interacting over time. In this context, while barriers to access, cumulative risk, and socially based inequity are important public health concepts, they do not fully capture the specific sequential and interconnected nature of the challenges the client faces. Cumulative risk refers to the overall risk accumulated from multiple sources, but cascade effects emphasize the direct link between the primary condition and the subsequent health issues, which is integral to understanding this client's experience.