Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 7
Now that you have completed this study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering the following questions. Write your answers in your Study Diary and discuss them with your Tutor at the next Study Support Meeting. You can check your answers with the Notes on the Self-Assessment Questions at the end of this Module.
SAQ 7.1 (tests Learning Outcomes 7.1 and 7.2)
Why do you think it is important for health workers to stick to the ethical principles of confidentiality and truthfulness at all times?
Answer
As a Health Extension Practitioner working in a community, you should always work towards building up community trust. Telling the truth (truthfulness) and keeping clients’ private issues to yourself (confidentiality) are basic principles that you should always stick to during your day-to-day relationships with people. If you are not trustworthy, individuals will keep away from your services for fear that their private issues will be disclosed. This has the potential to severely affect your practice.
SAQ 7.2 (tests Learning Outcomes 7.1 and 7.3)
What is informed consent?
Answer
Informed consent is providing your client with information that enables them to decide or take an informed decision before you undertake any healthcare procedures on your client. For instance, you need to obtain informed consent from each pregnant mother who comes for antenatal care before you do any interventions.
SAQ 7.3 (tests Learning Outcomes 7.1 and 7.4)
Can you give an example of beneficence and an example of nonmalefience that a Health Extension Practitioner might demonstrate?
Answer
Beneficence is an ethical principle that focuses on ‘doing good’. A practical example might be providing focused antenatal care to a pregnant mother.
Nonmaleficence is an ethical principle which reflects both the idea of not inflicting intentional harm, and not engaging in actions that risk harming others. A practical example might be that the Health Extension Practitioner does not abandon people just because of their economic status.
SAQ 7.4 (tests Learning Outcomes 7.1 and 7.5)
What is the difference between distributive justice and social justice? Give an example of each type of justice that relates to the healthcare system.
Answer
The principle of justice is based on obligations of fairness, equality and impartiality, regarding treatment of individuals and groups within society.
Social justice is fairness to all groups of people within a community and is based on the application of equity, rights, access and participation. The role of Health Extension Practitioners is to support inclusion and empowerment of people to fully participate in public decisions; for example, making sure that the whole community participates in a malaria control campaign from the planning stage up to its evaluation.
Distributive justice is fairness to individuals who live in the community regardless of their status in the community; for example, all people should get treatment when they are ill no matter who they are.
SAQ 7.5 (tests Learning Outcome 7.6)
Imagine that Hamelmal, a 17-year-old, is now three months pregnant as the result of a rape attack. She had a baby last year that she decided to keep with the help of her family, with whom she lives. She has been attending High School and had hoped to complete next year. However, she dropped out of school recently as she had not been feeling very well with this pregnancy.
You are the Health Extension Practitioner caring for Hamelmal. Her mother wants her to have an abortion because of the rape and because she already provides most of the care for Hamelmal’s first child. Hamelmal, however, refuses to have an abortion, saying that she loves this baby and is praying the baby will be healthy.
What are the ethical issues or concerns in this situation?
Answer
There are several ethical concerns that might influence this situation. The Health Extension Practitioner will be concerned to do her best for everybody involved (beneficence) and do no harm to any of the individuals involved (nonmaleficence). It will be important to be truthful at all times when handling this situation and maintain confidentiality. Although everybody in the immediate family seems to know what is going on, the personal details about this situation must not be spread any further into the community. The mother of the baby must give her informed consent to any interventions that are done to her during the course of the pregnancy, or of course during the abortion if that’s what they finally decide.
Summary of Study Session 7