Providing home visitation to all newborns is an example of which level of prevention?

Providing home visitation to all newborns is an example of which level of prevention?

• A. Selective prevention
• B. Universal prevention
• C. Indicated prevention
• D. Tertiary prevention

Answer: (B)

Universal prevention targets the entire population, regardless of individual risk. Providing home visitation to all newborns fits this approach because the service is offered to every baby and family in the birth cohort, not only those deemed high-risk. The aim is to support healthy parenting, monitor early development, and connect families with resources before problems arise, reducing adverse outcomes on a broad scale. By contrast, selective prevention would focus on subgroups with higher risk, indicated prevention on individuals showing early signs of problems, and tertiary prevention on those who already have a problem to lessen its impact.

Universal prevention targets the entire population, regardless of individual risk. Providing home visitation to all newborns fits this approach because the service is offered to every baby and family in the birth cohort, not only those deemed high-risk. The aim is to support healthy parenting, monitor early development, and connect families with resources before problems arise, reducing adverse outcomes on a broad scale. By contrast, selective prevention would focus on subgroups with higher risk, indicated prevention on individuals showing early signs of problems, and tertiary prevention on those who already have a problem to lessen its impact.