Which statement correctly differentiates primary prevention from secondary prevention?

• A. Primary aims to prevent the condition before it arises; Secondary aims to prevent worsening at onset.
• B. Primary addresses only treatment; Secondary addresses only cure.
• C. Primary and Secondary are the same; Secondary is broader.
• D. Primary focuses on cure; Secondary focuses on rehabilitation.

Answer: (A)

Differentiating primary and secondary prevention hinges on when action is taken relative to disease onset. Primary prevention acts before any disease is present, aiming to keep the condition from arising by reducing risk factors and promoting health. Secondary prevention acknowledges that disease has already begun or is detectable, and focuses on early detection and prompt management to prevent progression and complications.

The statement fits this timing-based idea: primary aims to prevent the condition before it arises, and secondary aims to prevent worsening at onset by catching it early and intervening to stop it from getting worse. For example, vaccination or lifestyle changes to prevent disease are primary, while screening tests that detect disease early so treatment can limit damage are secondary.

Other choices mischaracterize prevention. Treating or curing are not the primary activities of prevention, and assuming the two levels are the same or that secondary is broader ignores the crucial difference in timing and purpose. Rehabilitation is more about restoring function after disease or injury, not the preventive aims described here.