Public Health Technician Prometric exam questions with answers

1. Question 1Biostatistics and Health Informatics Concepts and Principlesmedium

   A report shows the distribution of age in years among 300 measles cases, grouped into 5-year bands with no gaps between the bars. Which chart type is this?

   1. AA bar chart, because each age band is a separate category with gaps
   2. BA pie chart, because the bands are parts of one whole
   3. CA scatter plot, because each case is one point
   4. DA histogram, because age is a continuous variable shown in adjoining bands
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. A histogram, because age is a continuous variable shown in adjoining bands

   A histogram displays the frequency distribution of a continuous variable using touching bars. A bar chart is for discrete or nominal categories with gaps, a pie chart shows proportions of a whole, and a scatter plot needs two variables.

   Reference: Gordis, Epidemiology, 6th ed. (2019)

2. Question 2Environmental Healthhard

   A water sample from a treated supply has a free chlorine residual of 0.5 mg per litre after 30 minutes, but turbidity is 15 NTU and coliforms are still found. Why can turbidity cause this failure?

   1. ATurbidity raises the pH above 10 and stops chlorine acting
   2. BParticles directly convert chlorine into chloramine
   3. CTurbid water contains viruses that chlorine fails to kill
   4. DParticles shield microorganisms from the disinfectant and consume chlorine
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. Particles shield microorganisms from the disinfectant and consume chlorine

   Suspended particles protect microorganisms from contact with the disinfectant and also exert chlorine demand, so effective disinfection needs low turbidity, ideally below 1 NTU. Turbidity does not itself raise pH to 10, does not simply convert chlorine into chloramine, and does not mean viruses are always present.

   Reference: WHO, Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality, 4th ed. incorporating the first and second addenda (2022)

3. Question 3Epidemiology Concepts and Methodsmedium

   A new treatment for a chronic disease keeps patients alive longer without changing the number of new cases each year. What happens to the prevalence?

   1. AIt rises, because prevalence depends on incidence multiplied by duration
   2. BIt falls, because fewer patients are dying
   3. CIt stays the same, because incidence is unchanged
   4. DIt becomes equal to the incidence rate
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: A. It rises, because prevalence depends on incidence multiplied by duration

   Prevalence is approximately incidence multiplied by average disease duration, so longer survival with stable incidence increases the number of existing cases. Falling or unchanged prevalence would ignore the effect of duration.

   Reference: Gordis, Epidemiology, 6th ed. (2019)

4. Question 4Food and Water Safetymedium

   In a restaurant kitchen, the same cutting board is used for raw chicken and then for salad vegetables. Which control best prevents cross-contamination?

   1. ARinsing the board under cold running water between the chicken and the salad
   2. BWiping the board with a dry cloth after the chicken and before the salad
   3. CCooking the salad vegetables briefly
   4. DUsing separate boards and utensils for raw meat and ready-to-eat food
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. Using separate boards and utensils for raw meat and ready-to-eat food

   Separating raw and ready-to-eat items stops the transfer of Salmonella and Campylobacter. Cold-water rinsing or dry wiping do not remove bacteria, and cooking a salad is not an acceptable control.

   Reference: Codex Alimentarius, General Principles of Food Hygiene, CXC 1-1969 (rev. 2020)

5. Question 5Infection Control and Disease Reportingeasy

   Before entering a ward cubicle, a porter applies alcohol gel to his visibly clean hands. What is the recommended rubbing time?

   1. AAbout 5 seconds
   2. BAbout 60 seconds
   3. CAbout 3 minutes
   4. DAbout 20 to 30 seconds
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. About 20 to 30 seconds

   WHO advises rubbing all surfaces of the hands for 20 to 30 seconds until dry, while washing with soap and water takes 40 to 60 seconds. Five seconds is too short to reduce the bacteria, and longer times are unnecessary and discourage use.

   Reference: WHO, Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care (2009)

6. Question 6Health Education and Health Promotionmedium

   A health educator teaches mothers at a clinic that handwashing prevents diarrhoea. One mother says the tap is far from her home and soap is costly. Under the Health Belief Model, which construct does this describe?

   1. APerceived susceptibility
   2. BPerceived severity
   3. CCues to action
   4. DPerceived barriers
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. Perceived barriers

   Distance and cost are obstacles to taking the action, so they are perceived barriers. Susceptibility is the belief that one may get the disease, severity is how serious it is thought to be, and cues to action are triggers that prompt behaviour.

   Reference: Glanz, Rimer & Viswanath, Health Behavior: Theory, Research, and Practice, 5th ed. (2015)

7. Question 7Infection Control and Disease Reportingmedium

   Which patient needs an airborne infection isolation room with a negative pressure system?

   1. AA patient with suspected measles
   2. BA patient with seasonal influenza
   3. CA patient with whooping cough
   4. DA patient with norovirus gastroenteritis
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: A. A patient with suspected measles

   Measles spreads by airborne droplet nuclei and requires airborne precautions, as do tuberculosis and varicella. Influenza and pertussis need droplet precautions, and norovirus needs contact precautions.

   Reference: CDC, Guideline for Isolation Precautions (2007, updated 2019)

8. Question 8Infection Control and Disease Reportingmedium

   A clinic doctor suspects cholera in a patient with severe watery diarrhoea. What should the infection control officer do first regarding reporting?

   1. AWait for the stool culture result before telling anyone
   2. BNotify the public health authority at once through the notification system without waiting for laboratory confirmation
   3. CReport after three more cases appear
   4. DRecord it in the patient file and report at the end of the month
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: B. Notify the public health authority at once through the notification system without waiting for laboratory confirmation

   Cholera is an immediately notifiable disease, and a suspected case is reported so control measures can begin early. Waiting for culture or for further cases, or batching reports monthly, delays the response.

   Reference: Heymann, Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 20th ed. (2015)

9. Question 9Infection Control and Disease Reportingmedium

   When leaving an isolation room, which item of personal protective equipment is removed first?

   1. AGloves
   2. BFace mask
   3. CGown
   4. DRespirator
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: A. Gloves

   The most contaminated items are removed first, so gloves come off first, followed by eye protection, then the gown, and the mask or respirator last, with hand hygiene at the end. Removing the mask early would expose the face while other items are still contaminated.

   Reference: CDC, Sequence for Putting On and Removing Personal Protective Equipment (2019)

10. Question 10Insecticides and Pest Controlmedium

    Which action gives the most sustainable control of Aedes aegypti in a residential area?

    1. AEmptying, covering or scrubbing water-holding containers at least weekly
    2. BFogging the whole neighbourhood with an adulticide each month during the season
    3. CReleasing larvivorous fish into each bucket, drum and discarded tyre
    4. DPlacing bed nets over outdoor containers
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: A. Emptying, covering or scrubbing water-holding containers at least weekly

    Source reduction removes the breeding sites of this container-breeding mosquito, and weekly action interrupts the aquatic life cycle. Fogging gives short effect, fish are not suited to small containers, and bed nets protect people, not containers.

    Reference: WHO, Dengue: Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Control (2009)

11. Question 11Medical Waste Disposalmedium

    At what level should a sharps container be closed and sent for disposal?

    1. AWhen full to the brim
    2. BWhen half empty
    3. CWhen three-quarters full
    4. DAt the end of the month
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: C. When three-quarters full

    Containers are sealed at three-quarters full so that needles do not protrude or stick out when closing. Overfilled containers cause injuries, and waiting for a calendar date is unsafe.

    Reference: WHO, Safe Management of Wastes from Health-Care Activities, 2nd ed. (2014)

12. Question 12Medical Waste Disposalmedium

    Where should health-care waste be segregated into infectious and general streams?

    1. AAt the point of generation, by the person who produces it
    2. BAt the central waste store by cleaners using protective equipment
    3. CAt the landfill site by waste pickers before burial of the waste
    4. DAt the laundry before washing
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: A. At the point of generation, by the person who produces it

    Segregation at source is most reliable, cheapest and safest, and prevents mixing that would make all waste hazardous. Later sorting exposes workers to risk.

    Reference: WHO, Safe Management of Wastes from Health-Care Activities, 2nd ed. (2014)

13. Question 13Occupational Healthmedium

    A paint workshop uses a toxic solvent-based paint. According to the hierarchy of controls, which action is the most effective?

    1. AProvide the spray painters with fitted half-face respirators and train them to use them
    2. BSubstitute it with a less hazardous water-based paint
    3. CRotate the workers between the paint booth and other jobs at two-hour intervals
    4. DPost warning signs near the spray booth
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: B. Substitute it with a less hazardous water-based paint

    Elimination or substitution removes the hazard at source and ranks above engineering, administrative and personal protective measures. Respirators, rotation and signs leave the hazard in place and depend on worker behaviour.

    Reference: NIOSH, Hierarchy of Controls (2015)

14. Question 14Occupational Healthmedium

    An outdoor construction worker in summer collapses with confusion and hot, dry skin, and his temperature is 41 degrees Celsius. What does this indicate?

    1. AHeat cramps, which resolve with rest in the shade and salt tablets
    2. BHeat stroke, which is a medical emergency needing rapid cooling
    3. CHeat exhaustion, which needs rest, shade and oral rehydration with water
    4. DHeat rash, which needs a cool shower
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: B. Heat stroke, which is a medical emergency needing rapid cooling

    Altered mental state with a core temperature above 40 degrees is heat stroke and needs immediate cooling and emergency care. Heat exhaustion has sweating and a lower temperature without brain dysfunction, and cramps and rash are minor.

    Reference: WHO, Heat and Health Fact Sheet (2024)

15. Question 15Outbreak Surveillance and Investigationmedium

    A school reports 15 children with vomiting and fever on the same day. What is the first step in investigating this possible outbreak?

    1. AStart mass treatment of the pupils and staff with a broad-spectrum antibiotic
    2. BClose the school permanently until the end of the academic year
    3. CPublish a press release naming the cause
    4. DVerify the diagnoses and confirm there are more cases than expected
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: D. Verify the diagnoses and confirm there are more cases than expected

    The first step is to verify the diagnoses and establish that an outbreak exists by comparing counts with the expected baseline. Treatment, closure and announcements are premature without this.

    Reference: CDC, Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health Practice, 3rd ed. (2012)

Last reviewed September 2026. Questions are original and written to the published exam blueprint; they are not taken from any real paper.