A patient who has had a stroke and is in rehabilitation to minimize disability and prevent complications illustrates which level of prevention?

• A. Primary prevention
• B. Secondary prevention
• C. Tertiary prevention
• D. Health promotion

Answer: (C)

Rehabilitation after a stroke aims to reduce the long-term disability and prevent complications once the disease is present, which is tertiary prevention. The focus is on restoring function and minimizing the impact of the stroke, through therapies like physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as medical measures to prevent complications such as pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis, contractures, and ulcers. Primary prevention would be preventing the stroke from occurring in the first place; secondary prevention involves early detection to prevent progression; health promotion covers overall strategies to improve health but not the specific goal of reducing disability after a disease has occurred.