Which practice does NOT promote the health of the community?

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which practice does NOT promote community health. Four options are good public health measures, and one is harmful or at least unhelpful.

Step 2: Review each option

• A. Burning refuse in incinerators: This destroys waste and disease-causing organisms, and it reduces pests such as flies and rats. It promotes health.
• B. Disposing of human sewage with water closets: This keeps faeces away from food and water, so it prevents cholera, typhoid, dysentery and worm infections. It promotes health.
• C. Legislating in favour of sexual indulgence: Laws that encourage sexual promiscuity would increase the spread of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS, gonorrhoea and syphilis, as well as unwanted pregnancies. It does not promote health.
• D. Provision of portable (potable) pipe-borne water: Clean, safe drinking water prevents waterborne diseases. It promotes health.
• E. Sitting industries downstream, away from habitations: This reduces the community's exposure to industrial smoke, noise and waste. (Note: "downstream" placement also keeps effluents from contaminating the community's water source upstream.) It promotes health.

Step 3: Answer Only option C works against community health, so it is the practice that does NOT promote it.

Exam tip: In "which does NOT" questions, first cross out the options that are clearly good practices (sanitation, clean water, waste disposal). The odd one out is usually about behaviour or something that spreads disease. Also note that "portable" in option D is a misspelling of "potable" (safe to drink), so don't let it throw you.