Home › Explained sheets › Living in French society
Health prevention and promotion (1/2)
In France, there are health prevention schemes. They are actions, measures and tools, for example screening or vaccination.
Key points of the sheet
- These schemes are used to prevent diseases from appearing and to detect and limit the progression of symptoms. They are also used to promote a healthy lifestyle.
- Screening is used to find a disease in a person who does not yet have symptoms.
- Screening detects diseases early. A quick treatment then increases the chances of recovery.
- The most frequent screenings concern cancers and diseases of the heart and lungs. They also concern infections, in particular sexually transmitted infections (IST).
- Screening is offered first to the people most at risk. It is done regularly, according to a precise schedule.
Words to know
- health prevention scheme (dispositif de prévention de santé)
- It is a set of actions, measures and tools, such as screening or vaccination, to prevent diseases from appearing, detect and limit the progression of symptoms, and promote a healthy lifestyle.
- screening (dépistage)
- It is used to find a disease in a person who does not yet have symptoms. Thanks to a quick treatment, it increases the chances of recovery.
- vaccination
- It is an example of a health prevention tool.
- sexually transmitted infections (IST) (infections sexuellement transmissibles (IST))
- The most frequent screenings concern infections, in particular sexually transmitted infections.
Test yourself: 3 questions
What is screening used for?
In French, the language of the exam: À quoi sert le dépistage ?
Screening is used to find a disease in a person who does not yet have symptoms.
Who is screening offered to first?
In French, the language of the exam: À qui le dépistage est-il proposé en priorité ?
Screening is offered first to the people most at risk of developing a disease.
What is an example of a health prevention scheme?
In French, the language of the exam: Quel est un exemple de dispositif de prévention de santé ?
The sheet gives screening and vaccination as examples of prevention schemes.
You have read the sheet. See where you stand with 40 questions like the real exam.
Take the free mock exam (40 questions)Free mock exam · Exam Pass €19 incl. VAT, paid once, no subscription
More in this topic (Health)
- Health prevention and promotion (2/2)
- Health prevention and promotion: mental health
- Health: coverage during maternity
Source
Sheet “Prévention et promotion de la santé (1/2)” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.