Which situation represents a potential ethical issue in community health research?

The situation involving the school principal offering to provide immunization records of students represents a potential ethical issue in community health research due to concerns related to privacy and confidentiality. In community health research, protecting individuals' health information is paramount. Immunization records contain personal health information that, when disclosed without adequate consent, could violate the students' right to privacy.

It is crucial to obtain informed consent from parents or guardians before sharing any health-related data, as unauthorized disclosure could lead to misuse of information or stigmatization of individuals. Ethical guidelines in research emphasize the importance of maintaining confidentiality and the need for transparency when handling sensitive data. Therefore, this situation raises significant ethical considerations that must be addressed to ensure the protection of students' health information.

The other situations involve practices typically considered within ethical boundaries, as they either focus on public engagement (such as discussing findings or conducting a public information campaign) or adhere to proper consent processes (like obtaining parental consent for research participation).