ABSTRACT
Background: As our age increases, different pathophysiological changes occur, which leads to geriatric syndromes in the elderly. Along with other bodily changes, psychological changes and dementia start emerging that affects day-to-day activities of the elderly people. These symptoms often get undetected due to lack of care or awareness among the geriatric population or their caregivers. Aim and Objectives: This study aims to measure the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and onset of dementia among the geriatric population in a rural area of West Bengal. Materials and Methods: An observational, descriptive, community-based, and cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing persons aged 60 years and above residing in Banspole village during the months of April–May, 2022, using General Health Questionnaire-12 and dementia assessment by rapid test questionnaire. The data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results: A total of 104 respondents were interviewed (62.5% male and 37.5% female). Most commonly found comorbidity was hypertension (48.08%), followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (26.92%) and hypothyroidism (25.97%). Significant psychological morbidity was found in 49 (47.11%) persons, whereas, different levels of dementia was found in 72 (69.23%) participants. Significant associations were found between psychiatric morbidity with age and socioeconomic status, and dementia with age and marital status. Significance level was at P < 0.05. Conclusion: As it can be seen that in psychiatric morbidity is present in almost half of the participants, and dementia in almost 70% participants, but most of the times, these get undetected or overlooked. Early detection and management are the need of the hour, as these conditions causes huge economic burden on the caregivers, as well as on the government concerned.
ABSTRACT
Background: Child rearing practices are very important determinants of overall growth and development of child. As mother is primary caregiver of child, her knowledge regarding child rearing is very important. Unfortunately, till today, in India, teenage marriage and teenage pregnancy are very common. These adolescent mothers are not only underprepared physically and psychologically for giving birth and rearing a child successfully, but also it is assumed that have no proper knowledge. However, there was no sufficient research study for assessing knowledge regarding child rearing among teenage pregnant women in West Bengal, especially in rural area. Aims and Objectives: Assessing the knowledge regarding child rearing practice and its relationship with the determinants among teenage pregnant women in rural area of West Bengal. Materials and Methods: A descriptive community-based cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in rural field practice area of Medical College, Kolkata among 99 adolescent pregnant women during time period of July–December 2021. Data were analyzed in SPSS software version 20. Results: Mean age of the respondents was 17.60 (±1.23) years. Among the participants 58% being school dropout and 46% were homemaker. Maximum number of participants was married and got pregnant within age group of 15–17. Only 59.6% had good knowledge about child rearing. Number of child and perceived social pressure was statistically significant with the CRK score. Conclusions: The government should give more emphasis to improving maternal education and preventing teenage marriage and teenage pregnancy as a long-term strategy for improving child health.
ABSTRACT
Background: Adolescence is the intermediary linking phase from childhood to adulthood. Physical, sexual, psychological and social developmental changes during this period. Adolescence is a period of increased awareness of bodily cues and self-reflection, including evaluation of one’s own body and appearance. Body misconception and body dissatisfaction, two very important potential causative factors of bad nutritional status of adolescents, have not been adequately investigated in rural India. Aims and Objectives: The present study on adolescents was conducted to assess the lifestyle factors and degree of dissatisfaction and misconception of their body. Materials and Methods: An observational, descriptive, and community-based cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing adolescents residing in the field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine, Medical College, Kolkata, during the months of March–April, 2022. The data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results: A total of 239 respondents were interviewed (74.1% male and 25.9% female). About 47.3% were early adolescents, 46.4% were middle adolescents, and rest 6.3% were late adolescents. About 56.5% was indulged in some kind of exercise. According to the total adolescent body image satisfaction scale score, 66.5% seemed to be satisfied with their body image. Body image dissatisfaction was associated with participants’ age, gender, socio-economic status, and type of family. Conclusion: It is evident from the study that girl children, adolescents of the lower socio-economic status group, and middle, and late adolescents are more prone to be dissatisfied with their body image. Hence, they need to be given extra focus for restoration of their mental health.
ABSTRACT
1 Background: Geriatrics refers to people aged 60 years and above. In India, the absolute number of elderly people increased from 76 million in 2001 to 100 million in 2011(8.6% of total population) and 138 million in 2021 (10.1% of total population). Common morbid conditions in older age include hypertension, diabetes, hearing loss, cataracts and refractive errors, back and neck pain and osteoarthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, dementia, and complex health states commonly called the “Geriatric Syndromes.” Aims and Objectives: The present study described the morbidity pattern, quality of life and their relationship among geriatric patients attending Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. Materials and Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with a semi-structured data collection form having “OPQOL-Brief questionnaire” among 110 older subjects in a systematic manner who have attended the Geriatric Medicine OPD of Medical College, Kolkata, during the months of March–April, 2021. The data were entered into Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (version 10) and analyzed with the help of SPSS (version 25). Results: About 59.1% of study subjects were male. The most common morbidity was hypertension (47.27%), followed by diabetes mellitus (39.1%), bronchial asthma (27.3%), and heart diseases (19.1%). About 50.9% of the patients (49.23% of male and 53.33% of female) had a good quality of life. Conclusion: This study showed that these patients’ quality of life had significant relationship with their socioeconomic status and number of comorbidities present. It was advisable to adopt policies for affordable solutions for diagnosis and management of geriatric comorbidities overall.