ABSTRACT
Culture is a learned behavior. It is a community's knowledge and set of practices that evolves out of continuous interactions with the outer environment feedback either positive or negative. In a strict sense culture is a man-made nature opposite to physical nature to survive. The objective of the study was to investigate the interrelationship of older persons' [OPs] marital status and mode of living with their medical history. Cross Sectional Study. The study was conducted on behalf of Help Age Pakistan. The data collection was done in various union councils of Rawalpindi city. The study duration was three months and lasted from Sep-2013 to Dec-2013. Structured questionnaire was developed to collect information on Older Persons' health, economic and psychological status. In this regard, an extensive questionnaire was designed and pre-tested vigorously. Questionnaires were filled by the graduates of PMAS-Arid Agriculture University. The respondents who were single were mostly heart patients [n=14, 21.4%]. The married respondents reported other diseases that included mental health, skin problems, paralysis, eye and hearing impairments and TB etc [n=704, 20.7%]. Widows and widowers were in the third category with the same problems reported in second category [n=274, 20.1%]. Results in the category of hypertension explain that elder peoples living in their own houses reported 9.1% hypertension, OPs living in rented houses suffering from hypertension were 10.3%, in case of hired residence percentage recorded was 0.0% and in the other category of living like living with relatives, friends or any other, 14.3% OPs were fighting with hypertension in their lives. The data reveal that OPs living single are likely to catch heart problems, the married OPs were suffering from mental illnesses, dermatological problems, paralysis as well as hearing and visual impairments. The results show that OPs living in their own houses were better off than the ones living in other mode of living. Rented houses reported high percentiles of hypertensions, heart problems, and diabetes
ABSTRACT
The aim of study was to explore the interrelationship of older persons' health with various psychological stresses in Rawalpindi city. Cross Sectional. The study was commissioned to the research team on behalf of Help Age Pakistan [an INGO based in Islamabad]. The data collection was done in various union councils of Rawalpindi city. The study duration was three months and lasted from September 2013 to December 2013. Structured questionnaire was developed to collect information on Older Persons' health, economic and psychological status. In this regard, an extensive questionnaire was designed and pre-tested vigorously. Questionnaires were administered with the help of a research team that comprised the graduates of department of Anthropology of PMAS-Arid Agriculture University along with professionals of Regional Development Network [RDN] as well as field staff of Pakistan National Center on Ageing [PNCA]. 414 [41.4%] respondents said that they felt lonely because they feel age gaps due to which they thought nobody at home could understand what they feel. As regards the frequency of visits by the kids or family members, the responses were Never [36.7%], Monthly [29.6%], Weekly [18.9%]. To kill their time 16.2% UPs spent their time in mosque, shops, or parks, 14.1% spent time while staying at home. The large majority of the OPs felt lonely because of the ignorance on behalf of the kids, families and indifferent attitude of society. There is a strong relationship between the mental stresses, economic instability of families and gradual loosening up of familial bond. The psychological stresses later on are increasing health problems and complications for OPs
ABSTRACT
The objective of present study was to investigate level of interdependence between prevalence of Ghutti and education of newborn's mothers. Cross-sectional. This study was carried out at Village Khewayaali, Tehsil Wazirabad, District Gujranwala from Aug-2013 to Oct-2013. Data was collected while administrating a fully structured questionnaire. Tool was implemented with the help of women enumerator after improving the areas highlighted during the pre testing. A sample of 324 lactating women was randomly selected out of total population of lactating mothers. SPSS was used for data analysis. As 95% of lactating women respondent of this research confirmed that they had given their child Ghutti prior to the breastfeed. But on the other side, 80% of the total respondents also confirmed that they had fed their child in first 04 hours after birth and did not waste the highly nutritive Colostrum. Whereas, comparison of mothers' education with the use of Ghutti delineated that the practice is equally common among illiterate and educated mothers both. Illiterate mothers were 21% of the total respondents and use of Ghutti was equally present in rest 79% educated mothers as well thus the practice was found among 100% respondents. Current study explored that education has no influence over this deeply rooted a cultural practices and norms. As mothers despite being educated and much aware with the benefits of breastfeed performed this tradition under the persuasions of adult relatives especially mother in law
ABSTRACT
The aim of study is to highlight the hidden ageing population and its problems. The specific purpose of the study was to explore the interrelationship of ageing with income as well as the medical history among the older persons of Rawalpindi city. Cross Sectional. This study was commissioned to the research team on behalf of Help Age Pakistan. The data collection was done in various union councils of Rawalpindi city. The study duration was three months of 2013. Structured questionnaire was developed to collect information on Older Persons' health, economic and psychological status. In this regard, an extensive questionnaire was designed and pre-tested vigorously. Number of researchers form PMAS-Arid Agriculture University was engaged to collect data. There is a strong relationship between the income statuses of OPs with their health physical conditions. The lack of permanent source of income leads to the high tendency of contracting various health problems among OPs. Similarly the inactive status of OPs also affects their health wellness which later on leads to create a multiplier effect regarding various health problems like heart problems, hypertensions, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, etc. There is a strong relation of income stability with the various psycho-somatic problems. The sense of being actively involved in familial functions especially economic chores provide a sense of independence and psychological sense of control over life results in better health among OPs