A Study of Awareness of Health Problems of the Elderly with Reference to Mental Health.

Objective: To access the public awareness about elderly mental health problems method 750 subjects of above the age of 18 years of urban sector were selected through purposive sampling technique. Method: The study sample consisted, 862 subjects both male & female above the age of 18 years. Out of the total population 1724 (study universe) were identified from Lucknow Municipal corporation. Only 862 (families residing elderly persons) were selected for study and rest 750 could be contacted due to their non-availability during visit of research team on working days. Self developed Performa were used for assessment of elderly problem. Results: Awareness was found very low about the elderly mental health problems (Dementia 0.8%, Delirium 0.4%, Delusional Disorder 1.6%, Insomnia 1%, Stroke 1.71 etc). Surprisingly few educated urban residents included in the study opined that the treatment of elderly problems is not necessary. Mostly the subjects (98.8%) were found unaware about the immunization of elderly and were also unaware about the appropriate diet of elderlies. Conclusion: The study strongly suggests need for psycho-education of the community particularly of the care givers. Study was carried out to sought out the suggestions of caregivers about the public awareness programmes.

Health Conducive Behavioural Intervention Needs of Rural and Urban Communities.

The study reports the prevalence of non-conducive behavioural practices in the area of “health care” prevalent in 1134 families of Northern India. Sample consisted of 563 families from rural and 571 families from urban area of Barabanki (Centre), Muzaffarnagar (North) & Gorakhpur (East) district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Behaviour correlates in the area of health care were mapped on a pre-prepared schedule, “Proforma for mapping of Behaviour correlates”. Percentage, hypothesis testing for difference between proportions and rank-order correlation was used for statistical analysis of data. Findings suggest that significantly more families from rural areas were involved in non-health conducive behavioral practices in all the studied constituent elements of self care except ‘carefulness about oral hygiene’. Urban families were more frequently involved in regular daily routine, carefulness about personal hygiene, appropriate use of personal & leisure time activities, elderly & child care than rural area. The study highlights the need for behavioural intervention both in urban as well as rural families in day to day living.