ABSTRACT
Background: Caregiver burden and depression are related in parents of children with intellectual disability (ID), however, few Indian studies have addressed this. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 outlines several benefits for persons with disability, but no study has looked into the knowledge parents of children with ID have about it. The present study assessed caregiver burden and the knowledge regarding RPwD Act in depressed parents of children with ID.. Methodology: The present cross – sectional, observational study recruited 50 parents of children with ID, diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder as per DSM – 5. They were administered the Hamilton’s Depression Scale (HAM – D) and Pai and Kapur’s Family Burden Interview Schedule (FBIS) to assess for severity of depression and caregiver burden respectively. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed to assess knowledge of RPwD Act. Results: 26% of depressed parents had severe caregiver burden. Severity of depression correlated positively with caregiver’s and child’s age. Caregiver burden did not correlate with any factor. 88% of the parents were aware about the RPwD Act and certification procedure but more than 50% did not know regarding the specific provisions. Lowest knowledge was seen regarding tax rebates (4%), followed by reservations (6%). Conclusion: Caregiver burden is present in approximately one – fourth of caregivers with depression. Older children and older caregivers have more severe depression. Knowledge regarding tax rebates, educational and financial benefits in the RPwD Act appears to be poor in caregivers with depression.
ABSTRACT
Background: Smoking in adolescents is related to multiple factors like genetics, family variables and peerpreference and influence. The aim of the following study was to study the prevalence of smoking and age ofinitiation college students while comparing peer preferences in smoker and non-smoker college students.Methods: 100 college students were divided on the basis of current smoking status into two groups. Thesetwo groups were administered the Evers-Pasquale peer preference test and the Global Youth Tobacco Survey(GYTS). Sociodemographic variables were assessed using a semi-structured proforma. The data was thenstatistically analysed.Results: The prevalence of current smoking was 54%. Almost 44% of college students had initiated smokingat or after 16 years of age, whereas only 4% of the entire sample had initiated smoking before 10 years ofage. Close to one fifth (18.52%) of current smokers smoked daily and smoked cigarettes first in morningsuggesting dependence. Students who currently smoked were most likely to engage in any activity in thecompany of best friends, followed by cool friends (p = 0.0001).Conclusion: Smoking and peer pressure are linked and there is a need for tobacco intervention programmesto be directed at adolescent specific factors. Further research is needed to understand other factors promotingsmoking like personality factors, social influence, genetic factors etc.