Awareness and utilization of social welfare schemes among elderly villagers of Mahabubnagar rural region in Telangana State of India - An interventional study approach.

Introduction: Demographic transition enhanced the proportion of geriatric population in India. Senior citizens experience progressive economic dependency for their daily survival. The Government of India provides economic assistance through social welfare schemes. However, inadequate awareness of schemes is the key reason for its low utilization. The present study was implemented to evaluate knowledge and utilization of social welfare schemes and also to assess the effect of educational intervention on awareness of elderly persons about welfare schemes. Materials and Methods: A community-based interventional study carried out from July to December 2022. A structured 'TIV intervention' comprised of 'Training module', 'Interactive sessions' and 'Village Health Meeting' was administered on 839 elderly persons in one of the rural blocks of Mahabubnagar district of Telangana State of India. Community health workers were actively involved in sensitization sessions. Pre- and postintervention questionnaires were completed through face-to-face interview with participants by trained social workers. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 20 Software. Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in awareness levels and utilization of social welfare schemes due to TIV intervention (P < 0.001, SD = 3.01vs 1.21). The awareness of schemes was significantly greater among males, literates, socioeconomic scale of classes 1 and 2 and with age group of 60-70 years. Conclusions: Simple, cost-effective intervention can make significant gain in awareness and utilization levels of social welfare schemes among elderly population. 'Traditional Village Meetings' can be used as a potential opportunity to sensitize community members about social welfare schemes.

Complete Atlantooccipital Assimilation with Basilar Invagination and Atlantoaxial Subluxation Treated Non-Surgically: A Case Report.

Atlantooccipital assimilation is a partial or complete congenital fusion between the atlas and the base of the occiput. Most patients with atlas assimilation are asymptomatic, but some may present with neurological problems such as myelopathy. We present the case of a 37-year-old woman who presented with neck and occipital pain, episodic neck stiffness, and dizziness. Medical imaging revealed complete atlantooccipital assimilation associated with basilar invagination, atlantoaxial subluxation, and predisposing anterior spinal cord compression. The patient was treated non-operatively with medications, cervical interferential therapy, and a rigid cervical orthosis.

Knowledge about diabetes and relationship between compliance to the management among the diabetic patients from Rural Area of Sangli District, Maharashtra, India.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is an important public health problem of India. Studies have shown that increase in patients' knowledge regarding the disease results in better compliance to treatment and decrease in complications. This study was planned to assess the knowledge about diabetes and its correlation with pharmacological and non-pharmacological compliance, among the diabetic patients attending rural health center from Sangli District, Maharashtra (India). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted during September to November 2014. The study subjects were all willing adult patients with type II diabetes mellitus attending a selected rural hospital. The study tool was pretested and self-administered questionnaire. Analysis was done using Microsoft Excel and SPSS-22. RESULTS: Total study participants were 307 in number, with the mean age of 55.6 years. The mean morbidity with diabetes was 10.7 years. Only 23.8% had good knowledge regarding diabetes, while 19.2% participants had poor knowledge. Knowledge was significantly associated with the compliance to the pharmacological and non-pharmacological management. CONCLUSION: Although most of the patients were suffering with diabetes for many years there is lack of knowledge regarding the disease and self care. The compliance to the management of diabetes was better in patients with good knowledge. Seminars, counseling sessions and workshop should be arranged periodically for diabetic patients to increase their awareness.