Health Problems and Health-seeking Behavior of Aged Population from Rural Area of South India: A Cross-sectional Study | Chapter 8 | Medical Research and Its Applications Vol. 9

 

Introduction: Health status plays a very important role in the quality of life of an individual. With an increase in age, many health problems arise. Ageing of a population is a matter of great concern for the health sector. The elderly are, on the whole, less healthy than the non-elderly. Many health problems are known to increase with age and this demographic trend may lead to an increase in the absolute number of health conditions in the population. In addition, because there is a growing body of evidence that older people are at risk for multiple, co-morbid conditions, health care seeking will probably also increase.

 

Aim: The present study aimed to assess the pattern of health problems and health-seeking behaviour of the elderly in rural areas of South India.

 

Materials and Methods: The present descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the rural elderly population aged 60 years and above residing in the rural area of Prathipadu which is the field practice area of Dept of Community Medicine. The study was done from Oct 2011 to Dec 2011.

 

Results: Most of the study subjects (65.5%) were in the age group of 60-69 years. 28.5% of the study subjects were illiterate. The majority (79.5%) were not working. Around 68.5% study subjects were having one or other health problems. 39.42% were suffering from locomotive disorders, followed by respiratory disorders (30.66%), hypertension (27.7%) and visual impairment (25.55%). Around 75.91% of study subjects were taking some kind of treatment. Around 41.35% of study subjects were complying with their treatment regime. The most common reason for non-compliance was the high cost of treatment (39.34%). Regarding the morbidity pattern of the older persons in the current study, locomotive disorders were found to be most common, followed by respiratory disorders and hypertension. Musculo-skeletal changes are one of the most important functional effects of ageing. There is a loss of bone mass with ageing.

 

Conclusion: The findings of the study demonstrated that the majority of elderly people had one or more health issues, with motor abnormalities being the most prevalent. Additionally, while the majority of the participants were receiving treatment, there was a low level of adherence. The need for geriatric counseling facilities to address the medical, physiological, psychological, and social needs of the elderly is increasing.

 

Author(s) Details

Pravin N. Yerpude

Department of Community Medicine, Chhindwara Institute of Medical Sciences, Chhindwara (M.P.)-480001, India.

Keerti S. Jogdand

Department of Community Medicine, Chhindwara Institute of Medical Sciences, Chhindwara (M.P.)-480001, India.

Mohini S. Jogdand

Department of Community Medicine, SRTR Medical College & Hospital, Ambajogai, Maharashtra, India.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mria/v9/989

Assessing Maternal and Child-Care Best Practices in the Safe Motherhood Project: A Study on Women of Childbearing Age in Ntcheu District, Malawi | Chapter 7 | Medicine and Medical Research: New Perspectives Vol. 2

 

Maternal awareness of best practices and behaviors regarding childbearing and childcare significantly impacts children's developmental outcomes and overall survival. This influence is most critical during the formative years of childbearing. Knowledge about proper nutrition, health practices, immunization schedules, and early childhood education plays a substantial role. Moreover, understanding and recognizing the signs of common childhood illnesses and conditions are vital aspects of maternal behavior that contribute to a child's well-being. Providing a safe and stimulating environment that encourages children's physical, emotional, and intellectual development is also pivotal. In essence, the role of mothers and maternal figures is central to fostering healthy, resilient, and capable children who can thrive in their subsequent life stages. This chapter evaluates knowledge and practices of key maternal and childcare practices among women of childbearing age in the Safe Motherhood project, managed by the Ntcheu District Health Office in the Republic of Malawi. Safe Motherhood Project is a Malawi Government initiative that includes direct and indirect efforts to reduce maternal, neonatal, and child deaths, as well as disabilities resulting from pregnancy and childbirth by ensuring that every woman has access to a full range of high-quality and affordable sexual and reproductive health services. The focus is on the cross-sectional study that utilized both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis procedures. Data were also collected through a review of participant health records. Although the findings showed that all participants (n=400) had a general knowledge of maternal and child health care, they did not have comprehensive information, and only a few mothers were practicing the recommended key child health care practices. Only 42.4% (n=170) knew the appropriate number of visits a woman should make to the antenatal clinic, very few knew the appropriate time at which to access antenatal care, and slightly over half (50%, n=220) breastfed their babies exclusively. Some participants introduced supplementary feeds as early as a month after birth, and not all women delivered at the health facility. Failure to actively involve men and elderly women in maternal and child health issues had a negative impact on women’s ability to fully implement key maternal and childcare best practices. The findings suggest that it is crucial to actively involve men and elderly women in addressing maternal and child health issues in the Malawian context. In Malawi, the responsibility of raising a child does not solely rest on the mother but also on the entire village community. Elderly women serve as the guardians for women of childbearing age and hold valuable traditional knowledge that can greatly benefit young women. Additionally, it is essential to engage Community Nurse-Midwives in facilitating women’s groups to provide comprehensive antenatal information to mothers, enabling them to apply this knowledge in practice.

 

Author(s) Details

Dennis Mseu
Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi.

 

Sadandaula Rose Muheriwa-Matemba
Department of Human Development Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

 

Betty Mkwinda Nyasulu
The Writing Program Department, University College, University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), 1 UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas, USA.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mmrnp/v2/1048

Health-Seeking Behaviour of Nigerian Rural Dwellers: Implications for Healthcare Professionals | Chapter 12 | Challenges in Disease and Health Research Vol. 7

 Because of their cosmological and nosological notions, which ascribe the etiology of diseases and ill-health to forces well outside the realm of the stethoscope, Nigerian rural people engage in unhealthy health-seeking conduct. In Nigeria, a robust healthcare system must prioritize the 65 percent of rural citizens who are the poorest of the poor. The current analysis is being conducted in order to improve the health of rural residents by offering potentially valuable guidelines that will improve healthcare practitioners' awareness of rural residents' unique health-seeking behaviour, thus promoting successful patient-physician interactions and providing empirical support for sound health policy formulation. A manual literature and internet search (Google, Medline, Embase, HINARI, and Cochrane data bases) revealed that in the pluralistic medical milieu in which rural dwellers find themselves, the decision to seek healthcare, where to do so, and the type of care considered appropriate are all influenced by a variety of factors relating to the individual, the facility, and the socio-cultural environment. Religious values, the use of Traditional African Medicine (TAM), and the patients' view of truth all have an effect on health-seeking behaviour. During consultation, therapeutics, and addressing emerging complications of TAM and ethical dilemmas, healthcare providers must pay attention to patients' perceptions of disease and underpinning health values in order to effectively and successfully treat Nigerian rural patients. It is critical to improve rural infrastructure and conduct behavioral health promotion programs among rural residents, as well as formulate rational health policies and regulate TAM practice.

Author (s) Details

Godfrey B. S. Iyalomhe
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.

Sarah I. Iyalomhe
Department of Public Health and Primary Healthcare, Central Hospital, Auchi, Nigeria.

View Book :- https://stm.bookpi.org/CDHR-V7/article/view/926