The world’s elderly population is fast increasing. But there is scant information of their health needs in the developing countries. This study is an attempt to estimate their health problems. 197 persons aged 60 years and above were interviewed from 3 villages of Kaniyambadi Block, North Arcot District, and Tamil Nadu. The total Population of the villages was 4256, of which 240 (5.6 %) were those aged 60 years and above. Among the elderly, 80% of the women and 20% of the men were widowed. The majority of them (55%) had visual problems (cataract), followed by orthopaedic problems. Chronic respiratory disorders were significantly more in men while orthopaedic problem were more in women. Of these 15.6% were hypertensive, 8.6% mainly widows needed assistance in physical activities like bathing, toilet, and dressing, walking and eating. These findings were similar to the studies on the elderly done in the West, and demonstrate an urgent need towards planning for the elderly in India

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A prospective community based study was conducted in the field practice area Sirur of B.J Medical College, Pune. All pregnancies and births in the 48,000-study population were identified. Screening of risk among pregnant mothers and newborn babies was undertaken periodically with the help of trained health workers by house to house visit. Extra care to ‘at risk’ individuals was planned in the existing health care pattern. A significant reduction in perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality rates over a four-year period was observed after application of the risk approach strategy.

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The Present study on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among family members of known diabetics was carried out by a house to house visit in Darya Ganji, an urban colony of Delhi. The study sample comprised family members of 213 known cases of diabetes mellitus diagnosed in an earlier survey done five months prior to the study. These cases belonged to 120 families. Of these families only 111 could be covered who had 462 persons above the age of 10 years. Of them, only 402 persons could be included in the study (non – response rate 12.9%). Of the total 402 subjects 48 were found to have abnormal carbohydrate tolerance (IGT + DM) to give an overall prevalence of 11.94&. The prevalence of IGT & DM was 8.7 % and 3.23% respectively. The prevalence of abnormal carbohydrate tolerance (ACT)(DM + IGT) was found to be significantly associated with age. Greater prevalence of diabetes amongst the siblings was noted when one parent was diabetic than when neither of the parents was diabetic.

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An epidemiological study to find out the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and influence of well-known risk factors was conducted in an urban community. A total of 648 individuals over the age of 30 years were studied. The prevalence rate of CHD was 6.48%. The prevalence rate of CHD progressively increased with age in both sexes and was maximum in the age group of 60 years and above. Amongst the risk factors studied, CHD was directly related to the smoking habit (P) and diabetes mellitus (P). There was no correlation with socio- economic status (PO.05) and type of fat consumed in the diet (PO.05). CHD was inversely related to the physical activity (P)

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A random sample in Jaipur city during the period July to October 1986 of 3791 families with a total population of 23, 227 having 2863 children between 5 and 9 years of age, belonging to various castes and communities, comprised the material for the present study. The prevalence of poliomyelitis was found to be 6.98/1000 children 5-9 years of age and the incidence was 2.32 /1000 children 0-5 years of age. Most of the cases (85%) were lame due to poliomyelitis by 2 years of age and mean age of onset of paralysis was 15.6 months. The right lower limb was more commonly affected. 25% of the lame children had received one or more doses of oral polio vaccine, 25% developed provocative paralysis following injection. 75% of the lame children had 2nd or 3rd degree of disability.

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