Stroke among slum dwellers: Risk factors and health-seeking behavior in elderly residents of Dharavi, Mumbai
Journal Title: National Journal of Research in Community Medicine - Year 2018, Vol 7, Issue 1
Abstract
Background: Population ageing has led to an epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in developing countries. Poverty increases the vulnerability to chronic diseases such as hypertension and stroke, with the elderly poor being especially at risk, both in terms of disease incidence and challenges to secondary prevention.Objectives: To determine the prevalence of risk factors of stroke in elderly residents of Dharavi, Mumbai, and to study the health seeking behavior of stroke patients identified in the community.Methods: A random sample of 1726 individuals aged ≥60 years (730 men, 996 women, average age 66 years) was selected from a health post area in Dharavi and studied to evaluate stroke risk factors. Stroke survivors were interviewed in depth for health-seeking behavior.Findings: Approximately 60% of the participants were illiterate and from the lower economic class. In men, 30.55% smoked and 26.71% used alcohol, and 46.79% of the women used smokeless tobacco. Only 24.86% ate fruits and vegetables daily; 49.15% had high risk waist-hip ratios. Self-reported prevalence of hypertension and diabetes were 16.34% and 7.42% respectively. Of 66 stroke survivors identified, close to 80% found medicines and physiotherapy unaffordable, and 43.94% had tried unconventional treatments to cure paralysis.Conclusions: Our findings reflect widespread presence of risk factors and poor health care access in elderly slum-dwellers. The necessity for tobacco control, awareness campaigns and effective behaviour change interventions at the grassroots level has become imperative in the context of growing urbanization and population ageing.
Authors and Affiliations
Amita Mukhopadhyay, Daksha Pandit, Uma Sundar, Sikandar Adwani
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP515843
- DOI 10.26727/NJRCM.2017.6.4.336-340.
- Views 92
- Downloads 0
AWARENESS ON HEALTH EFFECTS OF RO WATER USAGE AMONGST MEDICAL STUDENTS
Introduction: Reverse Osmosis (RO) for purification of drinking water has become indispensable to us in recent times. We use it inadvertently without realizing that the water is demineralized and the effects it has on ou...
False beliefs about causation of Diabetes Mellitus among adults in Urban Pondicherry - A cross sectional study.
Introduction: Misconceptions about Diabetes is a hurdle in effective prevention and control, specifically in India. Objectives: 1. To assess the false beliefs about causation of Diabetes Mellitus.2. To assess the socio-d...
Impact of adherence to lifestyle factors on glycemic control among individuals with type 2 diabetes
Background: Diabetes is one among the non communicable diseases which is an upcoming public health problem in India. Due to its chronic nature, the disease leads to complications which are life threatening and also affec...
Study on Knowledge,Attitude and Practices concerning Immunization of under-five children in rural areas of Nalgonda
Background: According to WHO records, 10.6 million children die yearly before the age of 5; while an estimated 1.4 million of those are due to diseases that could have been prevented by vaccines. Aim of this study is to...
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTOR CHEMICALS: USAGE AND AWARENESS ON HARMFUL CHEMICALS EFFECTING ENDOCRINE SYSTEM IN PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS AMONG MEDICAL FRATERNITY
INTRODUCTION: Endocrine disruptors are chemicals present in personal care products as contaminants or ingredients in various forms. These chemicals are known to interact with cell and tissue programming causing side effe...