RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Dementia is an insidious cognitive disorder featuring a decline in cognition that is not well explained by the physiology of aging. Dementia includes a group of disorders that are distinguished by a gradual loss of both cognition and the capability to execute day-to-day functions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 384 elderly participants in areas surrounding the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bibinagar, Telangana, India. Those with more than 65 years of age were included in the study, and those suffering from serious illnesses were excluded. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) scale, the University of California and Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale, and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to assess cognitive status, loneliness, and depression, respectively, among the study participants. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with cognitive impairment (CI), depression, and loneliness. RESULTS: The average MOCA score of the study participants was 14.9 ± 6.9, with 28.6% of the participants exhibiting severe CI. Nearly half of the participants (49.2%) experienced moderate to high degrees of loneliness, and 39.3% experienced moderate to severe depression. Important factors found to be associated with severe CI were illiteracy (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.85, 95% CI: 1.35-4.45), urban residence (AOR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.04-0.81), living with a spouse (AOR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.11-0.78), not consuming alcohol (AOR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.14-0.87), and depression (AOR: 4.49, 95% CI: 1.37-14.67). CONCLUSION: CI is a serious public health problem in India. With the increasing proportion of the elderly population in the near future, CI levels will increase, especially in countries like India. Timely interventions such as early identification through community-based screening, the inclusion of a geriatric health component in primary health care, and proper counseling will help address this problem at a grassroots level.
RESUMEN
The transition to parenthood is not only a tremendous joy but also great stress to a mother (especially a primigravida) both physically and psychologically. The purpose of this research is to improve confidence in first-time childbearing couples, increase parental attachment, alleviate anxiety and promote the maternal and neonatal outcomes of delivery. In a randomized controlled trial design, simple randomization was utilized to enroll 300 first-time childbearing couples who have completed the 24th week of gestation (150 in control and experimental arms). Nested refers to fully contained antenatal exercises, kick chart monitoring, and the use of a preggy imitator. VARK strategies indicate visual (information exhibited through demonstration), auditory (preference for information that is heard or spoken through lectures), read (information displayed as words, text-based input and output), and kinesthetic (preference for gathering information through experience and practice, simulated real, through concrete personal experiences) strategies along with routine care were executed on the experimental group. Data was collected using Condon's Parental Attachment Scale and Perinatal Anxiety Scale during the pre-test at the 24th week and post-tests at the 32nd, 33-34, and 36-38 weeks of gestation respectively, after the intervention through the self-administration method. Maternal and fetal outcomes were identified through medical records within 24 to 48 hours after delivery. The pre-test parental attachment mean score was significantly increased in post-test (Mothers: 61.44±3.27 to 77.89±32.44, fathers: 51.44±1.93 to 58.89±24.86) the for experimental group after the intervention compared to the control group (Pre-test score mother: 61.41±2.98 to 66.43±31.55, father: 51.24±3.95 to 49.30± 23.55) at p <0.001. The pre-test anxiety mean score was significantly reduced after intervention (mother: 44.60±3.92 to 16.57± 8.18, father: 22.55±3.41 to 6.28±4.47) for the experimental group compared to the control group (mother=46.22±5.12 to 25.03± 13.89, father=22.62±3.39 to 17.92± 9.92) at p <0. 001. The study findings recommend VARK strategies to be advocated with existing hands-on childbirth preparation classes for childbearing couples.