Introduction . Hypertension is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and its associated risk factors in Ernakulam district, Kerala. Methods . In this prospective family‐based cohort study, 573 families were included with a total of 997 participants aged 30 years and above. Baseline interviews were conducted in participant’s homes using a combination of self‐structured and standardized questionnaire. Blood pressure and plasma glucose were assessed for each participant. Results . The prevalence of hypertension was 43%. It was slightly higher in women than men (43.7% vs. 41.4%). The mean systolic blood pressure in the hypertensive population was 141.9 mmHg and mean diastolic blood pressure was 85.3 mmHg. In total, 78% (86.2% in women, 62.9% in men) of the participants were aware of their hypertension. Among those aware, 60.4% (63.5% in women, 52.6% in men) of the participants were on treatment, and hypertension was controlled in 75.1% (77.5% women, 68% in men) of the participants on treatment. The prevalence of hypertension was higher among persons with comorbidities (diabetes 64.5%, transient ischemic attack 54.7%, and heart disease 64.4%). Prevalence was lower among persons who did regular vigorous intensity exercise versus those who did moderate intensity exercise (32% vs. 45.7%) and among nonsmokers versus smokers (42.2% vs. 46.6%). Conclusion . The prevalence of hypertension in Kerala is high. Although awareness is quite high, there is a need to improve the number of persons with hypertension taking treatment.

Caregivers of people with disability experience difficulties in a variety of care domains. Understanding the predictive factors of caregiver strain is important in developing and implementing evide...

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in India. Social and behavioural factors are strongly interrelated in the prevention and control of CVD. The ability to make lifestyle changes to control hypertension and diabetes (major risk factors for CVD) is determined by factors such as education, gender, caste, poverty, and urbanicity. This study aimed to improve our understanding of the inter-relationship of social and behavioural factors in the management of elevated serum glucose and high blood pressure and co-morbid mental health conditions.Methods: A population-based catchment area cross sectional survey was conducted in Kerala, India. Data were collected from residents aged over 30 years (n = 997) using standardized tools and clinical measures. We performed latent class analysis incrementally to extract homogeneous latent classes of individuals based on their responses to social and behavioural risk factors in the survey. Using structural equation models, we assessed the mediating effect of depression and anxiety, and social or behavioural risk factors, on management of high blood pressure and raised serum glucose levels.Results: The prevalence of high blood pressure and blood glucose in the sample was 33 and 26% respectively. Latent class analysis found three clusters of risk factors. One had a predominance of behavioural characteristics, another of social risk factors and the third was a low risk group. Age, female sex, and marital status had an effect on high blood pressure and high glucose, though were mediated by mental health, social and behavioural risk factors.Conclusions: Interventions to improve the management of risk factors for CVD need to address social risk factors and be sensitive to the needs of population sub-groups that may require additional support to access health services. An integration of social and health services may be required to achieve this.

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine the existing literature of the major social risk factors which are associated with diabetes, hypertension and the comorbid conditions of depression and anxiety in India. Design Scoping review. Data sources Scopus, Embase, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, Web of Science and MEDLINE were searched for through September 2019. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Studies reporting data on social risk factors for diabetes or hypertension and depression or anxiety in community-based samples of adults from India, published in English in the 10 years to 2019, were included. Studies that did not disaggregate pooled data from other countries were excluded. Data extraction and synthesis Two independent reviewers extracted study aims; methods; sample size and description; demographic, social and behavioural risk factors and a summary of findings from each paper. Risk factors were synthesised into six emergent themes. Results Ten studies were considered eligible and included in this review. Nine presented cross-sectional data and one was a qualitative case study. Six themes emerged, that is, demographic factors, economic aspects, social networks, life events, health barriers and health risk behaviours. Conclusions Literature relating to the major social risk factors associated with diabetes, hypertension and comorbid depression and anxiety in India is sparse. More research is required to better understand the interactions of social context and social risk factors with non-communicable diseases and comorbid mental health problems so as to better inform management of these in the Indian subcontinent.

There are researches highlighting the importance of mental health of employees, which benefit the workplace and personal life. It is identified that the employee effectiveness depends on the mental health and well-being of the employees, and it contributes to the organizational productivity. However, there is a dearth of effective models of mental health interventions implemented and documented for organizations to follow and research on. This reflective paper based on a theoretical perspective discusses the Psychosocial Intervention Model developed by Mental Health Assistance Centre at Rajagiri College of Social Sciences for the Federal Bank Employees as part of the Employee Assistance Programme in the bank. This paper includes the basic processes, modalities, framework and two cases of intervention conducted as part of employee mental health well-being. This collaborative model progresses through various stages with different intervention strategies of Clinical Social Work, aligned to the mental health well-being of employees at the workplace. The major mental health issues of the employees identified are discussed with the outcome of the interventions.

Falls and their incapacitating effects are a significant concern for older people, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Falls are a significant concern among older people which requires immediate public health action. The current study examines multiple fall risk factors among community-dwelling older people in Kerala, India, to devise prevention strategies. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and May 2020 among the community-dwelling older population aged 60 and above. Data was collected through door-knock surveys using standardized scales. Fall history and associated risks were the primary outcome variables, whereas behavioral and cognitive risk factors of depression, anxiety and stress were the other factors. The study included 301 older people (aged over 60) from 573 households and found the prevalence of falls in the last year was 37.5%. Older women with moderate levels of physical activity, cognitive symptoms of anxiety and stress, and who are unemployed had higher chances of falls risk. Further, older people with higher functional disability and average and below self-rated health had higher chances of fall risk in the current population. Anxiety was the only significant risk factor which was statistically significant in multiple regression model. The older population with a combined risk of behavioral and cognitive factors is at higher odds of fall-related risk in Kerala.