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Comprehensive Screenings for Diabetes, Hypertension, and Mental Illness in Rural India

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https://doi.org/10.5070/Q22141230Creative Commons 'BY-NC' version 4.0 license
Abstract

Diabetes, hypertension, and mental health illnesses constitute a substantial portion of the healthcare burden in rural India. These issues, if left untreated, can lead to debilitating diseases and further burdens on society. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence hypertension, diabetes, and mental health illnesses in a rural Indian population. It was hypothesized that high levels of hypertension and diabetes would be present in the rural Indian village, along with a higher prevalence of depression in this community compared to other rural areas due to the high incidence of disability in the village. The health screening was conducted on 1195 patients with 973 respondents included in the study. The first phase of the study showed that a majority of the respondents had above average blood pressure values, high incidences of underweight patients, and a moderate number of respondents at risk for diabetes. The second phase of the study showed that half of the population surveyed had a depression level of moderate or higher severity. In addition, the results of the anxiety also identified that a majority of the population suffered from mild to moderate anxiety. Drastic improvements in access to education, diet, and health care are required in order to alleviate the medical conditions assessed in this study. Furthermore, the results from the depression and anxiety screenings show a large population that requires mental health treatment, although any connection between the specific disabilities faced by the villagers and these issues requires further investigation.

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