INTRODUCTION Globally the population is ageing rapidly. According to WHO it is projected that the number of persons aged 60 or over is expected to more than triple by 2100. Mental health and emotional well-being are as important in older age as at any other time of life. As estimated by WHO, unipolar depression occurs in 7% of the general elderly population. 1 Multiple social, psychological, and biological factors determine the level of mental health of a person at any point of time. As well as the typical life stressors common to all people, many older adults lose their ability to live independently because of limited mobility, chronic pain, frailty or other mental or physical problems, and require some form of long-term care. In fact, depression is a common cause of disability in older adults. Among its consequences are reduced life satisfaction and quality, social deprivation, loneliness, cognitive decline, ADL limitations, suicide and increased non-suicide mortality. Mental health has an impact on physical health and vice versa. All of these factors can result in isolation, loss of independence, loneliness and psychological distress in older people. Depression is both under diagnosed and undertreated in primary care settings. Symptoms of depression in older adults are often overlooked and untreated because they coincide with other late life problems.

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Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic, debilitating disease characterized by insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion and hyperglycemia. It represents more than 90% of total prevalence of diabetes in the world and is responsible for 9% of the global mortality corresponding to four million deaths per year. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of diabetes mellitus type-2 in a rural population of age 30 years and above.Methods: A community based cross sectional study carried out in population 30 years and above in rural area of Khammam district in Telangana during the study period from 1st January to 31st December 2015. A total of 910 persons aged 30 years or more were included in study.Results: Near about 74 (8.1%) were diagnosed as type -2 diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of DM was 16.22% in 30-40 years age group, 24.32% in 41-50 years age group, 43.34% in 51-60 years age group and 16.2% in 61-70 years age group which shows that DM increases with age and the association between age and prevalence of type 2 DM was found to be statistically significant.Conclusions: There is a need to increase awareness of type–2 diabetes mellitus in the general population. Health education should be given in terms of risk factors of diabetes. They should be made aware about early screening methods.

Background: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer overall and is the most common cancer in women worldwide, both in the developed and developing countries. There are about 1.38 million new cases and 458,000 deaths from breast cancer each year. The aims and objectives of the study were to determine the awareness about breast cancer among urban slum women.Methods: A community based cross–sectional study was conducted at urban slum Shahpur Nagar, Hyderabad. The study participants were above 15 years of age and the study was conducted for a period of one month. A total of 200 study participants were enrolled.Results: Only 35% of the study population was aware about the early danger signs and 66% were unaware. Those who were aware in that 46.3% were breast lump is the early warning sign of breast cancer, followed by 28% said breast abscess, 16% pain in breast, 9% painless lump and 1.4% said for nipple discharge. Regarding skin changes nobody was aware about it. Awareness about risk factors for breast cancer was very poor that is only 21% were knowing about the risk factors about breast cancer. Near about 54% said they are aware about breast cancer by clinical examination done by doctor, 35% said by self breast examination and 12% said by mammography.Conclusions: Intensified health education campaigns should be conducted in the community and they be made aware about breast cancer.

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