Iranian Journal of Epidemiology
Year:2010 | Volume:5 | Issue:4|Papers Count:9

Background and objective: Cigarette smoking in adolescent population seems a major public health issue. The goal of the present study was to identify the effect of socio-personal factors on transitions in the adolescent smoking. Methods: A total of 1785 students were assessed twice during 12 months. with respect to stage of change. The predictor variables were measured when the students were in the 10th grade. Logistic regression was used to predict different smoking stages at grade 11.Results: At the end of follow-up, 14.3 percent of non-smokers have had smoking experiment, and 16.5 percent of smokers have showed to be the regular smokers. Among non smokers, using alcohol, friendship with smoker group were predictors of being regular smokers. Conclusion: Smoking prevention program should begin in adolescent age group.

Background & Objective: High prevalence of malnutrition and its relation with mental and physical health of children is one of the important health problems in developing countries. The aim of this survey was to assess the nutritional status and related factors in 0-24 month-old children in South Khorasan province in Iran 2006.Methods: Seven hundred children of 0-24 month-old in South Khorasan province were included in this survey. A designed questionnaires and face-to-face interview with the mothers were used in order to obtain the required information. In addition, weight (Wt) and height (Ht) of the children were measured and compared with standard charts issued by the American National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The nutritional status was determined based on weight for age (Wt/A), height for age (Ht/A), and weight for height (Wt/Ht) indices. Results: Mean of children's age was 11.1 ± 7.8 month. Based on the Z-score, cut-off point under -2SD from median of the reference population (NCHS), 10.6% of the children were underweight (Wt/A), 5.3% stunted (Ht/A) and 11.6% wasted (Wt/Ht). A statistically significant relationship was found between indices of malnutrition and age and breastfeeding status of children. There was no association between gender and residence of children with their nutritional status.Conclusion: With regard to prevalence of malnutrition in children, breastfeeding is highly recommended.

Background & Objectives: The aim of this study was carried out to compare knowledge, attitude and practice of urban and rural households towards osteopenia and osteoporosis in Golestan, Sistan & Balouchestan and Boushehr provinces in Iran.  Methods: single-stage cluster sampling was used. The questions about knowledge about, attitude toward and practice of nutritional factors related to osteopenia and osteoporosis were asked by a structured interview.Results: A total of 2306 households have been selected as overall sample size. Knowledge level of urban households about calcium as a preventive factor of osteoporosis & osteopenia was more in Sistan & Balouchestan, Golestan and Boushehr provinces. Knowledge level of urban households about calcium food courses: (Milk, Yogurt, Cheese and Dairy alternatives) was also better than that of rural habitants (P<0.01). Urban residents' attitude toward osteoporosis compared to rural residents was better (P 0.01>). Consumption of pasteurized milk had been paid more attention in urban households (P<0.001). The difference of daily milk intake in rural and urban households with pregnant or lactating women was not significant. Exposure of infant to sun as preventive factor was not satisticaly significant between rural and urban habitants.Conclusion: It is concluded that the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of rural households toward osteoporosis and osteopenia was weaker than urban households.

Background & Objective: Population-based unit research in urban areas utilze possible commmunity-based researches in oder to empower people to have a healthy life. In order to achive this goal this study carried out to prirotise the common health problems from the point of view of experts and habitants in Kerman population-based research center in 2007. Methods: Cluster sampling was employed and an standard questionnaire was completed by participants.Results: A population with total of 1289 persons from 324 family were included in this survey. The mean of age 26.8±19.2. Fifty one percent were male and 15.7% had college education, 3.8% were illiterate, 35.8% were housewife or unemployed. Near seven percent had at least a chronic disease in their family. Most complaint of health environment was shooting garbage and stray dogs (48.7% and 42.5%). Unemployment and inflation were most worrying issues from people point of view (85% and 24%).Conclusions: It is concluded that to allow people to participate in decision making for any health promotion program is very important and it should be taken into account by health policy makers.

Background & objectives: In the management of crush syndrome, the way of treating compartment syndrome is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of compartment syndrome treatment after Bam earthquake.Methods: Clinical and laboratory findings of all fasciotomized patients in Bam earthquake were analyzed. Then nonfasciotomized patients with same characteristics were selected and the outcomes of two groups were compared.Results: Fasciotomy for 107 injured out of 2962 hospitalized patients, was performed (46% female). Mean age of fasciotomized patients was 27.4±9.7 years (min=10, max=65 year). There were not significant differences in the final outcome of two groups with the same clinical, biochemical and demographic characteristics.Conclusions: Fasciotomy for 107 injured out of 2962 hospitalized patients, was performed (46% female). Mean age of fasciotomized patients was 27.4±9.7 years (min=10, max=65 year). There were not significant differences in the final outcome of two groups with the same clinical, biochemical and demographic characteristics.

Background & Objectives: Medical Tourism has been recently paid more attention. Individual practitioners and medical organizations must be able to provide accurate information about this rapidly evolving trend. Since there has been little known about this issue, we decided to assess the knowledge about and attitude towards medical tourism in Rafsanjan, Iran.Methods: A questionnaire including XXX questions were completed by Rafsanjan Medical University staff. All information was analyzed by SPSS software.Results: Only 8.3% of individuals sated that they studied some articles about Medical Tourism, and only 14.7% of them had deal with these kinds of patients. The majority of participants (80.7%) hadn’t had any idea about the quality of medical expenses by Medical Tourists. Mainly (68.7%) believed that development of Medical Tourism in Iran would not have any bad social consequences and 62% believed that its development in Iran could improve the knowledge of Iranian doctors. The majority (67.3%) agreed to arrange for inviting tourism to Iran in order to use of Medical Tourists and 54.3 of them believed that development of Medical Tourism could improve treatment of Iranian patients. Conclusions: The knowledge of participants seems is very low therefore appropriate educational programs should be tailored by responsible organizations in Iran. However medical staff’s attitude towards medical Tourism seems is very positive which indicates having necessary potential for any activity in this regard in future.

Background & objectives: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) which unfortunately has no clear symptoms in many cases is the second prevalent infection among children after respiratory infection. This study carried out in order to determine the frequency of asymptomatic UTI among elementary school girls in one of Tehran’s suburbs (Mahalat town). Methods: In a cross sectional study, all elementary school girls (n=1216) of study town who were between 6 to 11 years of age, were screened with urinary strip dipstick test method and urinary culture test was carried out on persons who had urinary PH> 7 and positive nitrite, as cases were doubtful to UTI. Afterwards, positive culture cases were referred to a urology specialist for investigating symptoms and, asymptomatic UTI samples were recognized. Results: Among 67 students who were doubtful to UTI (based on dipstick strip test), 14 cases out of (%1.15 from 1216 samples), that is %1.15, were suffering from UTI. Regarding symptoms of UTI, just %35.72 of infected persons possessed at least one symptom of UTI and most of them that is %64.28, possessed asymptomatic UTI and the percentage of these people were obtained %0.74 for whole screened statistical society.Conclusions: Since asymptomatic UTI and its probable complications might be recurrent, screening in dipstick method which is effective, rapid and inexpensive is completely necessary to improve the level of public health especially for children.

London fog obviously revealed the role of air pollution in increasing mortality and morbidity rates associated with this phenomenon but several studies in the 70’s and 80’s couldn’t establish sufficient link between air pollution and death. In the 1990’s, time series studies conducted in a different locations, showed that air pollution levels, even at lower concentrations, were associated with increased rates of morbidity and mortality in several cities in all over the world. Since several studies have been designed for investigating the association between air pollution and health outcomes in recent years with controversial conclusions, this article reviews the latest studies in this field. We also will mention main strengths and weaknesses of epidemiological designs including time-series, case-crossover, cross sectional, panel and cohort studies in indoor and outdoor air pollution epidemiology.