Iran J War Public Health
Year:2020 | Volume:12 | Issue:4|Papers Count:8

Aims Pregnancy is a very important and sensitive stage in women’ s lives and the maternal health has a direct impact on fetal health. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of self-care virtual education regarding Covid-19 disease on life expectancy of pregnant mothers. Methods The present study was conducted on 100 pregnant women referred to Mobini Hospital in Sabzevar in 1399 using balanced block randomization. The samples were divided into intervention and control groups based on the inclusion criteria. The demographic characteristics form and the standard life expectancy questionnaire were completed for both groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16 and the appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical methods were employed. Findings Before the intervention, the mean and the standard deviation of life expectancy was 30. 75± 4. 85 in the control group and 31. 65 ± 3. 93 in the intervention group. Mann-Whitney test showed no significant difference between the two groups (p=0. 42). After the intervention, Mann-Whitney test showed a significant difference in life expectancy scores between the two groups (p=0. 003). However, Mann-Whitney test showed that the mean difference of life expectancy before and after the intervention in the control and intervention groups was not significant (p=0. 104). Conclusion Due to the prevalence of Covid-19 disease and its inevitable effects, self-care education alone cannot be effective on increasing life expectancy in pregnant mothers.

Aims This study was conducted to determine the effects of spiritual practice along routine medical care on the recovery of patients admitted with Covid-19. Materials & Methods In a single-blinded clinical trial study 64 hospitalized patients with Covid-19, were randomly assigned in to two groups of intervention (spiritual practice+ routine treatment) and comparison (routine treatment). The intervention was performed using religious teachings, spiritual practice was taught to the patients in the intervention group with the intention of recovery and comfort. Spiritual practice was reciting Surah “ AlHamd” and “ Ya-Allah” . The intervention group accomplished spiritual practice three times a day (21 times in total) for 7 days. Information gathered on demographic characteristics, depression and anxiety score, length of hospital stay, ICU transfer, intubation, and patient death. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire was used to determine the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Findings A total of 35 participants in the comparison group and 29 in the intervention group completed the study. After intervention, there was no significant difference between the length of hospitalization days between the intervention group (5. 8± 1. 7) and the comparison (6. 7± 1. 7). The rate of ICU request was significantly higher in the comparison group (40%, n=14) than in the intervention group (3. 4%, n=1) (P <0. 001). In the intervention group, no cases of intubation and death occurred, in the comparison group, these rates were 40% (n=14) and 45. 7% (n=16), respectively, and the difference was significant (P <0. 001). The mean difference of anxiety score before and after spiritual practice in the intervention group was 3. 1 (± 3. 6) and the comparison was 0. 9 (± 2. 6) (P = 0. 03). The mean difference of depression in the intervention group was 1. 5 (2. 1) and the comparison was 0. 9 (1. 8) (P <0. 001). Conclusion Spiritual practice along with routine medical care, can lead to less mortality/ ICU transmission/intubation, improved anxiety/depression, as well as, improved recovery among Covid-19 hospitalized patients.

Aims E-health services play an important role in controlling the epidemic, implementing quarantine and responding to current and future health needs. The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality and content of Persian-centric covid-19 health systems and. applications Instrument & Methods In this descriptive study, the feedback and information of Iranian health-oriented applications and systems (screening, prevention and treatment) related to Covid-19 and having direct and indirect interaction with users in December 2020 were examined. Keyword (s): system, site, software, application, app, installation, sars-cov-2, covid-19, coronavirus, covid-19, coronavirus, self-assessment, health, care, consulting, screening, prevention, follow, disease, diagnosis, treatment, emergency, instructions, training, online, online and testing were searched on the sites of Google, Yahoo and Bing and the markets of Bazaar Cafe, Miket, Charkhooneh, Anardoni, Apple App, Sibcheh. Then the software and systems were reviewed and the items related to Covid-19 were evaluated based on the MARS scale. Findings Iranian health-oriented apps/systems included 8 applications, 4 systems and 4 mobile application systems. The total number of installed applications in the country was 941173 and “ Mask” had the highest installation with 75% (n=700000). The acceptance rate/ use of Covid-19 screening-treatment systems and applications was 2. 2% of the population with smartphones in the country. Based on the ranking scale of the smartphone application, the highest average was in the dimension of information (3. 2) and the lowest was in the individual perception of the quality of the application (2) and interaction (2. 3) (total average 2. 6). The 4030, Clinic, Mask, and Corona-115 apps scored the most points with 3. 6, 3. 5, 3. 3, and 3. 1 out of 5, respectively. Conclusion This study suggests that most COVID-related apps meet acceptable criteria for content, or functionality, and poor criteria for quality, esthetic and interesting features.

Aims The spread of Covid-19 worldwide has challenged public health and has had various psychological consequences. The present study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Obsession with the COVID-19 scale. Instrument & Methods As a descriptive-correlational study and to validate the Obsession with the COVID-19 scale, 392 people over 18 participated online, using the available sampling method from May to August 2020. A demographic questionnaire, Obsession with the COVID-19 Scale and Fear of Covid-19 Scale, was used to collect data. To evaluate the instrument’ s reliability, Cronbach’ s alpha internal consistency method and halving in the form of SPSS 25 statistical software and to evaluate the construct validity, confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis with the orthogonal rotation of Varimax type in Lisrel 8. 8 software were used. Findings Exploratory factor analysis identified all four items as one factor. Also, the results of the confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the construction. The convergent validity of the scale with fear of Covid-19 showed a correlation value of 0. 25 (p<0. 01). In the scale’ s validity, Cronbach’ s alpha value was estimated to be 0. 797, and the split-half reliability coefficient was estimated to be 0. 771. Conclusion Obsession with the COVID-19 Scale can be used as a suitable measurement tool in research.

Aims Nurses’ family members are among those at risk for psychological disorders caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This study aimed to determine the rate of depression, anxiety, and stress in nurses’ families in the Covid-19 pandemic. Instrument & Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed by purposive sampling from April 2016 to June 2016 with 222 family members of nurses working in the wards of patients with Covid-19 in Torbat-e Heydarieh City, Iran. Data collection tools included a demographic-and the DASS-21 standardized questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software, one-way analysis of variance, and LSD post hoc test. Findings There were significant relations between nurses’ family members’ depression with marriage and relationship with the medical staff, nurses’ family members’ anxiety with age group, employment status, quarantine status, and nurses’ family members’ stress with employment status (p<0. 05). There was a significant difference in the mean score of depression between the single/married, parents/spouse, spouse/child, and child/other groups (p<0. 05). There was a significant difference in the average anxiety score between the 10 to 30 years/31 to 50 years, 31 to 50 years/51 to 70 years, plan/contract, plan/covenant, plan/company, contract/formal, return home/quarantine at home and quarantine at home/ quarantine in the new house groups (p<0. 05). There was a significant difference in the mean stress score between the plan/contract, plan/covenant, plan/formal, contract/corporate, and formal/corporate groups (p<0. 05). Conclusion Families of nurses working in Torbat-e Heydarieh hospitals suffer from significant levels of depression, anxiety, and stress during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aims Climate change may weaken the human immune system. Nutrient deficiency also reduces the ability to fight infections, which is a major cause of immune system deficiencies. Climate change influences food security and, in turn, enhances the prevalence of malnutrition globally. The purpose of the present study was to accumulate evidence indicating the role of climate changes, food insecurity, and weakened immune systems in the COVID-19 pandemic. Information & Methods This review study was conducted using the keywords. Covid-19, pandemics, epidemics, climate change, micronutrients, the immune system, and a search for domestic and international databases. Findings Significant associations were found between the unpredictable occurrence of new zoonotic pathogens and reduced immunity, micronutrient malnutrition, and global climate crisis. Conclusion Lack of integrative health care strategies may play a major role in viral epidemics. The evidence indicates that climate change and food shortage can debilitate the immune system and increase the risk of new epidemics.

Aims This study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise training to improve the immune system of the elderly at the time of COVID-19. Information & Methods This systematic review study was performed on articles published between 1999 and 2020, and their target group was elderly. Keywords were searched and evaluated by three people in PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Magiran, and SID databases. Twenty-two articles were selected for research. Findings According to most studies’ results, the leukocyte population decreased significantly or did not change in response to training. In most studies, the levels of T cells (CD3+), helper T cells (CD4+), killer T cells (CD8+), natural killers (CD56+), and B cells (CD19+) did not change. CD28+CD4+ cells after intervention either increased significantly or did not change in some studies. Naive T cells (CD45RA+) and memory T cells (CD45RO+) did not change in the studies. Natural killer cell cytotoxic activity (NKCA) also increased significantly or did not change. Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha decreased significantly in all related studies, but on the other hand, interleukin-10 increased significantly. The amount of C-reactive protein decreased significantly in the two studies and did not change in the other two studies. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), and endothelin-1 decreased significantly in investigations. Salivary IgA secretion rate increased significantly in two studies. Salivary IgA concentration increased in two studies and did not change in the other two studies. Salivary IgA flow increased in one study and did not change in another study. Conclusion According to the results, regular moderate-intensity exercise training reduces inflammation and improves some safety indicators in the elderly. With immune system improvement through exercise training in the elderly, the ability of the elderly may increase for encountering COVID-19 infection, and the risk of acquiring severe COVID-19 and hospitalization and mortality rates related to this disease may reduce in the elderly.

Aims Confirmed and suspected cases of COVID-19 are spreading in Iran and the world. The overwhelming demand for the COVID-19 outbreak has challenged healthcare workers, the medical procurement system, and sports professionals. This study aimed to design and implement a perceptual-motor training package and determine its effectiveness on motor skills of children with visual impairment during the Coronavirus epidemic. Materials & Methods A quasi-experimental study was performed on a population of 6 to 11 years old children with visual impairment in Yazd province in the summer of 2020. Thirty-six children with blindness and low vision from the counseling centers of Yazd province were selected by cluster sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of experimental (n=18) and control (n=18). In order to measure motor proficiency, the abbreviated form of the Bruininks-Oseretsky motor proficiency test was used. In designing and compiling the perceptual-motor training package, 17 educational games were organized using library studies and the experiences of executive experts. The experimental group was trained in 24 sessions of 60 minutes. Analysis of covariance in SPSS 22 software was used to analyze the data. Findings In all subscales of agility, balance, running speed, strength, motor coordination, response speed, and visual-motor control, a significant difference was observed between the experimental and control groups after the educational intervention (p≤ 0. 01). Conclusion Perceptual-motor training package is effective on motor skills of children with visual impairment.