Journal of Health
Year:2017 | Volume:8 | Issue:4 |Papers Count:11

Background & Objectives: Participation of citizens in source separation of municipal solid waste is essential due to increase in quantitiy of the produced urban waste. The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the indicators of source separation of waste in four municipal regions of Ardabil city. Methods: This descriptive and analytical study was conducted using survey method. According to the number of households in Ardabil city (about 152, 700 households) Cochran method was used to select 386 samples for questioning. 36 experts were also interviewed. Cronbach's reliability of 0. 79 confirmed high reliability of measuring tool. SPSS and GIS softwares and descriptive and inferential statistical tests including Measures of Central Tendency, Shapiro Wilk, Smirnov, Pearson correlation, F test, ANOVA, regression and path analysis were apllied for data analysis. Results: The results of analysis showed significant relationships between participation of citizens in municipal solid waste source separation and enabling and capacity building, cultural, environmental health, infrastructure, spatial accessibility, and social factors. However, there was no significant relationship between economic factors and the level of citizen’ s participation. Conclusion: Urban waste source separation is a social, cultural and participatory issue that requires provision of facilities, infrastructure, capacity building, culture and empowerment of citizens at the scale of the city and four districts of the municipality. It also requires continuous and sustainable time, financial, equipment and human resources planning and managing.

Background & objectives: Heavy metals are very important from environmental aspects due to their toxicity and accumulative properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate concentrations of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc in vegetables of agricultural lands in Ahvaz, capital of Khuzestan province in southwest of Iran. Methods: This descriptive study was done on Ocimumbasilicum, Raphanussativuslongipinatu and Portulacaoleracea samples from 6 farms located in the north and south of Ahvaz city during spring, summer and autumn in 2013. In general, 60 vegetable samples were investigated. Samples were digested by using acidic digestion. Then concentrations of the elements were determined using furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry according to standard methods. Data were analyzed by SPSS at α =0. 05. The results were compared with WHO and FAO guidelines. Results: Mean concentrations of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc in vegetables were 10. 39, 2. 51, 7. 20 and 31. 84 mg/kg, respectively. Comparing the results with permissible levels given by FAO and WHO indicate that lead and cadmium levels in vegetables are above the recommended levels. However, average concentrations of copper and zinc in vegetables were lower than WHO/FAO recommended levels. Conclusion: According to the results, vegetables cultivated in this area are polluted to heavy metals of Lead and Cadmium. Due to accumulative effects of heavy metals and their harmful effects on human societies and endangering food safety, more precautions are required to reduce such effects.

Background & objectives: Low physical activity during the past decades has increased incidence of diabetes and hypertension in human societies. The aim of this study was determination of the impact of education based on Trans-Theoretical Model on promotion of physical activity among children of patients with hypertension and diabetes. Methods: According to the type of the study, objectives and research hypotheses 179 children's of patients with hypertension and diabetes (under coverage of rural health centers in Firuzabad) were selected for this interventional clinical trial research using multistage sampling method. After educational need analysis, case group was trained within three twohour sessions using different practices. To achieve objectives and assess the intervention effects, a questionnaire, that its validity and reliability were already verified, was completed before and after 6 months of training courses. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, ttest, Chi-square, correlation and Mam-whitney tests using SPSS18 software. Results: Mean age of the individuals was 41. 43± 17. 57 in control group and 41. 65± 15. 85 in case group. Marital status was significantly different in two groups. On decisional-balance and before the intervention, no significant differences were observed in physical activity between case and control groups who were in the process of precontemplation and contemplation. However, in contemplation, action and maintenance stages there were significant differences between two groups after the intervention. After the intervention, there were significant differences in average scores of cognitive-behavioral process and selfefficacy between two groups in contemplation, action and maintenance stages; the average scores in cases being higher than the controls (p<0. 05). Conclusion: The intervention program based on Trans Theoritical Model caused progress and promotion in physical activity of patients’ children. It is recommended to implement practical program at the community level for all of the children.

Background & objectives: Storing various medicines at home and their arbitrary consumption without doctor prescription are highly important problems in the world and Iran. Having different medicines especially antibiotics at home may cause poisoning, drug resistance, and other irreversible effects. This study was performed to evaluate the medicines stored at homes in households of Meshkin shahr. Methods: The sampls in this descriptive cross-sectional study was selected based on clustering method. The city was divided into five regions (marginalization, non-marginalization and original slum) and a total number of 500 households were selected for quota within these centers. The amounts of surplus medicines were evaluated based on pharmaceutical form, therapeutic and monetary values. Results: According to the study, 90 percent of families store medicines at home. The average number of drugs per household was 5. 32 with the value of 45390 Rials. The most frequent forms of unused medicines were respectively tablets, injections, capsules and syrups. In terms of therapeutic categories, the most frequent medicines kept at homes were antibiotics followed by analgesics, digestive and nerv drugs. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that storage of antibiotics is very high at homes which may increase drug resistance. Lack of awareness on use and storage of medicines causes very high costs in communities.

Background & objectives: This study aimed to evaluate use of humic organic and chemical fertilizers to compare their effects on nitrate concentrations in potatoes from three main cultivated areas of Ardabil suburbs. Methods: Potatoes were cultured in one hectare land in each suburban villages; Great Arallow, Small Arallow, Pyraqum and Jabedar. 0. 5 hectare of the each land was fed by conventional chemical fertilizer and the remaining with natural humic fertilizer. Potatoes were randomly harvested and transferred to the laboratory from each part. Sample preparation and nitrate quantification were done based on Jones method using a spectrophotometer at 410 nm wavelength, respectively. Results: Comparison of total average nitrate in potato tubers showed that nitrate levels in the fields feding by humic fertilizer (i. e. 88. 5 mg/kg) was lower than the levels quantified in potatoes fed by chemical fertilizers (with total average nitrate of 112. 6 mg/kg); 38 mg/kg decline in nitrate levels. Conclusion: Comparing to chemical (conventional) fertilizers, application of organic fertilizer is effective to reduce nitrate levels of potato tubers. Therefore, using this fertilizer in agriculture industries can be considered in long-term programs of fisheries organizations to reduce adverse effects.

Background & objectives: Spending great part of financial resources for health care may lead to financial problems for households and threat the life standards. Therefore, protection of families from catastrophic expenditures is a desirable objective for health systems. The aims of this study were to investigate affecting factors on probability of households facing to catastrophic expenditures, estimate FFCI and Gini indices in deprived states of Iran. Methods: Bayesian econometrics model was applied to estimate probability of households facing to the catastrophic expenditures in 2012. Data were extracted from Households Income and Expenditure Survey in Statistical Center of Iran. The sample included 22057 households from deprived provinces. Results: In 2012, about 6. 25% of people in deprived states faced catastrophic expenditures. FFCI and Gini indices were estimated 0. 82 and 0. 45, respectively. The most important factores for catastrophic expenditues were dentistry and hospital services. Increased number of family members with >65 year old, low literacy and unemployed parent, female guardian and without insurance coverage increase probability of catastrophic expenditures. Conclusion: Based on the result, protection of health financing system against catastrophic expenditures is not sufficient; therefore, reform of the financing system is necessary. In addition, policy makers should increase fields of insurance services to protect households from facing to catastrophic expenditures by prepayment mechanisms.

Background & objectives: Legionella is a hard to grow gram negative bacterum responsible for Legionnaires' disease which is a severe form of pneumonia and can be fatal. These bacteria can grow on air conditions and cooling systems and may causes epidemics. Due to resistance to chlorine and other disinfectants this study aimed to identify and control these bacteria in air conditions and cooling systems. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, samples were collected from air conditions and cooling systems of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. A total number of 310 samples were taken from water tanks of coolers, cooling and air condition systems of hospitals, clinics, education and student ceters, offices, and dormitores. Samples were transferred to the laboratory and concentrated prior to washing with acidic buffer. They were inoculated on to BCYE, BMPA and MWY media. Samples were incubated in 2. 5% of CO2 and water and plates were examined within two weeks. Results were reported as percent and average. Comparisons were done with chi-square test, ANOVA and t-test. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: Of the 310 samples, %22. 26 was infected with Legionella bacteria, of which %12. 9 was related to water cooling systems. Infection with Legionella bacteria was significantly high in health centers and water coolers. The most prevalent bacteria was Legionella pneumophila. Conclusion: There are infection with this bacterium in some of the cooling systems in Kerman University of Medical Sciences and it is nessessary to consider control strategies.

Background & objectives: Job satisfaction is an individuals attitude to his/her job. On the other hand psychological distress and burnout can negativly affect job satisfaction and productivity. This study was designed to determine association between burnout, productivity and job satisfaction among personels of a hospital. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 100 employees of hospitals were selected using stratified randome sampling method. Data collection tools included productivity questionnaire, Maslach burnout and job satisfaction questionnairs. Data analysis was done by descriptive methods, regression, and correlation using SPSS20 statistical software. Results: The mean score of job satisfaction was 55. 7± 7. 52, which reflects high level of job satisfaction in this society. Correlation test results of Job satisfaction and productivity showed significant correlation between job satisfaction and subscales of ability, understanding, credibility and total score of efficiency (p<0. 05). Job satisfaction significantly correlated to individual performance and inversely associated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization subscales of burnout variable (intensity) (p<0. 05). Conclusion: Considering the high level of job satisfaction, we recommend to focus on the factors that increase productivity and reduce burnout in hospital staffs.

Background & objectives: Intelligence covers a range of abilities and non-cognitive skills that increase individuals' success in fighting against environmental stress especially job stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationship between emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence and talent management in Ardebil nurses. Methods: This research is a descriptive and correlational study. The study population consisted of nurses in Imam Khomeini hospital of Ardebil in 2014. Of the population, 175 nurses were selected using random sampling method. Data collection tools were Spiritual Intelligence 24-SISRI, Shiring emotional intelligence and talent management questionnaires. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation, multiple regression and path analysis using SPSS-21and LISREL8. 80. Results: There were positive relationships between nurses’ talent management and emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence factors. Regression analysis showed that awareness, selfmanagement, social skills, self motivation, transcendental awareness and development of state of transcendental consciousness predict nurses’ talent management. The results of path analysis showed that awareness, transcendental awareness, self motivation, social skills and developing conscious state by managing themselve indirectly affect nurses’ talent management but selfmanagement has direct impact on talent management. Conclusion: The findings of this study emphesize on the use of emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence in nurses’ talent management.

Background & objectives: According to national and international figures the population of old people is increasing special in big cities. So, it is important to recognize the best ways for keeping and strengthening physical and mental health of these people. This study aimed to compare body composition, cardiac respiratory endurance, mental health, and balance of active and inactive aged women. Methods: Statistical population of this causal-comparative research consists of elderly women aged over 60 years in Tehran city. 50 active women (mean age 63± 3. 11 yrs., weight 69. 39± 8. 56 kg, and height 157± 4. 84 cm) and 50 inactive women (mean age 62. 18± 2. 87 yrs., weight 73. 77± 16. 60 kg, height 158. 09± 4. 40cm) voluntarily participated in this study through releasing participation statement in neighbourhood's hall. Body composition (body composition apparatus), cardiorespiratory endurance (fitness test), balance (dynamic balance measurement apparatus) and mental health (GHQ questionnaire) were measured for both groups. Descriptive statistics and T test were used for data analysis. Results: Analyzing study findings showed that score of balance (p=0. 001), cardio respiratory endurance (p=0. 01) and mental health (p=0. 001) of active elderly women were significantly bether than the inactive aged women. Conclusion: Regarding the prevalent low physical activity and presence of various diseases in old people, it is necessity to have plans for building sport facilities and encouraging old people to focus on their participation in physical activities in order to improve their quality of life.

Background & objectives: Multiples sclerosis is a common demyelinating disease of CNS and the main cause of disability in young adults all over the world. To determine clinical course and prognosis of the disease in Iranian MS patients in Ardabil province we have studied these items in a considerable sample size. Methods: One hundred and sixty three definite MS patients (according to McDonalds 2010 criteria) included in this study and a planned questionnaire completed by visiting the patients for clinical and paraclinical findings or by degree of disability estimated according to EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale) score system. Results: Mean age of the patients was 33 and 69 percent were female. Mean duration of disease was 4. 5 years. The main form of onset of symptoms was visual disorders. Clinical course in 63. 2 percent was relapsing-remitting type. 45. 4 percent had lesions in spinal cord. Mean disability scale number according to EDSS was 2. 5. Conclusion: The results of clinical course and type of MS, mean of disease duration from the onset and mean EDSS are compatible and comparable with similar studies in other provinces of Iran and other countries though some results are different.