Health and Development Journal
Year:2016 | Volume:5 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

Background: Based on WHO estimation, inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables is one of the five main factors leading to rising in the global burden of chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate fruit and vegetable consumption based on the Food Guide Pyramid, in students of the Health Faculty of Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2013.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 229 students were selected using multistage sampling. Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was completed and anthropometric indices were measured by standard instruments and methods. Mann-Whitney U and two sample t-test were used to compare mean indices between the two groups, Wilcoxson and one sample t-test were used to compare the daily serving intake of food groups with Food Guide Pyramid recommendations. Data analysis was done through SPSS18.Results: Mean age of students was 21.88 ± 2.46 years. Mean consumption of fruit was 3.57±1.53 serving/day, and it was in the recommended range. Mean consumption of vegetables (1.95±0.74 serving/day) showed a significant difference with the recommeded minimum amount (P>0.001). Mean consumption of meat (2.31±0.55 serving/day) and bread and cereal (10.6 ± 0.20 serving/day) were in the the recommended range. Mean consumption of milk (1±0.043 serving/day) showed a significant difference with the recommened minimum amount (P>0.001).Conclusion: Since vegetable and milk consumptions were significantly lower than the recommended amounts, more vegetable and milk consumption are advised.

Background: The field of medicine and medical equipment are partially dependent on the exchange rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of real exchange rate uncertainty on the import of medical and pharmaceutical products during 1971-2012.Methods: In this longitudinal study, the related data were collected from the World Bank, the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iran customs office during 1971-2012. Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedastic (GARCH) model was used for modelling the real exchange rate. In order to evaluate the impact of real exchange rate uncertainty on import of medical and pharmaceutical products, the exchange rate uncertainty index and other variables such as gross domestic product (GDP), oil revenues (OILR) and private sector health expenditure (PRI) were applied in the import model. Finally, VAR model was estimated using Eviews software version 6.Results: Estimation of medical and pharmaceutical products import model using Johansson test showed a significant negative coefficient for the exchange rate uncertainty variable. Error correction factor in this study was -0.039. Results show that in each period, 3.9 percent of the shocks in the short term can be adjusted to long-run equilibrium values.Conclusion: The exchange rate uncertainty had a significant negative impact on imports of medical and pharmaceutical products. This issue is very important for policy makers of the health field and health economists.

Background: In order to achieve a dynamic surveillance system for the groups at risk of tuberculosis and to improve its quality, investigating its various aspects and benefiting from the opinions of the experts and experienced individuals in this field are very important. Hence, the objective of this study was to explore the status of the surveillance system for the groups at risk of tuberculosis in Iran.Methods: Data collection was carried out via interviews with 17 experts in the tuberculosis control program of Iran. In order to evaluate the validity and reliability of data, four criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability were used. Frame analysis was used for data analysis.Results: Based on the interviewee's opinions, twelve major groups at risk of tuberculosis and seven challenges in the surveillance system were identified. For the majority of these at risk groups, there is no structured program and the status of case finding and treatment is similar to the public population. For some others (HIV/ AIDS patients, prisoners and people at exposure), there is a program, but its effectiveness is uncertain.Conclusion: Results indicate that groups at risk of tuberculosis are widespread and access to some of them is difficult; hence, these groups are the main challenges of the tuberculosis control program in Iran.

Background: Due to the ecological importance of the Shadegan wetland as a valuable international wetland and some studies reporting high mercury concentration in its water and birds' tissues, this study was done to measure and compare the concentration of accumulated mercury in different length groups of common carp muscle tissue and to determine the correlation of mercury concentration with morphological parameters such as standard length, total length and total weight.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 41 common carp fish were randomly captured in summer 2011 from the Shadegan wetland, and they were classified into three groups based on their lengths. Samples were prepared from their muscle tissues and mercury concentration was determined by Advanced Mercury Analyzer. The relation between mercury concentration in the samples and demographic characteristics was determined by Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient.Results: Mean (±Standard deviation) mercury concentration in groups of A, B and C were respectively 0.337±0.15, 0.556±0.21 and 0.798±0.19 mg gr-1 of dry weight basis. Comparison of mercury concentrations of muscle tissues among the three groups showed statistically significant difference (P=0.001); so that, mercury concentration was increased with increase of weight and length.Conclusion: Mercury concentration in fish weighing more than 500 grams were higher than the limit allowed by WHO and EPA, it is necessary to be more careful about consuming this fish.

Background: Suicide is an important public health problem which is affected by individual and environmental factors. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the epidemiology of suicide and suicide attempts and the related demographic factors in the counties under the supervision of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) from 2009 to 2012.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 17, 342 cases of suicide and suicide attempts in counties under the supervision of SUMS. Data were collected using the monthly report checklist of the suicide prevention program. Data were analyzed using descriptive methods and using the chi-square test and chi-square test for trend.Results: The average rate of suicide in the mentioned counties was 3.85 per 100, 000 in year. Suicide cases were mostly among men (50.8%), in singles (49.7%), in age group 15-24 years (42.9%), and in housewives (34.1%). The average rate of suicide attempts was 99.53 per 100, 000 in year. The most frequent cases of suicide attempts were observed in females (60.5%), in singles (56.7%), and in the age group of 15-24 years (57.3%).Conclusions: Despite the low rate of suicide in the counties of Fars province, suicidal behavior including suicide attempt and suicide have been associated with some demographic factors. In consequence, developing serious plans to reduce this problem is essential.

Background: In the last few years, the rate of cesarean section has increased all around the world. This study was conducted to investigate the obstacles of performing vaginal delivery and policies to increase vaginal delivery from the point of view of gynecologists and midwives.Methods: A total of one hundred gynecologists and midwives working in Kerman participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected using a questionnaire included three parts of demographic data, 13 questions regarding obstacles of normal vaginal delivery (NVD) and 10 questions regarding policies to encourage NVD. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test and through SPSS19 software.Results: There was no significant difference between gynecologists and midwives in regard to mean scores of NVD obstacles and policies to encourage NVD. Among the obstacles, increase of maternal age in the first pregnancy and being afraid of delivery complications obtained the highest and the lowest mean scores respectively. Among the policies to encourage NVD, careful prenatal care had the highest mean score and increasing the cooperation between doctors and midwives had the lowest mean score.Conclusion: According to the results, the most important obstacle of NVD is high maternal age in the first pregnancy and the best recommended solution to encourage NVD is careful prenatal care leading to mothers' preparation for NVD.

Background: Diabetes is a common metabolic disorder. Clinical nutrition education is a key component in its control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutrition education in control of blood glucose and serum lipids levels in type II diabetic patients referred to the diabetes center of Shahid Bahonar Hospital in Kerman.Methods: In this outcome study, 150 type II diabetic patients who referred to the mentioned center were selected based on study inclusion criteria. Biochemical data before and after nutrition education were obtained from their medical records. Nutrition education was done by expert nutritionists in two phases; group education sessions (at least in one session) and one face to face session. Mean serum levels of biochemical data before and after the education were compared using paired t-test, Wilcoxon and through SPSS15 software.Results: Patients' mean age was 43±8.7 years. Mean serum levels of fasting blood sugar, 2 hr blood sugar (mg/dl) and HbA1C (%) were respectively 8.92±2.1, 297±109 and 191.6±7 before; and 7.52±1.37, 229.7±80.1 and 147±48.6 after the education. All these parameters showed significant decrease after education (P<0.001). Meam serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-c and triglyceride (mg/dl) were respectively 187.5±119, 118.5±38.2 and 199±48.3 before the education and after education, they decreased significantly to 150±70.6, 97.4±33.9 and 170.3±38.6 respectively (P<0.001). Mean serum level of HDL-c (mg/dl) increased after the education, but it was not significant.Conclusion: The study results emphasize on the importance of using nutrition education programs in controlling blood glucose and serum lipids level; in type II diabetic patients.

Background: Organophosphate toxins are among chemical toxins that are dangerous for human health. Due to the increasing use of organophosphate compounds in a variety of products such as insecticides and pesticides, as well as easy access to these compounds, a systematic review on the related studies taken place in Iran seemed to be necessary.Methods: In this review, databases including Iranmedex, Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar and SID were searched for phrases related to organophosphates in both English and Farsi languages and up to April 2013. Only studies which had measured human contamination to these compounds in Iran were included.Results: Totally, 19 articles were found of which 10 articles met the inclusion criteria.According to these studies, organophosphate poisoning mainly happened due to occupational exposure in workers, inadvertently in children, and for suicide purposes in some reports.Conclusion: It seems that a high percentage of poisonings and deaths from these substances is due to lack of consumer awareness awareness about these chemicals and their complications. Therefore, in order to prevent poisoning it is necessary to educate families and related workers.