JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN HEALTH SCIENCES (JRHS)
Year:2016 | Volume:16 | Issue:4|Papers Count:11

Background: There were about of 124 to 283 million cases of malaria with 367, 000 to 755, 000 deaths annually. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of malaria cases and associated risk factors among attendants at Chichu and Wonago health centers, South Ethiopia.Methods: In this health institution based cross sectional study, 324 subjects, attendants from outpatient department who came for any kind of medical services, were included during May to June 2016. A blood film examination format and structured questionnaire were used for data collection. Peripheral blood samples were collected and the presence of malaria cases was observed microscopically. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 20.0.Results: Malaria cases were detected in 91 (28.1%) of the participants with higher infection rate amongst (56.04%). The predominant Plasmodium species detected was P. vivax (52.75%) followed by P. falciparum (35.16%) and mixed malaria infection by both of the species (12.09%). Housing construction and not using of insecticide treated bed nets for the last 6 months were significantly associated with the risk of getting malaria. Individuals who had stagnant water in their compound were more likely to get malaria than those who did not (OR=1.87, 95% CI: 1.20, 2.76). Houses that had been sprayed with insecticide in the past 6 months were protected against malaria infection (OR=0.33, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.92). Moreover, bed net utilization was associated with a significantly lower risk of infection (OR=0.19, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.37).Conclusions: Type of housing construction, not using bed net, insecticide spraying and residing near stagnant water were associated risk factors with malaria positivity in the study area.

Background: In medical studies, when the joint prediction about occurrence of two events should be anticipated, a statistical bivariate model is used. Due to the limitations of usual statistical models, other methods such as Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and hybrid models could be used. In this paper, we propose a hybrid Artificial Neural Network-Genetic Algorithm (ANN-GA) model to prediction the occurrence of heart block and death in myocardial infarction (MI) patients simultaneously.Methods: For fitting and comparing the models, 263 new patients with definite diagnosis of MI hospitalized in Cardiology Ward of Hajar Hospital, Shahrekord, Iran, from March, 2014 to March, 2016 were enrolled. Occurrence of heart block and death were employed as bivariate binary outcomes. Bivariate Logistic Regression (BLR), ANN and hybrid ANN-GA models were fitted to data. Prediction accuracy was used to compare the models. The codes were written in Matlab 2013a and Zelig package in R3.2.2.Results: The prediction accuracy of BLR, ANN and hybrid ANN-GA models was obtained 77.7%, 83.69% and 93.85% for the training and 78.48%, 84.81% and 96.2% for the test data, respectively. In both training and test data set, hybrid ANN-GA model had better accuracy.Conclusions: ANN model could be a suitable alternative for modeling and predicting bivariate binary responses when the presuppositions of statistical models are not met in actual data. In addition, using optimization methods, such as hybrid ANN-GA model, could improve precision of ANN model.

Background: The importance of consuming fruits and vegetables (F& V) in prevention of chronic diseases is known. Childhood play an important role in formation of healthy eating habits. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of education, with application of the theory of planned behavior, on improvement of F& V consumption.Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 184 fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade students participated were enrolled from Jan 2013 to Jun 2014. The samples were selected from 6 schools in Chalderan County, West Azerbaijan, Iran through cluster random sampling method. Two out of 6 schools were randomly selected and each was employed in either experimental or control group. The data collection instruments included a researcher-made questionnaire and a 24-h F& V recall. Data were collected after verification of the reliability and validity of the questionnaire.Results: Before the intervention, no significant difference was observed between the intervention and control group regarding attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention and fruits and vegetables consumption (P>0.05). However, after the educational intervention, the mean scores of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention variables and fruits and vegetables were significantly higher in the intervention group when compared to the control group (P<0.05).Conclusions: Increased behavioral intention, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control can promote F& V consumption among the students.

Background: Some characteristics of lighting sources such as color properties and ultraviolet emissions have important roles on visual and non-visual health effects of lighting. This study aimed to investigate the light emissions of some compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and incandescent lamps commercially available to the Iranian consumers.Methods: Sixty lamps included 48 single envelope CFLs, and 12 incandescent lamps available in the electrical devices markets (in the west of Iran) were randomly selected from famous manufacturers between 2014 and 2015. Lighting characteristics and ultraviolet (UV) emissions were measured using spectroradiometer and calibrated radiometer, respectively. Data analysis was performed using SPSS16 software.Results: Color-rendering indexes of the studied lamps were above 80, which showed good color properties. The daylight CFLs had more desirable and natural color temperature (near to 5000 0k) compared with the other types of the studied lamps. Occupational exposures for periods up 8 h to UVB from the studied lamps at distances up to 0.25 m were more than the recommended limits. Moreover, public exposures for periods up 16 h to UVB from the studied lamps at any distances up to 2 m were more than the recommended limits.Conclusions: Warm white lamps are suitable for homes usage, while daylight lamps can be used for offices rooms. Occupational exposure to single envelope CFLs near the body at distances of less than 25 cm can result in overexposure to actinic UV. Moreover, CFLs must be used at distances greater than 200 cm for public exposure.

Background: Widespread use of X-band frequency (a part of the super high frequency microwave) in the various workplaces would contribute to occupational exposure with potential of adverse health effects. According to limited study on microwave shielding for the workplace, this study tried to pre-pare a new microwave shielding for this purpose.Methods: We used EI-403 epoxy thermosetting resin as a matrix and nickel oxide nanoparticle with the diameter of 15-35 nm as filler. The Epoxy/ Nickel oxide composites with 5, 7, 9 and 11 wt% were made in three different thicknesses (2, 4 and 6 mm). According to transmission / reflection method, shielding effectiveness (SE) in the X-band frequency range (8-12.5 GHz) was measured by scattering parameters directly given by the 2-port Vector Network Analyzer. The fabricated composites charac-terized by X-ray Diffraction and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope.Results: The best average of shielding effectiveness in each thickness of fabricated composites ob-tained by 11%-2 mm, 7%-4 mm and 7%-6 mm composites with SE values of 46.80%, 66.72% and 64.52%, respectively. In addition, the 11%-6 mm, 5%-6 mm and 11%-4 mm-fabricated composites were able to attenuate extremely the incident microwave energy at 8.01, 8.51 and 8.53 GHz by SE of 84.14%, 83.57 and 81.30%, respectively.Conclusions: The 7%-4mm composite could be introduced as a suitable alternative microwave shield in radiation protection topics in order to its proper SE and other preferable properties such as low cost and weight, resistance to corrosion etc. It is necessary to develop and investigate the efficacy of the fabricated composites in the fields by future studies.

Background: Military service is a crucial period in the lives of young people and during this period soldier facing with multiple psychosocial problems.Objectives: The present study aimed to explore structural analysis of the relationships between depression, drug abuse, social support and the risk of suicidal ideation among Military Medical University soldiers in Iran.Methods: In the present correlational research, a sample of 176 soldiers, from three units, was selected using randomly stratified sampling. Data were collected through the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS) and the Possibility of Drug Abuse Scale (LDAS). Structural equation modeling was used to test the fit of the model, identify direct and indirect effects of the psychosocial correlates. Data were analyzed using the SPSS and AMOS software (Verson22).Results: out of the whole subjects, 28.4% had suicidal ideation and 65.3% had degrees of depression (mild to severe). A significant reverse relationship was observed between social support and suicidal ideation (p<0.05). The strongest relationship was detected between drug abuse and suicidal ideation. The final structural model indicated that 74% of the variance in suicidal ideation was explained by the three examined variables of depression, social support and drug abuse.Conclusions: The overall results showed that the risk of suicidal ideation, depression and drug abuse are relatively significant in Military Medical University soldiers requiring taking serious actions by the authorities and other relevant organizations in order to improve the psychosocial health status of these soldiers.

Background: As students' hookah use has become a widespread problem in the developing countries, it is time to understand the cognitive determinants of students' decisions to do so. This study aimed to investigate the roles of psychological and demographic factors associated with hookah use among male high school students.Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed among 601 high school male students, recruited through multistage sampling method in the Kermanshah City, west of Iran in 2016. The data-gathering tool consisted of a self-administered questionnaire with questions about hookah use behavior and demographic, behavioral and psychological variables. Data were analyzed using SPSS- 18 software using chi-square and logistic regression.Results: 36.1% of the participants reported ever hookah use and 17.1% mentioned using hookah in the past month. Pleasure (28.1%) and sensation seeking (22.5%) were common reasons of hookah use. In comparison to non-users, hookah users evaluated a typical hookah user as more clever, less immature, more popular, more attractive, more self-confident, more independent, and less selfish (P<0.001).Conclusions: The results revealed the importance of psychological factors when examining students' hookah use status. Thus, design and implementation of interventions might be effective in prevention of hookah use among students.

Background: An outbreak investigation was carried out to determine the cause and confirm the source of food poisoning in Deptsang village for implementing prevention and control measures.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study for the outbreak investigation. Stool specimens were collected from cases to perform culture and antibiogram. The team also inspected the environment and hygiene practices in both the construction site and the entire community. The association between the exposure to carcass meat and their outcome of acute gastroenteritis was assessed by risk ratio. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Fifty-five villagers consumed the carcass meat during lunch and dinner resulting in 33 cases. Multi-drug resistant Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from stool specimens of cases, which were susceptible to chloramphenicol only. A risk ratio of 2.1 was found between those people who consumed the carcass meat and those who did not consume the carcass meat (P<0.001).Conclusions: The current outbreak of food poisoning was caused by the consumption of carcass meat contaminated with A. hydrophila. Provision of health education with emphasis on food hygiene is needed in remote areas to prevent such outbreaks in the future.

Background: Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) that leads to an increase in bone fragility, causing an individual to be at an increased risk for fractures. Asian-Indians are at an increased risk for developing osteoporosis. Considering the number of Asian-Indians in the US is rapidly growing, they likely could be an underappreciated population at risk for bone fractures. The aim of this study was to investigate bone health and determine the factors affecting BMD in Asian-Indians living in the US.Methods: Asian-Indians residing in Northern Mississippi (n=87) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study from June 2013 to August 2014. Eligible participants completed a self-administered Osteoporosis Risk Factor Assessment questionnaire. BMD and body composition were measured using a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scan (DXA).Results: Eight-seven Asian-Indians (male: 62.1%) participated, with the average age being 28.49 yr old (SD=±6.62). Overall, 31.0% and 48.3% had low femoral neck BMD and spinal BMD, respectively. Multiple regression analysis revealed that age, percent body fat, and body mass index (BMI) significantly predicted BMD at femur neck (P<0.05). Additionally, percent body fat, BMI, childhood milk consumption, and gender were statistically significant predictors of spinal BMD (P<0.05).Conclusions: The findings from this study should be beneficial to healthcare providers that work with Asian-Indian population groups. Health promotion programs focusing on osteoporosis prevention are needed among Asian-Indians to prevent the risk of fractures.

Dear Editor-in-Chief: We read with interest the paper by Esmaeilzadeh et al. titled "Economic Burden of Thalassemia Major in Iran, 2015" published in the Journal of Research in Health Sciences 1. It provides a convincing answer to an important research question. We would like to highlight some points about the paper that may merit attention.

Dear Editor-in-Chief: Practiced in various journals, peer reviewing is undoubtedly the core of science (as opposed to non-science) production in all disciplines, particularly in medical sciences due to their direct and immediate effect on human health. Publication provides the chance for bits of knowledge to get integrated into the body of global knowledge and to share it with other researchers1.