JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY HEALTH RESEARCH
Year:2018 | Volume:7 | Issue:2|Papers Count:8

Introduction: The problem of relapse makes addiction treatment complicated because almost 80% of addicts relapse after treatment completion during the first six months. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors affecting relapse in addicts referred to addiction treatment centers in Marand.Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study that was performed on 306 patients in the city of Marand. The stratified sampling method was used. After collecting the questionnaire and determining its validity and reliability, questionnaires were distributed among an addicted group and as well as a nonaddicted group. In the presence of the researcher, the patients answered the questions. Finally, the data were analyzed using statistical tests (chi-squared, independent t and ANOVA) applying SPSS software, version 21.0 for Windows. Results: In this study, the majority of participants in the addicted group and in the non-addicted group had a lower diploma and diploma respectively (90.2% and 90.8%). The mean age was the non-addicted group for 35.14±8.23 years and in the non-addicted group and 32.72±10.48 for the addicted group. According to the findings of this study, in the addicted group, the main reasons addiction relapse was family insistence (25.5% of cases). The non-addicted group mentioned the social conditions as the most common reason of success in the last quitting (22.9%). Based on the findings, a significant difference was found between the two variables including family size, employment status, smoking, family disputes, person's hopes and obsession to use drugs.Conclusion: For preventing and treating addiction, it is not enough to detoxify in treatment centers. It seems planning and interventions is necessary for preventing and reducing relapse, based on known major risk factors (such as employment status, smoking, family disputes, marriage, individual hope, and mental engagement with drug use).

Introduction: The elderly are among the most vulnerable group in the society, and elder abuse is poses a challenge in the domain of elderly care and support. The present study was conducted with the aim of exploring the effect of implementation of an elderly respect education program in families on the elder mistreatment in the city of Yazd in 2016.Methods: The present study was an experimental study of the field trial type that was conducted on 80 elderly people over the age of 65 years who were covered by Yazd Comprehensive Health Service Centers. This sample was randomly divided into two groups: the intervention group (n= 40) and non-intervention group (n= 40).The sampling units were invited for participating in the study through phone call by healthcare providers. Then, the interviewer completed the questionnaire, after introducing himself and giving explanations on the objective of the study. The data collection tool was the Elder Abuse Scale that included 49 items in eight subscales: care neglect, psychological abuse, physical abuse, financial abuse, authority deprivation, rejection and financial and emotional neglect. In the next step, the families of the elderly in the intervention group were invited to participate in the educational program. The content of this program included different elder abuse subjects, the importance of respecting the elderly in the family and the society, and the role of families in supporting and protecting the elderly. One month after the end of the educational program for families, the elderly in both the intervention group and non-intervention group were invited to be interviewed and the questionnaire was completed. Data analysis was done using software SPSS and through the independent t-test and chi-squared test.Results: Analysis of the mean of elder abuse dimensions in the intervention group indicated that there was a significant difference between the scores before and after the intervention (P<0.05). The highest level of abuse was seen in the dimension of emotional neglect with the mean of 25.3 and the lowest was seen in the dimension of rejection with the mean of 2.7.The study of the mean of abuse dimensions in the elderly non-intervention group, no significant difference was seen before and after the intervention (P>0.05). The highest level of abuse was seen in the dimension of emotional neglect and the lowest in the dimension of rejection.Conclusion: The findings indicated that the implementation of the program for educating elderly respect in family was effective in abuse reduction. Therefore, training elderly respect programs are recommended. Also, clarification of this phenomenon from different aspects is better to be considered as a priority.

Introduction: The evidence indicates that drivers -- including taxi drivers – are involved have high rates of metabolic syndrome and also have a higher risk of cardiovascular events than other occupations. Only few studies have been conducted to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among urban taxi drivers. The aim of this research was to estimate prevalence of metabolic syndrome and risk of cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years among a group of Iranian male taxi drivers in Yazd.Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, 120 male taxi drivers in Yazd, Iran in 2016 were selected using simple random sampling and studied to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome using Adult Treatment panel III criteria and 10-year risk of cardiovascular events by Framingham risk score. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS software using the chi-squared test and Student’s t-test.Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 37.5%. Mean and standard deviation of number of MetS components was 2.09±1.30 among drivers. Hypertriglyceridemia was the most prevalent component of MetS. This study showed that 40% of drivers with MetS had an intermediate 10-year risk of cardiovascular events, and 4.4% of them had a high 10-year risk. The results of this study indicated that drivers with metabolic syndrome had a higher risk of cardiovascular events than drivers without MetS.Conclusion: Based on the findings, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and risk of cardiovascular events were high among Iranian taxi drivers in Yazd. In this regard, proper preventive programs should be conducted for early diagnosis and appropriate interventions are recommended.

Introduction: One of the most valuable indicators determining the health status of a community is the birth weight of infants. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate risk factors affecting low-birth-weight infants born to mothers visiting community health centers in the city of Yazd in Iran.Methods: The present study was a retrospective cohort research on 280 mothers visiting to community health centers in two groups of mothers with infants weighing less than 2500 grams (case) and those with babies weighing more than 2500 grams (control). The data were also collected by interviewing mothers and reviewing the information inserted in their health records. Such data were then entered into the SPSS software (Version 19) and analyzed through Chi-square test, independent t-test, as well as logistic regression analysis.Results: The mean and the standard deviation of birth weight in the case group were 2171.4±339.85 grams and they were equal to 3222.5±390.78 grams in the control group. Besides, the results of the analysis revealed that maternal education (P= 0.05), type of delivery (P=0.02), birth order (P=0.02), maternal occupation (P= 0.03), pregnancy-induced hypertension (P= 0.008), and gestational age (P= 0.000) were correlated with low-birth-weight infants. Conclusion: Considering that low birth weight was related to factors that could be controllable in most circumstances, measures such as training mothers, promoting quality of prenatal care, and planning for childbearing among mothers are recommended.

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder that reduces bone strength and ultimately increases the risk of fractures. The socioeconomic status is one of the important factors affecting health, and it is confirmed as a predictor of various diseases and deaths. This study aimed to determine the relationship between osteoporosis and socioeconomic status.Methods: This study was a case-control study that included 270 women who were selected from Khatam-ol-Anbia Bone Density Center in Yazd, in which women were randomly selected for both groups, with and without Osteoporosis, by matching their age (± 2 years old). A structured socio-economic questionnaire was filled up for them. We used clustering method, logistic regression, Chi-square and independent t-tests in SPSS 16 software.Results: In this study, 135 women with osteoporosis and 135 with nonosteoporosis were included. The odds ratio for osteoporosis in low and moderate e socioeconomic groups respectively (OR=4.39, CI: 2.57-7.50) and (OR=2.42, CI: 0.97-6). Which had a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.001).Conclusion: In this study, the improvement of socioeconomic level, increasing the level of education had a preventive role in the development of osteoporosis.

Introduction: Aflatoxins (AFs) are a group of mycotoxins created as metabolic items for the most part by three types of Aspergillus including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus and the uncommon Aspergillus nomius. Eighteen aflatoxins have been identified up to now, but only six of them have been found in food and feed.Methods: The occurrence of aflatoxins in 32 samples of roasted red skin peanut was determined using HPLC with a Chromolith column. All samples were purchased from retail shops and local markets in Mashhad city. The method was based on the extraction of samples and aflatoxins determination after postcolumn derivatization by Kobra Cell and fluorescence detection at excitation and emission wavelengths of 365 and 435 nm, respectively. Results: Mean levels of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and total aflatoxins were found to be 57.17, 2.56, 12.51, 1.42 and 85.16 ng g-1, respectively. Aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) was detected in 12 samples (37.5%) with a mean value of 57.17±90.32 ng g-1 and a maximum level of 243.61 ng g-1. AFB1 levels exceeded Iran maximum tolerate limit (5 ng/g) in 7 out of 32 peanut samples. 21.8% of these peanut samples exceeded the maximum tolerate limit set for total aflatoxins by codex and Iran (15 ng g-1).Conclusion: According to the obtained results, more effort is needed to control aflatoxin levels in Mashhad’s peanut. This survey provides valuable information on aflatoxin contamination in peanut products marketed in Iran as well.

Introduction: The nature of life course, with aging, triggers changes in the respiratory and immune system of the elderly, which increases the susceptibility to Tubercle Bacilli (TB) in the elderly. Clinical characteristics and the natural course of TB in older adults are different. This study aimed to compare the epidemiological and clinical features of pulmonary TB in elderly and non-elderly patients over 16 years old in Yazd city in a five-year period.Methods: Within this historical cohort study, recorded of patient's data, including age, gender, clinical symptoms of the disease, history of treatment, drug resistance, and treatment results examined during 2012-2016. Results: From 177 patients with pulmonary TB, who admitted to this study, 107 were 65 years and older (60.5%), and 70 were aged 16-64 (39.5%). Elderly experienced fever significantly fewer (p=0.02), nonetheless they are more complaining about dyspnea (p=0.01) and anorexia (p=0.04) than non-elderly people. The incidence of drug complications was significantly higher among the elderly. Drug side effects, especially dermal itching (p=0.001), are higher for older people. The number of drug resistance associated with larger mortality and recurrence in the elderly, which is not significant. Mantel-Haenszel evaluation showed that irrespective of drug resistance, the elderly died more than nonelderly (OR=1.37 ± 0.88) (p=0.85).Conclusion: Clinical symptoms, diagnostic criteria and treatment outcome and complications of TB in the elderly are significantly different from others. Elderly people are considerably more likely to anorexia than non-elderly. Fever is not common among elderly people. The incidence of drug complications was significantly higher among the elderly. Considering these differences will help us to diagnose and treat them more effectively.

Introduction: The national trend indicates that various provinces of Iran have experienced attaining economic growth exclusive of parallel observing a boost in CO2 emissions. It is clear that the effects of CO2 emissions on health indicators such as death rate, infant mortality, and health expenditures have been ignored by policy makers over the past decades.Methods: This study utilizes 1989-2016 panel data of the three economic sectors (agriculture, industry and services) of Iran to examine the effect of financial development on CO2 emissions using Pooled Mean Group (PMG) and Mean Group (MG) Regression techniques for the first time in previous literature in Iran. The potential impact of government size and capital stock on CO2 emissions is also analysed.Results: According to empirical results, in the long-run, government size and capital stock increase CO2 emissions, while financial development compact it. However, the results show these variables don’t have statistically significant effect on CO2 emissions in short-run.Conclusion: The study opens up new policy insights to control the environment from degradation by financial development on economic sectors. It recommends that policy makers should realize the potentiality of the financial development in minimizing the CO2 emissions. Therefore, the policy makers need to facilitate more financing at lower costs for investment in environmental projects.