WOMENS HEALTH BULLETIN
Year:2014 | Volume:1 | Issue:2|Papers Count:7

Background: Burns are among the most prevalent mortality causes in developing countries, particularly Iran. In addition to large treatment expenses, burn victims suffer from long-term physical and psychological injuries.Objectives: This study intends to recognize the epidemiologic factors, causes and outcome of burns among hospitalized women in the Burn Wards of Ghotbeddin Hospital in Shiraz, Iran.Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out for a period of 2.5 years. The population consisted of all women hospitalized in the Burn Wards of Ghotbeddin Hospital from March 2009 until September 2011. Patients' information was entered in a checklist using old records and documents after which the collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 15.Results: A total of 619 women were hospitalized over a 2.5 year period due to burns. Their mean age was 25.78 ± 17 years with a range of 3 months to 103 years. Approximately half of the burns (45.4%) occurred at home, most of which (35.0%) occurred during the spring season. Kerosene was the most prevalent cause of burns (30.0%). Of these, 210 (33.92%) women were referred due to self-immolation; familial disputes were the main cause (46.6%) for these referrals. There were 232 (37.48%) cases whose deaths were attributed to burns and its complications during this period.Conclusions: Annually, many women have been admitted and treated in burn hospitals, which result in tremendous financial expenses, physical deformities, psychological disabilities and mortality. Therefore, public education of burn prevention measures seems to be necessary.

Background: Sexual function is one of the most important aspects of life affected by chronic disorders. Objectives: This study aims to investigate sexual function in women diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.Patients and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 50 women with rheumatoid arthritis as the case group and 50 healthy women as the control group in Hafez Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. Data were collected by demographic and the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaires from June to August, 2013. Statistical analysis that included the chi square test, independent sample t-test, and linear regression were carried out using SPSS software (version 16).Results: Two groups were matched according to age, educational level, occupation, menarche age, husband’s age, marital age, gravidity and menstrual cycle status (P>0.05). Total score from the Female Sexual Function Index in the case group (15.9 ± 11.16) was significantly lower than control group (27.29 ± 5.67). Also, in all subscales, the score for sexual function (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain) in the case group was lower than the control group (P<0.001). From patients’ perspective, fatigue, limitation of joint movement, vaginal dryness, and reduction of sexual desire affected their sexual function. Also, linear regression indicated a negative association between duration of disease and sexual dysfunction.Conclusions: Our findings show that rheumatoid arthritis adversely effects women’s sexual function. Thus, clinicians should pay attention to these patients regardless of symptom severity or treatment response.

Background: Hyperphosphatemia is a common problem in hemodialysis patients for which various binders are used to control this problem.Objectives: This study aims to assess the effect of magnesium oxide on controlling serum phosphorus levels and evaluate its side effects.Patients and Methods: We studied 39 hemodialysis patients with hyperphosphatemia. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, trial and control. The trial group received magnesium oxide. Its dose was titrated according to weekly magnesium levels that were checked for 4 weeks. Phosphorous was also checked weekly in both groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS 15 software. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant.Results: A total of 27 males and 12 females with a mean age 54.01 ± 17.20 years were divided into the trial (21 patients) and control (18 patients) groups. Serum phosphorous levels did not significantly decrease (P=0.994). However the mean phosphorous level in females showed significant correlation with time, as a significant quadratic trend throughout time was observed (P=0.001). A significant ascending trend in mean magnesium levels was observed in the trial group compared to the control group at the end of the study (P<0.001).Conclusions: Although magnesium oxide was well tolerated by the study patients and lacked serious complications, it could not decrease phosphorous levels. In order to better assess these results we recommend that larger, multicenter studies with longer follow up that uses other magnesium compounds be designed.

Context: This systematic review summarizes evidence that pertains to factors associated with physical domestic violence in Eastern Mediterranean region countries.Evidence Acquisition: We searched Pubmed, EMBASE, ISI, PsycInfo, IMEMR, Ovid, Global health, Cochrane Library, IranMedex, SID, IranDoc, Science Direct, Elsevier, Proquest and Magiran with no language limits until August 1, 2013. A hand search included lists of references from papers and the evidence list from "The Islamic Republic of Iran National Agenda for Preventing Domestic Violence". We chose quantitative studies on ever- partnered, non-pregnant women from Eastern Mediterranean Region countries that referred to either predisposing or protective factors of physical domestic violence at the victims' level. Criteria based critical appraisal was performed by three reviewers.Results: Younger age at the time of the study, younger age at the time of marriage, unemployment, frailty, history of exposure to domestic violence, and a positive attitude toward male dominance were among the risk factors. Higher level of education was reported to be a protective factor.Conclusions: Findings are consistent with most international evidences. Further investigations are needed to more comprehensively understand the remainder of the variables.

Dr. Najmeh Maharlouei must be congratulated for initiating the publication of this quarterly journal, Women’s Health Bulletin. The bulletin will provide a forum for an exploration of significant issues relating to women’s health, offer a further venue for academic publications on the subject, and encourage healthy debate, reflection and discussion. The Third International Iranian Conference on Women’s Health was held this May in the beautiful and historic city of Shiraz.

Background: Mastalgia (breast pain) is a symptom that usually affects 70% of women at any given point during their life time. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of chamomile extract and mefenamic acid (MA) on the intensity of Mastalgia associated with premenstrual syndrome (MAPMS).Patients and Methods: This study was a randomized double blind clinical trial carried out on 90 students living in dormitories at Kazerun Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran from September 2011 to March 2012. The participants filled in the daily forms for two consecutive months. Once the definitive diagnosis of MAPMS was made, the participants were divided into two groups of 45, each receiving either chamomile capsule 100 mg or MA 250 mg three times a day, for an interval beginning from the 21st day of menstrual cycle till the next onset. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in order to analyze data.Results: A significant decrease (P<0.0001) was found in average mastalgia between pre and post intervention after first and second cycles in those treated with chamomile Extract (10.5 ± 21.7 and 13.7 ± 20.4 percent) and among MA treated subjects (12.1 ± 624.7 and 13.8 ±24 percent). There was no significant difference in MAPMS symptom in chamomile extract-treated and MA groups after first and second cycles (P>0.05).Conclusions: Chamomile reduces the severity of MAPMS during treatment. Consumption of chamomile seems to be similar to MA in relieving the intensity of MAPMS.

Background: In the recent decades, the high rate of cesarean section is increased worldwide along with critical concerns about its primary benefits. Many researchers showed the positive relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and the prevalence of cesarean delivery. However, it seems that the prevalence of elective cesarean section is even rising in low socioeconomic classes.Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the socioeconomic status and the prevalence of elective cesarean section in nulliparous women in Niknafs Teaching Centre, in Rafsanjan, Iran.Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was comprised of 459 nulliparous women and was carried out in Niknafs Teaching Center, in Rafsanjan from August 2011 to April 2012. A valid questionnaire was completed during a brief interview with the subjects. It included the demographic, economic, and educational statuses of the subjects as well as information about the delivery types. The collected data was analyzed using chi-square and Fisher exact tests in SPSS version 16.Results: Five socioeconomic groups were defined as very poor, poor, fair, good, and very good. Overall, 74% of the participants were placed in fair and lower groups. Significant relationships were observed between SES and primary elective cesarean delivery (P<0.001) as well as the final rate of cesarean delivery (P=0.02). However, there was no statistically significant relationship between the reason for cesarean delivery and SES of the mothers.Conclusions: The improvement of the SES has a linear relationship with demand for cesarean delivery. But elective cesarean section is notably high in Iran even in lower socioeconomic classes. This could verify that socioeconomic factors are not the only reason for the high prevalence of cesarean delivery in Iran and that other factors are in fact responsible for this level of performance.