Journal of Health System Research
Year:2021 | Volume:17 | Issue:2|Papers Count:10

Background: Infertility is described as inability of a couple to bring a child within 12 months or more of regular unprotected intercourse. Studies have suggested associations between semen quality and lifestyle factors, including physical activity and dietary intakes. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the relationship between physical activity and sperm quality parameters in infertile men who referred to infertility clinic of Isfahan City, Iran, in 2019. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 175 infertile men (18-55 years old) who referred to Royan infertility clinic in Isfahan, entered the study after completing the written consent form. Demographic data were collected using a questionnaire and physical activity information was collected by International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Sperm quality parameters including sperm concentration (SC), total sperm motility (TSM), normal sperm morphology (NSM), and sperm volume were investigated by spermogram test. For all analyses, SPSS software was used and P ˂ 0. 05 was considered as significance level. Findings: Due to the lack of dissemination of physical activity data, all subjects were classified in the group of physical activity with moderate intensity. Multivariate logistic regression [odds ratio (OR)] with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess more accurately the relationship between physical activity and abnormal sperm parameters. Median values of metabolic equivalent of task (METs) were used to analyze the data due to lack of dissemination of physical activity data and no significant relationship was observed between sperm quality parameters and levels above median compared to the reference level (levels below median) in participants. Conclusion: No significant relationship was found between sperm quality parameters and physical activity pattern in infertile men. Furthermore, no relationship was found between body mass index (BMI) and sperm quality parameters.

Background: Khuzestan province is one of the largest industrial provinces in Iran, with high air pollution. One of the main air pollutants is nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the atmosphere, which is linked to several epidemiological and environmental effects. Thus, spatial and temporal monitoring of NO2 is crucial for land managers. So, the aim of this study was the spatiotemporal evaluation of NO2 in Khuzestan Province, Iran, using Sentinel 5 (TROPOMI). Methods: Initially, the amount of tropospheric NO2 concentration was estimated in each month. In the next step, using ArcMap software, the monthly average of tropospheric NO2 was extracted from 12 months. Moreover, the location of 100 important air pollutant industries in the Khuzestan Province was extracted using Google Earth image. Thus, using the monthly average NO2 concentrations and the location of the cities and industries, the monthly average pollution of this pollutant was extracted for the cities and industries. Finally, the cities and industries of air pollution in Khuzestan Province were prioritized based on of tropospheric NO2 concentration. Findings: The maximum concentrations of this gas was in Bavi, Ahvaz, Abadan, and Mahshahr cities; and respectively, this gas had the lowest values of NO2 in Izeh, Lali, and Baghmalek cities. Moreover, in the cold months of the year, Khorramshahr and Mahshahr had higher concentrations of NO2 in comparison to the warm months of the year. The results of the spatial analysis revealed that the highest concentration of NO2 was in the Farabi Petrochemical Company, Khuzestan Steel Company, Ghadir, and Razi Petrochemicals, respectively. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, it can be deduced the influence of local emission sources of NO2 in Khuzestan Province is related to population density, high traffic of motor vehicles, and industrial activities.

Background: Breast Self-examination (BSE) is one of the effective ways of early diagnosis of breast cancer. This study surveyed the effect of a BSE training program and intervention on women referred to health centers in Gonabad, Iran. Methods: In this field trial study, 140 married women aged 20-49 from Gonabad were chosen randomly and divided into two groups of control and experiment. The BSE skill was examined in both groups before, immediately after, and three months after the intervention. Data was analyzed by SPSS software and statistical tests like analysis of variance (ANOVA), student t-test, and multivariate ANOVA in significant level of α = 0. 05. Findings: The mean age of the participants was 37. 27 ± 6. 69 years. Before the the intervention, nearly half of the women in both groups had not performed BSE or they were not familiar with its proper technique. After the intervention, the evaluation score of the BSE skill increased significantly in the experiment group (P < 0. 050). The follow up controls after three months showed statistically significant effect of the intervention (P < 0. 001), but changes in the control group were not significant. Conclusion: Training interventions based on the BSE technique was effective in promoting self-care and early diagnosis of breast cancer among women. Thus, it is essential to design a BSE training program and integrate it into the National Women's Health Program.

Background: Considering the importance of improving the health of the mother and fetus during pregnancy, the role of training programs is undeniable. This study was performed aiming to examine the effect of education based on Health Belief Model (HBM) on promoting urinary tract infection preventive behaviors in pregnant women. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 94 pregnant women referring to comprehensive health centers in the city of Dezful, Iran, in 2019-2020. The sample was randomly divided into two intervention and control groups. The data collection tool was a questionnaire based on the HMB which was completed in two stages of before and two months after the training by pregnant women. The study hypotheses were tested using chi-square and independent t-tests at a significance level of 0. 05. Findings: There was no significant difference in terms of demographic variables and different dimensions of the HBM in the two study groups in the pre-intervention stage. But after receiving training by the experimental group, a significant difference was observed in the mean and standard deviation (SD) of education knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived barriers, perceived benefits, cues to action, efficacy, and behavior in the intervention group (P < 0. 001). Conclusion: Designing educational programs based on health belief model can be effective on preventive behaviors of gestational urinary tract infections. Because by increasing awareness, perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy have a positive effect on their behavior and reduce perceived barriers to adopting behaviors that prevent urinary tract infections during pregnancy.

Background: Public health is one of the essential mental and psychological needs of human beings. The main purpose of this study was to present a model of participation in sports activities with the general health level and the moderating role of awareness based on the theory of planned behavior. Methods: This was a descriptive-correlational study and survey in terms of data collection method. The study population consisted of 120000 participants in group and individual sports activities of Isfahan Municipality, Iran. A total of 384 samples (247 women and 137 men with an age average of 42 ± 14. 1 and 46 ± 10. 66 years old, respectively) were selected by stratified random sampling. In order to collect data, Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Planned Behavior of Karimi et al. were used for data analysis. The data obtained were analyzed using correlation coefficient, regression, and structural equations in SPSS software version 22 and AMOS software. Findings: The results showed that there was a significantly positive relationship between willingness to do work and planned behavior of participation in sports activities, planned behavior of participation in sports activities, and general health (P ≤ 0. 05). Conclusion: As a result, it can be acknowledged that by informing people about the beneficial effects of sports, we can plan to stabilize their participatory behavior in sports activities in order to promote and maintain public health.

individual characteristics, namely self-control, within the Enneagram framework, a theory that defines nine basic personality types and their emotional, perceptual, and behavioral patterns. Analyzing the relationship between self-control and couples' personality traits may ultimately lead to more informed decisions before marriage and prevent divorces resulting from uninformed choices. Methods: The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design using a control group. The statistical population consisted of all couples in the premarital stage who had visited any of five counseling centers in Isfahan, Iran, from which 30 couples were selected by purposive sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of 30 people. The experimental group was subjected to 10 Enneagram educational sessions of 90 minutes. Tangney Self-Control Scale (SCS) (2004) was completed in pre-test and post-test stages with an interval of 45 days. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Findings: The results of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that training the nine concepts of personality (Enneagram) was effective on the initial self-control (F = 0. 36, P < 0. 01), preventive self-control (F = 73. 70, P < 0. 01), and total self-control (F = 21. 51, P < 0. 01). Conclusion: The results of the present study can be effective for empowering marriage applicants who do not have knowledge of their personality traits. Besides, knowledge of the ways of expressing emotions of each personality type is effective on couples' self-control.

Background: Wastewater is highly sensitive in pharmaceutical industries due to its various microbial and chemical pollutions, and its proper management is of special importance. Identification, evaluation, classification, and determination of risk criteria in order to design and present the process and method of wastewater management in these centers is one of the objectives of this study. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, evaluation was performed through measurement, study of processes, determination of the amount and type of raw materials used and their danger, risk assessment, and face-to-face interview. Then, according to quantitative and qualitative findings and by using guidelines, program and process of chemical and biological wastewater management was presented. Findings: Of all chemical wastewater, 60% could be drained to the sewer system, 2. 4% could be neutralized, 5. 1% could be diluted, and 29. 4% could not be drained, and of the whole microbial wastewater, 49% needed to be decontaminated and 51% could be drained to the sewer system without decontamination. Conclusion: The major part of wastewater in pharmaceutical-industrial centers is safe and by designing a wastewater management process and compiling executive instructions, it can be drained to the sewer system or a conventional treatment system can be used for safe and low-risk wastewater. For the hazardous part, it can be sent to competent disposal companies.

Background: This study aimed at examining the effect of manipulating the length of static eye training on learning an inhibitory skill in children with developmental coordination disorder. Methods: A quasi-experimental method with a pre-test and a post-test design was utilized during a 14-day follow-up period. The statistical population of the study were the 6-year-old girls with developmental coordination disorder in the kindergarten of Isfahan University. Using tests for assessing children's motor skills-the second version, 45 children with developmental coordination disorders were selected. Based on the pre-test scores (performance), participants were divided into three groups of 15: basic resident eye training, short-term resident eye training, and long-term resident eye training. In the pre-test, participants received 10 attempts at bean bags. The acquisition phase was performed in 18 sessions, with 10 attempts per session. At the end of the last training session, in the post-test and in two weeks of non-training in the memorial phase, the participants received 10 attempts at bean bags. At each stage, visual information was recorded by an eye tracking device and the accuracy of the throw was recorded by the researcher. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance with repeated measures. Findings: The results indicated that basic resident eye exercises, short-term resident eye exercises, and long-term resident eye exercises had a significant effect on receiving skills and duration of resident eye period (P < 0. 05). Also, long-term resident eye exercises had a higher effect size compared to short-term and basic resident eye exercises. Conclusion: In general, the results of the study emphasized the importance of a longer resident eye period on learning inhibitory skills, which confirms.

Background: Covid-19 is a major global health concern due to its pathogenicity and widespread distribution around the worldThe purpose of the present study is to draw and analyze the conceptual network of scientific products in the subject field of Covid-19 in PubMed website in order to know more about this field. Methods: The research method is descriptive-analytical which analyzes the content of the texts with scientometrics approach. The research population includes 9999 articles in the field of Covid disease-19 humans, which are indexed in the PubMed database in the period 2020 (March 5) 2021. Data analysis and scientific mapping were done using Ravar PreMap, UCInet, Netdraw and VOSviewer software. Findings: According to the centrality indexes, concepts such as SARS-CoV-2, PANDEMICS are the most used topics in this field. The intellectual structure of the field is divided into four thematic clusters including "Pandemic and control of infectious diseases", "Covid-19 treatment", " Influencing factors and Hospitalization" and " Quarantine and detection of Covid-19". Conclusion: By analyzing the topics attributed to the documents, the formed subject clusters have a structural relationship with each other. The majority of researchers focused on the pandemic, infectious disease control, and treatment of Covid-19. Multi-sectoral research (check out the different angles) is needed in areas such as social, economic, political or cultural factors that have received less attention.

Background: In single-subject research, there is autocorrelation between observations, that violates the assumption of observational independence. The discontinuity regression considers the correlation between observations over time and in different treatment stages (baseline, intervention, etc. ). The aim of the current study was to compare the visual and discontinuous regression methods in evaluating the effectiveness of the Lidcombe program on decreasing of severity of stuttering in primary school children. Methods: This study with single subject design conducted on four children (7-9 years) who stutter. These children participated in a Lidcombe program, was scheduled in 22 weeks, with a ABA model. Stuttering severity was measured with a rating scale. In order to analyze the data of the study, visual analysis, effect size and regression discontinuity were used. Findings: Data analysis based on visual analysis as well as discontinuity regression indicated that most participants recorded a significant change, as a decline in severity of syllables stuttered, following the intervention. Regression coefficients on phase change from treatment to follow-up were significant, meaning that the Lidcombe program was effective over time. Conclusion: The results of this study based on visual analysis as well as discontinuity regression indicated Lidcombe program eventuated in decreases of severity of stuttering in children participated in this study, and provide the preliminary evidence for the use of this treatment method for the children with stuttering.