JOURNAL OF SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH
Year:2008 | Volume:6 | Issue:2|Papers Count:9

Background and Aim: Body mass index (BMI) is a generally accepted indicator of body weight and obesity. A BMI>30 indicates obesity, which is regarded as a risk factor for many diseases, because their pathogeneses are associated with increasing numbers of free radicals derived from oxygen. The present study was a clinical trial carried out in order to study the effects of weight loss on enzymatic antioxidants and its association with dietary intakes of copper, zinc, iron, selenium and, magnesium in obese women. Materials and Methods: Thirty obese women, 19-50 years old, of whom informed consent was obtained, were included in the study. Information was collected on their general characteristics, and anthropometric measurements were made. A diet with a 500- to 1000-calorie deficit was recommended to the subjects, on the basis of micronutrient intakes estimated through a 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire 3 days before and after the intervention. The aim was to bring about a weight loss of 10%. A 10-ml blood sample was taken from each subject, before and after intervention, for enzymatic measurement of enzymatic antioxidants in the red blood cells.Results: Weight loss caused a significant increase (p<0.01) in the mean glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT); no statistically significant change occurred in the mean values of superoxide dismutase (SOD) or glutathione peroxidase (GPX). The only association between the enzymes and trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mg, Se) was a negative linear correlation between daily zinc intake and GPX before intervention (r=0.395, p<0.05).  Conclusion: A 10% reduction in body weight might be an effective step toward increasing levels of enzymatic antioxidants which would minimize injuries caused by free radicals and reduce oxidative stress in obese women. Attention should be paid to the dietary intakes of micronutrients essential for the activities of these enzymes.

Background and Aim: Puberty is a critical period in a woman's life. An important step in strategies designed to promote family and community health is determination of girls' health priorities and needs assessment at puberty. This study aims to illustrate the efficiency of need assessment approach in exploring and comparing the viewpoints of mothers, teachers and adolescent girls on girls' pubertal health in the context of the school. The findings would help plan better programs aiming at changing the heatlh behaviour of girls.Materials and Methods: In this qualitative study 12 guidance school girls, 12 mothers and 7 teachers from District 6, Tehran were selected to participate in focus group discussions to prepare a semi-structured questionnaire. The content analysis method was used to analyze the results of discussions with the participants and complete the final questionnaire. Results: The findings reveal the efficiency of the need assessment approach as follows: a wide discrepancy in viewpoints of the three study groups was identified in terms of pubertal health priorities, health needs of the girls, and pubertal health educational priorities. In addition, the results show a lack of a notion of comprehensive sex health education in the school.Conclusion: The findings indicate that the need assessment approach is a useful way to plan and implement appropriate health education programs for adolescent girls.

Background and Aim: Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is an oxygenated additive chemical added to gasoline, which is as a substitute for tetra ethyl lead, to reduce discharge of pollutants from automobile exhausts. This organic chemical is present in water samples collected from areas where gasoline wastes are abundant. The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of MTBE removal from drinking water at the point of use (POU) by using an Iranian granulated active carbon (GAC) bed. Materials and Methods: Adsorption of MTBE from drinking water at POU was studied by using an Iranian GAC bed. The water samples treated by this filter adsorber were prepared synthetically at two concentrations (50 ppb and 100 ppb). In addition, the effects of residual chlorine at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.5 mg/L and of chloroform at a concentration of 100 ppb on removal of MTBE were determined.Results: It was found that this filter adsorber could treat 375 liters of water containing 50 ppb MTBE, 100 ppb chloroform and 0.2 ppm residual chorine. If the residual chlorine content was increased to 0.5 ppb, the volume of water treated would be 335 liters. The filter could t eat 195 liters of water containing 100 ppb MTBE, 100 ppb chloroform and 0.2 ppm residual chlorine to acceptable levels for drinking, provided the amount of MTBE is below the respective standard.Conclusion: Both residual chlorine and chloroform reduced the MTBE adsorption capacity on GAC due to occupation of adsorption sites. In addition, to the tendency of GAC to adsorb chloroform and chlorine was greater than that of MTBE.

Background and Aim: Job enrichment is a method that has been used to increase employee satisfaction and work motivation. The Hackman and Oldham job characteristics model (1976) has served as the foundation for many job enrichment efforts. In particular, a considerable amount of research has been devoted to the study of the job characteristics-job satisfaction relations. Te purpose of this study was to statistically determine the relation between job characteristics and job satisfaction among employees of hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) in 2007. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional one, including 6 TUMS-affiliated hospitals-Emam, Shariati, Baharlo, Ziaeian, Madaen and Azadi. The sample size was 400, consisting of 200 administrative employees (50%), 151 nurses (38%) and 49 physicians (12%). The random sampling and stratified proportional sampling methods were used to select the hospitals and interviewees, respectively. Two questionnaires were developed and used to identify job characteristics and job satisfaction: 1) job diagnostics surveys (JDS) and 2) Hertzberg's job satisfaction questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaires was ascertained by test-retest using the Pearson correlation coefficient (r = 0.88). Linear-by-linear association and ordinal logistics regression analysis were used for analyzing the data gathered.Results:The relations between the Motivational Potential Score (MPS) and job characteristics (except for feedback) with job satisfaction were statistically significant (p<0.05). Task identity was the most effective determinant of job satisfaction. Conclusion: It appears that all the job characteristics (except feedback) are important determinants of job satisfaction of the hospital employees. Although the work environment is in need of restructuring, it is important to note, from a positive perspective, that the job characteristics discussed in this study are readily amenable to change job satisfaction at the organizational level.

Background and Aim: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important human pathogens. A major clinical concern is the high rate of antibiotic resistance among Staphylococcus aureus strains. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains are a major cause of community- and hospital-acquired infections. Therefore, genetic investigation of S. aureus strains isolated from patients with staphylococcal infection is crucial not only for tracking of infections but also for nosocomial infection control.Materials and Methods In this study, 103 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were collected from Tehran University of Medical Sciences hospitals. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the isolates were determined using a panel of 13 antibiotics by the disk-diffusion method. The isolates were investigated for hvr by the PCR method.Results: According to the antibiotic susceptibility testing, 21 antibiotype profiles were detected. Sixty-four out of the 103 isolates were resistant to methicillin. PCR results showed 10 different patterns of hvr.Conclusion: The results of this study showed high rates of antibiotic resistance and variations of hvr among the Staphylococcus aureus isolates. The high degree of hvr variation can be a good tool to use for molecular typing of this bacterial strain. Further investigation of antibiotic susceptibility patterns and genetic features of this bacterium is highly recommended for controlling community- and hospital- acquired infections. 

Backgrounds and Aim: Increased life expectancies and decreased fertility rates have led to ageing populations worldwide. This phenomenon is one of the most important public health challenges of the current century. Previous studies have shown that identifying factors affecting lifestyle and educational needs help in designing new strategies for health promotion. This study was conducted to investigate the preparedness of the elderly to adopt a healthy lifestyle and factors affecting it in the City of Tehran in 2007.Materials and Methods: This qualtative study included 60 elderly persons from Tehran elderly centers, using the focus group discussion method. Sampling was targeted and a qualitative methodology was used for analysis of the data collected. Results: The results show that different elderly persons have different views with regard to what physical and mental health is .and what factors cause healthiness. They believe that regular physical activity is very beneficial but that there are many difficulties in performing regular physical activity. Most of the subjects are in the prepation, action and maintenance stages as regards physical activity. On the other hand, nearly all the subjects are in the precontemplation stage with regard to fruit and vegetable consumption, despite the many obstacles in following a healthy diet.Conclution: The findings of this study show that many factors influence adoption of a healthy lifestyle by the elderly. Bearing these factors in mind, appropriate educational strategies aiming at facilitating adoption of a healthy lifestyle can be designed.

Backgrounds and Aim: One of the remuneration methods in the hospital system in Iran is per case, based on a classification system termed Global system (GS). The GS, supported by Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME), was established in 1999 and is now used for cost reimbursement in the second- and third-levels of health care services. In this system, patients are classified into 60 categories, based on the most frequent surgical operations. However, it now appears that there are many questions about this system. This study aims to compare the global operations reimbursement rates with actual costs in the Cancer Institute, Tehran, in 2003 and 2004.Materials and Methods: This survey was a retrospective, analytical-descriptive one aiming at comparing the global operations reimbursement rates with actual costs in 646 global operations carried out in the Cancer Institute in 2003 and 2004. The global-operations and actual-costs data were gathered from Hospital Information Systems (HIS) and High Council ofInsurance annual regulations, respectively, and analyzed using SPSS 11.5 software and the Wilcoxon non-parametric test. Results: The differences between the cost reimbursement rates of global operations and their actual costs were lower in 2004 as compared to those in 2003. Also, the actual costs of operations were higher than the global operations reimbursement rates in both years and the difference was significant statistically in either year (P<0/001). Conclusion: Some of the MOHME and Cancer Institute's authorities and experts believe that the decrease in differences between the cost reimbursement rates of global operations and their actual costs in 2003 compred to 2004 is due to increased awareness of physicians and the accounting and discharge units' personnel of the global operations and related regulations, as well as increasing global operations reimbursement rates. Also, they believe that the differences between the global operations reimbursement rates and their actual costs in either year could be attributed to not considering the actual inflation rate, hospital types, patients' co-morbidities, etc. in calculating the global operations reimbursement rates. It is suggested to make more realistic calculations, taking into account such variables as the actual inflation rate, hospital types, patient co-morbidities, etc.

Background and Aim: Domestic violence against women is a major health problem, as well as a violation of human rights. It adversely affects the physical, mental, and social well being of women, families and communities. This phenomenon exists in all countries around the world. Although its prevalence, strength, types, effects, and risk factors are different, it is.not limited to any geographical zone or distinct social class. This article presents the views of Tehrani couples and experts on underlying factors causing domestic violence against women in Iran and action to be taken for prevention.Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was carried out through eight FGD meetings, in 2 days, with the participation of 50 couples. The couples were divided into 8 groups based on sex, education, and history of violence. Results of the FDGs were categorized and analyzed. Data were discussed in group meetings of 50 experts in different fields, such as health, medicine, law, education, and Islamic studies, from academic, policymaking, governmental executive, and women's affairs organizations, divided into three groups of community general education and information dissemination, health system, and judiciary system. Results were discussed and finalized in a general meeting. Results: The couples and experts identified underlying factors in 4 categoriessocio-cultural, economic, legal, and medical. Actions to be taken for prevention and control were believed to be educational, legal, and supporting services. Conclusion: On the basis of the findings of this study, it was suggested that strategies/actions/services to solve the problem and reduce harm should include providing appropriate information and education for couples and the community; emphasizing the health system responsibility; empowering physicians and other health personnel to help women who are victims or susceptible°todomestic violence; legal transparency and reforms; meeting legal needs; law reinforcement and implementation; providing safe shelters for victims; and establishment of a national center for research and planning on violence.