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  Background & Aim: Premenopausal syndrome affects daily activities of many women. This study aimed to compare the effects of Vitexagnus and Flaxseed on premenstrual symptoms in women referred to health centers of Tabriz from October 2013 to September 2014 .

  Methods & Materials: This randomized controlled trial was conducted among 159 women suffered from premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The PMS was measured using the premenstrual assessment form (PAF) . The participants were allocated into three groups (n=53 per group) using block randomization. The group I received 25 grams/d Flaxseed powder and placebo of the Vitexagnus group II received 3.2-4.8 mg/d Vitexagnus tablets and placebo of the Flaxseed and the control group received both placeboes. The PAF was completed at baseline and 1 and 2 month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the general linear model . 

  Results: The PMS improved significantly in both intervention groups during the first and the second month after the intervention. In the Vitexagnus and Flaxseed groups, the mean total PMS score were significantly lower than that in the control group at the first months after the intervention (adjusted mean difference: -3.3 (95% CI: -4.0 to -2.1) -4.3 (-5.5 to -3.0), respectively). In the second month after the intervention, the mean total PMS score was -5.8 (-7.0 to -4.7) in the Vitexagnus group and -6.6 (-8.1 to -5.7) in the Flaxseed group. There was no significant difference between the Vitexagnus and Flaxseed groups in terms of the PMS score .

  Conclusion: According to the results of this study, Flaxseed and Vitexagnus are effective in improving PMS .

  

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Background & Aim: Mother-Child bonding is an emotional aspect of relationship between mother and baby that affects children's psychological development. This study was performed to determine the predictors of mother-child bonding.

Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study was performed on 270 mothers 8 to 10 weeks postpartum referred to eighteen health centers of Tabriz, 2014-2015. Data were collected using the obstetric and socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire, the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The statistical tests including Pearson correlation, Independent t, one-way ANOVA and multivariate linear regression were used for data analysis through SPSS v.21. The significance level was considered as P<0.05.

Results: The mean (SD) of mother-child bonding score was 46.2±8.4, with achievable scores range from 0 to 125. 85.2% of mothers had a mother-child bonding disorder. The most frequent disorder pertained to the dimension of impaired mother-child bonding and the least frequent disorder was anxiety about child care. Variables of depression, state anxiety and unwanted pregnancy were among the predictors of mother-child bonding.

Conclusion: The study shows that anxiety, depression, and unwanted pregnancy are the determinants affecting mother-child bonding. Thus, the screening of mothers for the early identification and treatment of anxiety and depression, and also the reduction of unwanted pregnancy rate using purposeful family planning counseling can improve the mother-child bonding, resulting in improved children's growth and development.

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Background & Aim: Violence against women is a serious social problem affecting public health. Given the relatively high prevalence of domestic violence and the need for screening, a simple tool for its correct diagnosis in a short time seems to be necessary. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic values of the HITS (Hurts, Insults, Threaten, and Screams) tool and CTS2 (Revised Conflict Tactics Scales) in domestic violence screening.

Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 279 married women referred to health centers in Tabriz in 2014. Data were collected using the socio-demographic questionnaire, HITS and CTS2. Kappa index was used to assess agreement between instruments.

Results: Results showed that HITS tool had relatively good sensitivity (75.7%) and high specificity (93.5%). Positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 96.8% and 59.5% respectively. There was a moderate agreement between instruments (Kappa=0.6).

Conclusion: Given the simplicity of HITS and the possibility to complete it in a short time, this questionnaire can be recommended to identify people experiencing domestic violence at the broad level. In addition, the development of this tool is recommended in future studies.

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Background & Aim: Improving and modifying lifestyle is necessary for health maintenance and promotion. Modification of lifestyle can have an important role in the long-term health of women with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the status of health promoting lifestyle and its socio-demographic predictors in women with PCOS.

Methods & Materials: This analytical descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 174 women with PCOS referred to gynecology and infertility clinics in Urmia-Iran, in 2015. The data were collected through the socio-demographic and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance and multivariate linear regression were used to analyze the data through SPSS software version 21.

Results: The mean (standard deviation) of total score of the health promoting lifestyle was 2.2 (0.3) out of 4. The highest mean score was in nutrition subscale [2.9 (0.5)] and the lowest mean score was in the subscale of stress control [1.2 (0.5)]. Based on the multivariate linear regression model, the variables of BMI, spouse’s education level, the first supporter and menstrual bleeding amount were predictors of the health promoting lifestyle in women with PCOS.

Conclusion: Considering that the mean of total score of the health promoting lifestyle and some of its subscales were in the middle of the range of possible scores, it is necessary that besides other therapies, the improvement of health promoting lifestyle in women with PCOS, according to the influencing socio-demographic determinants, be on the agenda of health providers.

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Background & Aim: Given the importance of the physical and mental health of pregnant women and the negative effects of worry on maternal and fetal health, identifying the factors affecting the reduction of worries is necessary. Therefore, the present study was performed to determine maternal worries and their relationship with coping strategies.
Methods & Materials: This analytical, cross-sectional study was performed on 465 pregnant women 14-40 weeks referred to health centres in Hamadan in 2015-2016. Data were collected using the obstetric and socio-demographic characteristics questionnaires, the Billings and Moos Coping Strategy and the Cambridge Worry Scale (CWS). Descriptive and inferential statistics including Spearman correlation and One-way analysis of variance were used to determine relationship between worries and coping strategies. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The mean (SD) of worry score was 25.8 (15.1), with achievable scores of 0 to 80. Thus, 67.3% were not worried, 30.1% expressed a small amount of concern and 2.6% had a great deal of concern. The comparison of the total score of coping strategies and the two subscales of problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies in the three groups indicated that only the emotion-focused strategy score was different in these groups (P<0.005).
Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate that there is a direct correlation between maternal worries and use of emotion-focused strategy. Therefore, it is suggested that midwives help pregnant women to reduce worry by training coping strategies in order to increase the use of problem-focused strategy.
 

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Background & Aim: Women with cancer face many stresses. Social support can facilitate coping skills and improve active coping strategies. The purpose of this study was to assess perceived stress and its relationship with perceived social support in women undergoing chemotherapy for genital cancers.
Methods & Materials: This descriptive, correlational study was conducted from March to May 2016 on 151 patients undergoing chemotherapy for gynecologic cancers in oncology wards of Alzahra and Shahid Ghazi hospitals in Tabriz. The perceived stress scale (PSS) and perceived social support scale (PRQ-85-part2) were completed through interviews with patients. Data analysis was performed using the Pearson correlation test, one-way ANOVA and independent t-test.
Results: Mean (and standard deviation) total score of perceived stress for women was 42.26 (3.97) in the score range of 0-56. Mean (and standard deviation) total score of perceived social support for women was 127.55 (16.64) in the score range of 25-175. Based on the Pearson correlation test, no statistically significant correlation was observed between perceived stress and perceived social support (P=0.324, r=0.08).
Conclusion: The findings indicated that the perceived stress score for women with genital cancers was high. Nevertheless, no relationship was observed between perceived stress and perceived social support. Therefore, further studies are needed in this area.
 

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Background & Aim: The important aspects of maternal postpartum adjustment are readiness in caring for the family, newly-added member and self as well as return to pre-pregnancy functional status. The aim of the study was to determine the predictors of postpartum maternal functioning.
Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 422 newly delivered mothers attended the healthcare centers of Bonab in 2016 using the cluster random sampling method. Data were collected through a socio-demographic characteristics form, the Edinburgh postpartum depression scale, and the functional status questionnaire. The multivariate linear regression model on the SPSS software version 21 was used to determine the predictors of functional status.
Results: Mean (SD) of the functional status total score was 2.3 (0.24). The maximum and the minimum scores were in the subdomains “infant care” [3.64 (0.32)], and “social activities and society” [1.43 (0.41)], respectively. There was a significant inverse correlation between postpartum depression and total score of functional status, self-care and social activities and society subscales. According to the general linear model, postpartum depression, spouse’s age and job, economic status, mother’s education level and the number of pregnancy were the predictors of mothers’ functional status during postpartum period.
Conclusion: Postpartum depression and some socio-demographic characteristics are among the variables influencing maternal functional status. Therefore, the early diagnosis and treatment of postpartum depression and consideration of the mothers’ socio-demographic characteristics, can improve maternal functional status and result in better maternal postpartum adjustment.
 

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Background & Aim: Child marriage is a violation of human rights and children's rights. Since most of these marriages take place without the informed consent of children, and parents are the final decision makers. Therefore, the mothers’ attitude towards the marriage of girls can have an undeniable effect on the early marriage of their daughters. The aim of the present study was to determine the knowledge and attitude of mothers with teenage daughters towards early marriage, its causes and consequences.
Methods & Materials: This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted on 270 mothers with teenage daughters in Tabriz in 2020-2021. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test through the SPSS software version 21.
Results: More than half (55.2%) of the mothers had a good level of knowledge about early marriage. The majority of mothers (87.0%) were against marriage before the age of 18. There was a statistically significant relationship between mothers' knowledge and attitude towards early marriage (P<0.001). The emotional, social, intellectual and economic maturity of girls were the most important reasons for the decrease in early marriage, and one of the most important reasons for the increase in early marriage was not reaching intellectual-psychological maturity. The most important consequence of early marriage from the mothers' points of view was the high possibility of family involvement in married life and decision-making.
Conclusion: Despite the negative attitude of mothers towards early marriage, nearly half of them had poor and moderate levels of knowledge regarding early marriage. Therefore, raising the level of knowledge of mothers with teenage daughters about the consequences of early marriage, creating a culture to correct social misconceptions, passing appropriate laws to prevent child marriage, can reduce the severity of this harm.