Background & Aim: Health is one of the vital concepts in every society which is affected by several factors including age, gender and social situation of the people. Individuals&apos perception of health concept is also of paramount importance. The main objective of this study is to determine health concept perceptions and health promoting behaviors among Tehran University medical and non-medical students

Methods & Materials: This is a descriptive- analytical study. Four hundred medical students and four hundred non-medical students were recruited for the study using stratified sampling. A three-section self-evaluating questionnaire including demographic information, health perception information and health promoting behaviors information was used to gather data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test and Pierson Correlation Coefficient.

Results: 49.7 percent and 6.8 percent of the medical students had good and excellent perceptions about health concept, respectively. In non-medical students, it was 49.4 percent and 8.6 percent, respectively. 57 percent of the medical students and 54.9 percent of non-medical students had good health promoting behaviors, respectively. There was significant relationship between perceptions of health concept and health promotion behaviors among both groups (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Based on the results, there is a direct relationship between perception of health concept and health promoting behaviors among both groups. There is no difference in all aspects of health promoting behaviors, except for cigarette smoking in which the medical students showed more healthy behaviors.

Background & Aim: Although natural contraceptive methods have been used for centuries, they have high failure rates so family planning programs tend to promote modern methods. Knowing utilization rate of natural methods and its pattern could help the planners to design effective family planning programs. This study was designed to identify the utilization rate of natural family planning and its related factors in Ghaemshahr, Iran, 2005

Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 304 married and non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years that were not intended to become pregnant were recruited using systematic random sampling. All participants completed the informed consent form. Data were collected using a content valid and reliable (r=0.84) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, ANOVA and t-test.

Results: The utilization rate of natural and medical methods were 39.5% and 60.5%, respectively. Among all various methods, withdrawal was the most prevalent one (37.5%). The frequency of breastfeeding and safe period were 1% and 0.3%, respectively. The most cited reasons for using natural methods were fear of side effects of other methods (50.6%), its convenience (36.5%), preference of spouses (32.6%), and the wrong perception of being as effective as other methods (22.5%). There were significant associations between age (P=0.003), marriage duration (P=0.01), number of children (P=0.0001) and living in urban area (P=0.0001) with utilization rate of natural methods. Health providers were reported to be the main source of information.

Conclusion: Although family planning programs tend to promote modern methods, the wide spread use of natural methods especially withdrawal method suggests that those couples that are interested in continuing the method should be educated for correct use of it. On the other hand, it is recommended that family planning packages should contain programs to increase knowledge, to correct the wrong believes, to consult with couples, to targeted men and other groups of the populations and finally to activate mass media.

Background & Objective: Job satisfaction is the person&aposs attitude toward his/her work. Increasing nurses&apos job satisfaction result in better quality of nursing care and reduces the number of nurses who leave their job. Conditions of different wards of hospitals can affect nurses&apos job satisfaction. The aim of this study is to compare nurses&apos job satisfaction in oncology and delivery wards.

Methods & Materials: This is a cross-sectional comparative study. A total of 144 nurses (94 nurses in oncology and 50 nurses in delivery wards) of Tehran University of Medical Sciences hospitals participated in the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical test (chi-square).

Results: Comparison of the global job satisfaction among oncology and delivery nurses, indicated that there was no statistical significant relationship between them from working in a specific ward point of view (P=0.637). Also there was no significant relationship between intrinsic job satisfaction and working in a specific ward (P=0.966). There was statistical significant relationship between extrinsic job satisfaction and working in specific ward (P=0.039).

Conclusion: Considering that extrinsic job satisfaction of oncology nurses were low, reconsideration about specific conditions of oncology wards and taking efficient measures in improving nurses&apos extrinsic job satisfaction (especially oncology nurses) is essential.

Background & Aim: Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases with unknown causes and it is the most important cause of disability especially in adulthood that can have a considerable impact on patients&apos quality of life.

Methods & Materials: This is a cross-sectional study. One hundred and ninety patients with rheumatoid arthritis referred to rheumatology clinic and rheumatology wards of Tehran university of Medical sciences&apos hospitals were randomly selected. The data were collected using a two-section questionnaire including demographic and disease characteristics, and quality of life questions. All analyzes were carried out using SPSS statistical software.

Results: The result showed that quality of life of %50 of patients was high and moderate and the other 50% had low quality of life. Approximately 50% of the patients reported that they have no problem in their physical, socio-economic, mental, sleep and rest, and general health regarding rheumatoid arthritis. There were significant relationships between age, marital status, employment, duration of the disease, physiotherapy, and family income with the quality of life.

Conclusion: The results showed that quality of life in half of the patients (%50) was low. Determining the patients&apos quality of life result in designing proper programs and strategies for prevention and control of the disease that result in promoting quality of life.

Background & Aim: Menopause is an important event in women&aposs lives. By increasing life expectancy, women spend about one-third of their lives in menopausal stage. Lack of knowledge about self-care and unhealthy life style in menopause women result in many of serious damages in this period. This study is to determine the effect of educating self care strategies on knowledge and practice of menopausal women.

Methods & Materials: This is a semi-experimental study. A total of 81 women were selected using convenience sampling method. All women completed an 11-item questionnaire covering demographic information, medical history, lifestyle and current symptoms and their severity. The women completed pre- and post-intervention (at the baseline and 6 weeks later) questionnaire which assessed knowledge and beliefs about menopause and a number of health-related behaviors. The intervention included giving information and group discussion about menopause, stress management, health behaviors (smoking, exercise, diet) and treatment choices.

Results: The results indicated that at the baseline, 22.2% had poor knowledge, 64.2% had average and 13.6% had good knowledge. Following the educational intervention, none of the respondents had poor knowledge. 27.5% were at average and 72.5% were at good level of knowledge.

Conclusion: According to the findings, education had strong effect on promoting the respondents&apos knowledge about self-care strategies. We believe the stronger efforts are needed to promote good health-related behaviors for these women.

Background & Aim: Inter-partner relationships as part of a somatic-affective interaction have important role in supporting of familial relations. In this regard, knowledge of couples about their specific role against their spouses and the ways of having correct sexual relationship is essential. This correct knowledge might help spouses to understand their husband/wife and would promote family&aposs cultural status and would be transmitted to next generations. This study carried out to determine the knowledge level and beliefs of couples attending marriage counseling centers toward correct sexual relationships.

Methods & Materials: This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 300 individuals (150 couples), attending marriage counseling centers in the north and east of Tehran recruited for the study using random selection method. Data were collected using a questionnaire including knowledge and beliefs assessment questions.

Results: Mean knowledge score for men and women were 12.3±2.5 and 10.1±1.8, respectively (P=0.23). Knowledge level of participants with higher education (P=0.00) and those aged 25-29 years (P=0.65) were higher than others. 11.3% of women and 13.1% of men did not have appropriate attitudes toward correct sexual relationships (P=0.35).

Conclusion: Although knowledge level of respondents was just above the half of the complete score, the overall beliefs toward sexual relationships were positive.

Background & Aim: Socio-economical changes have increased the women&aposs opportunity to take job in recent decades. The increased levels of women in work places, has resulted in a high interest in the potential adverse effects of work on pregnancy outcome. This study was conducted in order to surveying the association between occupational factors and preterm childbirth.

Methods & Materials: It is a cross-sectional study. Samples consisted of nurses and midwives (518 person) who working in Tehran&aposs universities of medical sciences hospitals. Also they delivered newborns in gestational age more than twenty weeks (term or preterm) in years 2001-2006. The subjects were selected using a multi stage sampling method. Data gathered using a self-administered questionnaire. Occupational factors labeled as fatigue score and working hours. The relation between Occupational factors and preterm birth was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-squared, t-test and Mann-Whitney U test) by SPSS software.

Results: Based on the study findings, the prevalence of preterm labor was 17.2% (95%CI=0.14-0.20). Although the proportions of unfavorable working conditions include: working at acute clinical wards, standing up more than 3h per each working shift, physical exercise, working in cold or hot weather, working in busy environment with continuous noise, being checker of visual and aural monitoring signals, working hours equal or more than 40 hours per week, and working fatigue score equal or more than 3 were higher in preterm group but it didn&apost show any significant relation with preterm birth.

Conclusion: According to the research findings, it seems that occupational factors do not have explicit effect on preterm childbirth. Therefore more investigations are recommended.

Key words: Preterm Labor, Occupational Factors, Fatigue

Background & Aim: High frequency of traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries in one hand and improvement of the health care condition to restore patient&aposs life in the other hand has increased the frequency of comatose patients in ICU. These patients often experience physical, cognitive, behavior or sensory defects, and the sensory input reduction in intensive care units expose them to cognition disorders. It seems that using sensory stimulation programs may be effective in preventing from sensory deprivation and facilitating recovery process.

Methods & Materials: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 comatose patients who were hospitalized in ICU in Shariati and Sina hospitals were sought to be studied. The subjects were selected randomly using matching that was placed in case and control group. In the intervention group, patients received an auditory stimulation for 2 weeks, 6 days of a week, 2 times a day. The auditory stimulator was a recorded tape (5-10 minutes) of a familiar voice for 30 minutes. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was used for measuring the level of consciousness (LOC). LOC was measured before and after each intervention 4 times a day. The control group LOC was measured in a similar manner to the case group. At the same time, homodynamic symptoms (blood pressure, pulse rate, and mean arterial pressure) were measured. Non-parametric test was used for analyzing data. The data was analyzed through SPSS V.11.5 computer software.

Results: The findings indicated that there was a significant difference in LOC of the intervention group at the first day and after fourteen days of the intervention (P<0.001), but not in the control group (P=0.769). Although 2 groups were similar in LOC of the first day (P=0.605) but there were a significant difference between their LOC at the fourteenth day (P=0.001).

Conclusion: The results showed that the auditory stimulations with familiar voice were effective in increasing LOC in the comatose patients. It is suggested that nurses expose comatose patients with auditory stimulations using a recorded tape of familiar voice in ICU.

Background & Aim: Adverse childbirth experiences as a trauma can evoke fear and post-traumatic stress disorder in some women. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of counseling on post traumatic stress disorder after a traumatic childbirth.

Methods & Materials: This research was a clinical trial which was conducted at Kamaly hospital in Karaj. Samples (300 women) who had experienced a traumatic childbirth were selected by a convenient sampling method and were randomized into an intervention (n=150) and a control (n=150) group. The intervention group received face-to-face counseling within 72 hours of birth for forty to sixty minutes in a session. The control group just received usual care after childbirth. The data collection tool was questionnaire, which was completed via interview. The measuring variables were demographic characteristic, reproductive history, maternity social support, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests (Chi-square, Fisher&aposs exact test, and generalized Fisher&aposs exact test) by SPSS v.13 software.

Results: After 4-6 weeks of follow-up there was no significant difference regarding post-traumatic stress disorder between two groups (P=0.295). At 3-month of follow-up, the intervention group reported less post-traumatic stress disorder comparing with the control group (P=0.001).

Conclusion: A midwife-led counseling plan is effective in reducing post-traumatic stress disorder during a long term.

Background & Aim: Nutrition is a very important factor in toddler age growth. Getting started the first steps of the children with family in this period shows the necessity of paying attention to the correct nutritional behaviors. Therefore this research has been conducted for assessing the effect of nutritional behavior model on the quality of toddler&aposs nutrition and performance of their mothers.

Methods & Materials: This research is a semi-experimental study, in which sixty six children (12-36 months old) were selected from two health care centers in the southern part of Tehran. The subjects were selected using non probability-convenient sampling method. The data gathering tool was 3 questionnaires: 1. Mother and child demographic characteristics 2. Mother&aposs function assessment tool about toddler&aposs behavior during feeding 3. Reminding tool of 24 hours food. The tools were filled in using interviews. Then nutritional behavior model was instructed in a workshop during 2 days, 3 hours a day. After the intervention data were recollected again and were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The results showed a significant difference in mother&aposs function about toddlers nutritional behavior during nutrition before and after the intervention (P<0.001). Also a significant difference was seen in the toddlers nutrition pattern before and after the intervention (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the research findings it can be concluded that nutritional behavior model is effective in improving the pattern of toddler&aposs nutrition and in increasing mothers&apos knowledge related to a correct function on toddler&aposs behavior during feeding. Therefore educational plan to mothers on correct nutritional behaviors is suggested in order to improving the quality of toddler&aposs nutrition.

Background & Aim: Labor pain is regarded as one of the most intolerable pains which women experience during their life. Although there are many alternatives which can effect on person&aposs response and perception to pain and suffering, the pain is felt especially more severely and longer by primogeniture. Annually thousands of selective cesarean operations are performed just because of delivery pain frightening as the main reason. The pain can produce diverse and unwanted effects on delivery procedure and mother-fetus condition. So finding a method to relieve the pain and suffering is one the policies intently considered by health care systems. The aim of present study is to determine the effect of Entonox on implication of painless labor and woman&aposs satisfaction in a Hospital in Orumieh in 1385.

Methods & Materials: This research is a single blind clinical trail. Samples were consisted of women (160 persons), in two groups (each group 80 persons), which selected randomly. The intervention group used Entonox and the control group inhaled Oxygen. All subjects were instructed to use Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and to inhale gases correctly. Due to emergency need for caesarean operation 2 members of the intervention group and 3 ones from the control group leaved the study. Data gathering tool were consisted of data registration form, VAS scale, mother vital sign recorder, and fetus heart rate recorder. The data were analysed using descriptive (relative & absolute frequencies, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t-test, Mann-Whitney U, Chi-squared, Kolmogrove-Smirnov test) by SPSS computer software.

Results: According to the findings pain severity rate among the intervention group significantly was lower than the control group in the different hours of delivery procedure (P<0.001). Using Entonox made no effect on mother&aposs vital signs, labor process, fetus heart rate, first and fifth minute Apgar and bleeding rate after delivery. Also it was shown that probable side effects of Entonox inhalation such as drowsiness and mouth stiffness were more common in the intervention group (P<0.001), but no significant difference was seen in other complications. Meanwhile delivery satisfaction rate was higher in the intervention members.

Conclusion: It seems that Entonox inhalation might come in useful as an effective and safe method to alleviate labor pain and suffering along side with fewer likely risks for fetus and mother in clinical centers.

Background & Aim: Postpartum depression is a severe and pervasive sadness with labile mood that affect 8-15% women after delivery. It can negatively impress mother-infant bonding. There are a lot of factors which make women vulnerable to postpartum depression so that controlling them can prevent from the postpartum depression incidence. Several researches have shown an association between serum cholesterol reduction and depression. The aim of present study is to determine relation between postpartum depression with total serum cholesterol changes before and after child birth in Lahijanian women in years 2006-2007.

Methods & Materials: This research sought a descriptive-analytical design. Samples consisted of healthy Primigravidia women (101 persons) with normal labor, normal delivery at term, married, and a medium to high socio-educational level, without history of a depressive disorder, and metabolic disorders or hyperlipidemia. The excluded were the women with maternal or fetal complication before delivery, having problem with accepting infant gender, fetal death and being depressed during pregnancy. All women were visited in two stages: 3 weeks before the expected delivery and also 6 weeks after delivery. On both visits the Beck depression inventory and serum cholesterol registration questionnaire were completed. Data were collected using a questionnaire which had three sections: demographic characteristics, the Beck depression inventory and laboratory tests. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Spearman correlation coefficient and t-test) by SPSS computer software.

Results: Findings indicated that serum cholesterol declined considerably in the postpartum period, also it was shown that there was a significant correlation between reduced serum cholesterol and postpartum depression (r=-0.331, P<0.001).

Conclusion: Serum cholesterol reduction has a relation with postpartum depression.

Background & Aim: Screening methods of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis is controversy. The survey of relation between GDM and its risk factors helps to determine screening methods. This study was performed to find weather the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is influenced by higher hemoglobin (Hb) level and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) before 14 weeks gestation in GDM women and healthy women.

Methods & Materials: In this case-control study, 33 pregnant women with GDM in case group (diagnosed according to the Carpenter and Costan criteria) were compared with 33 pregnant women in control group without GDM after 24-28 weeks&apos gestation. Data were gathered using a questionnaire and a data registration form by interview and biophysical methods. The data were analysed by descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-squared, Fisher exact test, two samples Kolmogrov-Smirnov test, and Pearson correlation coefficient).

Results: There was no significant difference between two groups in demographic factors and medical history. T-test showed a significant difference between the amount of Hb in the control group (13.23±0.078 gr/dl) and the case group (12.23±0.70 gr/dl) before 14 weeks gestation (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between MCV level in two groups (P=0.294). Also MCV level before 14 weeks&apos gestation was 86.92+ 4.51 fl in the case group and 85/56+5/84 fl in the control group.

Conclusion: The result showed that GDM women had higher Hb level than the control group before 14 weeks&apos gestation. It seems that a high maternal Hb in the first trimester is a risk factor for GDM and it can be used for screening and diagnosing of GDM. Also more investigations of the logic of routine iron supplementation in pregnant women who have a high level of Hb are suggested.

Background & Aim: Pulse Oximeter monitoring technology has become so common in intensive health care settings over the last decade that blood oxygen level is now considered as the fifth vital sign. However, it seems that medical and nursing staffs are not specially educated to operate with the devices. The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge of medical assistants (residents), nurses and anesthesia technicians of pediatric intensive care units regarding Pulse Oximetery.

Methods & Materials: This is a cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of all nurses, first year to third year medical assistants, and anesthesia technicians who working in intensive care units in Pediatric Center. A questionnaire was used for data gathering that had three sections: the first section as demographic data (occupational condition, record of service in pediatric unit, having the experience of using Pulse Oximetery, having enough knowledge about Pulse Oximetery, and its educational program type) the second section (eighteen short answer questions) in order to determine the participants knowledge about Pulse Oximetery and the third section (four imaginary clinical scenarios) evaluating the participants interpretation on Pulse Oximetery reports and its changes in patients. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics (Fisher exact test) by SPSS v.15 and EPI6 computer softwares.

Results: The analyses showed that 77.4% of the participants did not pass any educational course regarding Pulse Oximetery, also 67.9% of them correctly identified what Pulse Oximeter measures, and 47.2% of the subjects correctly identified how a Pulse Oximeter works, and 13.2% identified its normal range, but only 26.4% had a correct understanding of the Oxhemoglobin dissociation curve and explained it completely true. It was found that the majority of the participants were wrong in their answers about Pulse Oximeter monitoring. They made mistakes in interpretation of the imaginary clinical scenarios.

Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the majority of pediatric intensive care unit staffs have little knowledge regarding Pulse Oximeter monitoring, then with attention to the vast usage of the technology the necessity of formal educational programs in colleges and retraining courses during employment about the device for health care providers is apparent.

Background & Aim: Youths are the most at risk group for HIV/AIDS in the world and education of the preventive measurements is the most effective way for decreasing the incidence of HIV/AIDS among them. Due to ever-increasing cases of HIV and the importance of education, we compared the effects of three educational methods (peer education, education by physician and giving pamphlets) on knowledge of female high school students&apos of Kerman shah on HIV/AIDS.

Methods & Materials: One thousand and five hundred female third grade students were recruited from 21 high schools using stratified random sampling method. An average of 73 students were selected from each school and participated in a pre-test exam using a questionnaire. Of 1500 students, 498 and 502 students were taught by general practitioners and peers, respectively. Pamphlets were presented to 500 other students. Twenty days after the educational intervention, the participants were contributed in a post-test exam using the very questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics via SPSS version 11.5.

Results: The students&apos mean age was 16.78 (SD=0.7). The mean scores of pretests and post-tests in all 3 groups were significantly different (P<0.001). The mean score for the group taught by general practitioners (10.7±3.6) was higher than the scores of other two group scores (8.8±3.4 and 7.3±3.9, respectively for peer education and pamphlet groups) after the interventions. Bonferroni statistical test showed the significant difference (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Education presented by general practitioners seems to be more effective than the other two ways in increasing students&apos knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

Background & Aim: Nowadays, mechanical ventilators are being used for some patients in ICUs due to various physiological and clinical causes. Keeping endotracheal tube clean and open is necessary in order to improve the patient&aposs oxygenation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of open and closed system endotracheal suctioning on vital signs of patients in ICU.

Methods & Materials: In this quasi-experimental study, 40 patients from Shariaty Hospital&aposs ICU were selected using convenience sampling method. Data was collected using a record sheet. The sheet consisted of demographic characteristics and vital signs including blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and arterial blood oxygen saturation percentage. Endotracheal suctioning was done randomly in 90 minute intervals once using closed method and once using open method. All patients were hyper oxygenated by Ambo bag for 2 minutes before and after the procedures. The patients&apos vital signs were checked and recorded using SIEMENS 680 2xi monitor before, and 2 minutes and 5 minutes after the procedures. Data were analyzed using SPSS software.

Results: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and heart rate showed higher increase 2 and 5 minutes after the open method compared to close method (P<0.001). Arterial blood oxygen saturation percentage reduced in the open method more than in the closed one 2 and 5 minutes after the procedure (P<0.001). No significant difference was seen in the patients&apos respiratory rate in two methods (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Closed endotracheal suction system results in lower disturbances in the vital signs than the open system. Therefore, for better results, the closed endotracheal suctioning is suggested.

Background & Aim: Infertility leads to sexual dissatisfaction in women who believe that their inability to conceive have serious negative effects on their life, particularly their sexual relations. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of counseling on sexual satisfaction among infertile women referred to Tehran Fertility Center.

Methods & Materials: It is a controlled clinical trial. One hundred infertile women were recruited in the study using convenience sampling method. Then they were randomly allocated in case and control groups. Data were gathered in two phases: before the intervention and 3 month after the intervention. The intervention group participated in two-hour counseling sessions for about 2 weeks. Data were collected using a 2-sectioned questionnaire including demographic characteristics, and sexual satisfaction questions. Data were analyzed using χ^2, Mann Whitney U, and Willcoxon statistical tests.

Results: Results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between two groups in sexual satisfaction before the intervention (P=0.401). There was significant difference between two groups 3 months after the intervention (P=0.019). Also, there was significant difference between women&aposs sexual satisfaction in the counseling group before and 3 month after the intervention (P=0.002).

Conclusion: Sexual counseling improves sexual satisfaction of infertile women.

Background & Aim: Due to the fact that family centered care have a crucial role in pediatric nursing, it seems compatibility of nurses&apos and parents&apos perception about parents&apos needs can lead to deliver higher quality care. The aim of this study was to compare parents&apos and nurses&apos perceptions about needs of hospitalized children&aposs parents.

Methods & Materials: This is a cross-sectional survey. One hundred and fifty parents and 80 nurses were selected using convenient sampling method. Data was gathered using Kristjánsdóttir&aposs "parental needs of hospitalized children" questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical (Chi-squared & Mann-Whitney U tests) methods.

Results: Research findings showed that there was significant difference between both parents&apos and nurses&apos perceptions about parents&apos needs (P=0.012). Both groups believed that parents&apos needs are met partially in hospitals. There was not meaningful difference between the parents&apos and nurses&apos perceptions concerning meeting parental needs (P=0.666). Based on their perceptions, understanding of parents&apos needs help them to meet their requirements in health care facilities. There was a significant difference between parents&apos and nurses&apos perceptions regarding parents&apos need (P=0.018).

Conclusion: Parents and nurses recognized all of the parents&apos needs to be important there were also deficits in meeting these needs. Therefore, parents&apos cooperation with health care team is necessary to facilitate the recovery of sick children as well as meeting parents&apos needs.

Background & Aim: Adolescents have important role in building the societies. Some deficits were observed in students&apos knowledge regarding puberty health. This study aimed to compare the effect of two educational methods (lecture-educational package) on girl students&apos knowledge about puberty health.

Methods & Materials: In this interventional study, 200 students were randomly selected through a multi stage sampling method. Data were collected using a questionnaire. One group received a self-learning educational package and the other group took part in two lecture sessions which totally lasted about four hours. The post test was taken 6 weeks later. Data analysis was performed using Descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Results of this study showed that after intervention, both groups&apos knowledge mean scores increased significantly. Also the average of package group&aposs score after the education was more than the other group&aposs score (P<0.001). The difference in knowledge mean scores before and after the intervention was significantly higher in the package group than in the lecture one. The comparison of scores in both groups before and after the education was significantly different (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Both educational methods can be considered to be effective in promoting students&apos knowledge however, the educational package was more effective than the lecture.

Background & Aim: Healthy behaviors of teenagers are effective on the community development. This study was carried out in order to compare healthy behaviors of female teenagers living with their families and in orphanage centers in Tehran.

Methods & Materials: This was a cross-sectional study. The subjects were consisted of 110 female teenagers that 55 of them dwelled in the orphanage centers and the remaining lived with their families. Both groups were studying at the same schools. Samples were selected using stratified random sampling method. Questionnaire was used to gather data. The data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistical methods in SPSS software.

Results: There were statistically significant differences between two groups in nutrition (P<0.0003), sleep & rest (P<0.001), physical exercise (P<0.0013), and individual health (P<0.001). Total score of health behaviors were 112.3, and 87.8 in family group and orphanage group respectively (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The average score of health behaviors in girls that reside in orphanage centers was lower than the score of them who lived with their families. This shows the necessity of planning educational and managerial tools to improve their healthy behaviors.