---

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. Women at childbearing age are at particular risk of developing iron deficiency due to the iron losses associated with menstruation and childbirth. Therefore, iron supplements are needed in certain groups, while in particular regions increased dietary intake could be provided through food. This descriptive study attempts to identify practice among university students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in the prevention of iron deficiency anemia due to menstruation in the year 1999. This study includes 257 university students of different majors (such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, obstetrics, nursing, nutrition, health (occupational, Public) laboratory sciences) of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences who were selected through a simple random sampling method. The pattern of study was a questionnaire consisting of 37 questions, in addition to a chart to determine food consumption frequency. The questionnaire was divided into three sections: demographic data, the status of nutrition, and iron supplementation. To analyze the data descriptive statistics and (2) test were used. The results showed that the most of the samples were in the age group of 21 to 25 years and 36.5% of them stayed in dormitories. Most of the subjects of study had moderate nutrition and some of them had good nutrition. The majority of them (92.5%) were not using the iron supplements during the menstruation period and the duration between two subsequent menses. The results of the research show that the function of 35.2 % of the subjects of study in relation to the prevention of iron deficiency was weak, 53.9% of them were moderate and only 10.9% of them were good. The statistical test (2) which was used to analyze the results obtained, showed a significant relationship between the practice of the subjects and their living in a dorms (P<0.001). In conclusion, the application of the results for further researches and also for practical use has been proposed.

---

Background & Aim: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common psychosomatic disorder that affects 30-50% of women in reproductive ages. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a counseling program on premenstrual syndrome related symptoms.
Methods & Materials: This study was a randomized clinical trial in which the effect of a 3-sessioned counseling program on the PMS symptoms were assessed in 123 adolescent with PMS. The program included information providing, life style alteration, and providing stress management skills on symptoms of PMS. The participants were randomly allocated to intervention (n=67) and control (n=61) groups. Participants completed the demographic questionnaire, the PMS symptoms&apos daily record scale, and the symptom checklist 90-revised (SCL-90-R). Data were analyzed using the SPSS-11.5.
Results: The comparison of baseline data showed no significant difference between two groups regarding demographic characteristic and the PMS related symptoms. There were significant differences in the mean of total PMS severity, somatic symptoms (P<0.001), anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity, and hostility (P<0.05) between two intervention and control groups. There was not any significant difference in depression between intervention and control groups (P=0.11).
Conclusion: Group counseling resulted in a significant reduction in severity of total PMS, somatic symptoms, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity and hostility in intervention group compared to the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in depression between two groups.

 

---

Background & Aim: Several factors have been reported to be influential in development of the premenstrual syndrome. There are no studies available on relationship between premenstrual syndrome with body mass index in Iran. This study aimed to determine this relationship among university students.

Methods & Materials: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on a random sample of 500 students living in the dorms of Arak University of Medical Sciences. The participants had not stress, anxiety and severe depression on the basis of the DASS21. Data were gathered using Social Status Questionnaire, including demographic, menstrual status, reproductive and eating habits and body mass index measurement items. The participants completed the abbreviated form of premenstrual syndrome evaluation within seven days of bleeding up to two days after onset of bleeding for one cycle. Using logistic regression analysis, the association was assessed by adjusting for confounding variables.

Results: A majority of the students had normal BMI (<25) (90.8%). The results showed that the risk of premenstrual syndrome in the participants with high BMI was 2.43 times more than the participants with normal BMI (OR=2.43 CI=8.33-1.66).

Conclusion: High BMI increased the risk of premenstrual syndrome. Interventions to decrease the BMI should be designed and implemented in overweight and obese patients with premenstrual syndrome.

---

Background & Aim: Menstrual health is an important aspect of adolescent health. Most girls do not have proper information about menstrual health, and incorrect information from unreliable sources makes problems for them. Aim of this study was to compare small group-based education with maternal participation and routine education on adolescent girls’ menstrual health behaviors.
Methods & Materials: This randomized clinical trial study was performed on 60 high school students with regular menstruation in the groups of intervention and control. Among high schools in Mashhad in 2018, two schools were assigned to one of two groups by lottery. Menstrual health education was provided to the intervention group in four sessions as the groups of 3-4 people. For mothers in this group, two 2-hour sessions with the same content were held and the students in control group received routine education. Data were collected by a questionnaire on menstrual health behaviors, before the intervention, after the end of the first and second menstrual cycle. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney, Chi square and independent samples t-test using the SPSS software version 16.
Results: before the intervention, there was a statistically significant difference in the menstrual health behaviors score (P=0.199). After the intervention, mean score of menstrual health behaviors (the end of the first and second menstrual cycles) significantly increased (P<0.001) for the two groups. Also, mean score of menstrual health behaviors for the intervention group was significantly higher than that of for the control group (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The small group-based education with the participation of mothers in comparison to routine education was more effective in promoting menstrual health behaviors in adolescent girls. This method is recommended to health planners for education of health issues, including menstrual health.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20180904040952N2