Iranian Journal of Epidemiology

Evaluation of Domestic Violence Against Women and its Effective Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sahar Taleb

Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has created a growing concern about domestic violence worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the general prevalence of all types of violence and the related effective factors during the COVID-19 outbreak among women living in Saveh, Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 2021 on 423 married women referred to health centers in Saveh who were selected using the cluster method. A demographic information questionnaire and a researcher-made domestic violence questionnaire were used to collect data. Descriptive statistical methods and statistical tests were used to analyze the data and examine the correlation between the intensity (score) of violence with the demographic variables of the samples and their spouses. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22 statistical software. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Most of the participants (59.6%) were exposed to domestic violence. The mean±standard deviation of the overall domestic violence score was as much as 7.47±12.37. The most common type of domestic violence among the studied women was psychological violence. There was a direct and significant relationship between the overall score of domestic violence, the age of the samples and their spouses, and the duration of their marriage (P<0.01). The average overall score of domestic violence was significantly higher in samples who had children, were not pregnant, had drug and alcohol-addicted spouses, were renters, had a decrease in income during the COVID-19 outbreak, and had unemployed spouses (P <0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results, the prevalence of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic was moderate, but its severity was low. Due to the psychological effects of the COVID-19 disease on society people, the increase in the incidence of violent behavior is especially evident in vulnerable families such as low-income families and tenants and women whose spouses are unemployed and abuse substances. Therefore, identifying and supporting vulnerable families for their education and empowerment can reduce the incidence of domestic violence.

Investigating the Relationship Between Sleep Quality, Sleep Duration, and Frailty Syndrome Among Older Adults in Naqadeh, 2020

Hamid Allahverdipour

Background and Objectives: Frailty syndrome significantly impacts the health of older adults, and sleep quality is likely a pertinent clinical factor. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between sleep quality and sleep duration with frailty syndrome in the older adults of Naqadeh City.
Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 347 older adults aged 60 years and above in Naqadeh city in 2020 using 2-stage sampling (first, stratified, and then simple random sampling. Data collection tools included demographic questionnaires, the Edmonton Frail Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS25 software.
Results: The study revealed that 30.3% of older adults were frail. Furthermore, a statistically significant correlation was observed between sleep quality and duration with older adults' frailty (r=0.635, p<0.001 and r=-0.170, p<0.001, respectively). Additionally, all frailty domains exhibited a significant relationship with sleep quality, with the most notable associations found in mood, medication use, and cognition domains (r = 0.487, r = 0.397, r = 0.381, respectively).
Conclusion: Probably, the quality and duration of sleep affect the frailty syndrome, so it is necessary to design and implement effective interventions to improve the quality of sleep and ultimately reduce the frailty of older adults, especially in the domains of cognition and mood.

Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 on the Sexual Performance of Women of Reproductive Age: A Comparison with the Post-Pandemic Period

Sareh Shakerian

Background and Objectives: Evidence suggests that one of the behaviors impacted by the quarantine measures enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic is sexual activity. This study aims to investigate this phenomenon.
Methods: A descriptive-analytical study with before-after measurement was conducted during both the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic periods in 2021-2022, utilizing the standard Sexual Performance Index questionnaire administered to 250 women in Ilam province. Inferential statistics including paired t tests, correlation and chi square analysis were performed by SPSS software.
Results: The findings revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on all six components of sexual function in women of reproductive age, including sexual desire, sexual stimulation, lubrication, pleasure, satisfaction and pain. The average overall sexual performance during the COVID-19 period (2.01±1.25) and in the post-COVID-19 period (2.94±1.2) was lower than the cutoff point (3.8), indicating poor performance across the entire scale of sexual function. The results showed that there is an inverse and significant (P<0.05) relationship between age, duration of marriage and number of pregnancies with sexual function index and its subscales.
Conclusion: The study findings suggest that research population experienced weaker sexual performance during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the post-pandemic period, highlighting the impact of the mental and physical burdens associated with the pandemic on sexual function.

Challenges of the Field of Epidemiology and the Reasons for the Migration of Epidemiologists in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Ali Akbar Haghdoost

Background and Objectives: Given the significant migration of educated individuals, particularly epidemiologists, throughout the country, it is crucial to investigate the underlying causes. This article presents the findings of an extensive study that sought to explore this issue by gathering insights from experts in the field.
Methods: The study was conducted using qualitative methods, employing content analysis. Data were collected between summer and autumn 2023 through semi-structured interviews with 32 epidemiologists in the country. Analysis followed the steps outlined by Lundman and Graneheim, with coding facilitated by MAXQDA software.
Results: The main challenges of epidemiology in Iran were divided into six main categories. In the field of graduate students, problems in recruitment and employment due to the lack of suitable careers, infrastructure and structural problems of the system, research problems and insufficient knowledge about the performance of this field are the most important challenges, and in the field of students, education problems, structural and infrastructure problems were reported. Also, the main reasons for the migration of epidemiologists were the lack of meritocracy and specialization, inappropriate privileges (including the application of unconventional recruitment quotas), lack of a job market and opportunities for graduates, and inadequate compensation and benefits.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it seems that the migration of epidemiologists as a valuable human resource abroad is a serious concern and problem. The lack of a suitable job position and ambiguity in the path to career advancement due to non-adherence to the meritocracy and skill-building system have increased the motivation to migrate in this group.

Investigating the Mediating Role of Nutrition in the Relationship Between Socio-Economic Status and Body Mass Index in 6-13 Years Students: A Structural Analysis

Sareh Shakerian

Background and Objectives: Childhood obesity has become a global challenge today. Many studies have shown the relationship between obesity and socioeconomic factors. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate socio-economic inequalities with nutritional patterns and obesity in children.
Methods: This study was conducted using the structural analysis methodology on 80 children from 6 to 13 years old, selected randomly from those referred to the health assessment centers of Sonqor and Kolyai, Iran. The body mass index was calculated using the standard method. Nutritional patterns were measured using the 24-hour food recall questionnaire, and socioeconomic status was assessed using related standard questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS 24 and AMOS 24 software.
Results: The results showed that 28.75% of the subjects were obese or overweight. The structural analysis showed that the socioeconomic variable directly affected the nutritional pattern and body mass (-0.43) with an impact coefficient of as much as 0.65. The nutritional pattern variable affected BMI with an impact factor (-0.74). The bootstrap test results indicated that the significant effect of socio-economic status on BMI is mediated by nutritional pattern (-0.48). Prediction values show two economic-social and nutritional pattern variables predicted 0.16 and 0.29 BMI changes, respectively.
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed the effect of socioeconomic status on nutritional patterns and body mass index in the research community. Today, The issue of increasing body mass in the world and our country is one of the most important social challenges. Considering the heterogeneous effects of socioeconomic status on nutritional patterns and body mass index, it is necessary to formulate and implement preventive policies according to the conditions of the communities to achieve effective results.

Introducing Rapid Assessment and Response Approach in High-Risk Populations: A Review of Widely Used Guidelines

Gholamreza Ghaedamini Harouni

Background and Objectives: Rapid Assessment and Response (RAR) is an approach that has been used in health research since the 1990s, and several guidelines have been designed for it. This study examines and compares different guidelines in this field.
Methods: This review study was conducted on the 6 guidelines published in PubMed and Scopus databases. After the initial review, the main dimensions of these guidelines, including the definition and target group, methods used, steps to conduct the research, and time planning were extracted in the form of a comparative table.
Results: In six guidelines, the RAR approach has been defined in relation to the comprehensive and rapid investigation of a health-related problem. There are differences in terms of the number of 'steps' of rapid assessment and response, as well as in 'time planning'; a period of 12 to 16 weeks is considered. Among the methods used in the reviewed guides, the following can be mentioned: reviewing available information, conducting interviews (open, structured, and semi-structured), focused group discussions, and other methods such as observation, surveys, narrative methods, and mapping.
Conclusion: The rapid assessment and response (RAR) can be used as an approach, with high flexibility and consideration of scientific and practical aspects, to assess health problems and high-risk behaviors in hard-to-reach groups.

Microplastics and Human Health: Perception of Risks and Consequences

Masud Yunesian

Microplastics refer to plastic particles and fragments smaller than 5 millimeters in various forms, derived from the breakdown of larger plastics or initially introduced into the environment from the primary constituent particles of plastic. The exact date of the emergence of microplastics in the environment is not precisely known, but it certainly predates the naming of these particles (2004). These particles can enter the bodies of living organisms, including humans, primarily through ingestion and inhalation. Their effects on the body depend on their size, chemical composition, and the composition of substances that later absorb these particles. In this article, we will first briefly examine the classification of these particles in terms of chemical composition and their origins, and then review some evidence of their presence in biological tissues and fluids. Given the increasing production and use of plastics in human life and the fact that most microplastics in nature derive from the breakdown of larger plastics, sometimes several years after their disposal, it is expected that even if plastic production decreases or stops, we will continue to see an increase in their presence in nature for years and decades, leading to human exposure to these compounds (whose effects and consequences of this exposure are not yet fully understood).