K Holakouie Naeini, A Moradi, F Pourmalek, S.r Majdzadeh,
Volume 1, Issue 1 (3 2005)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The campaign to eliminate measles and rubella (MR) is one of the most important current health projects in Iran. One of the basic requirements of this program is the creation of an efficient system for collecting data on MR morbidity and mortality, people's knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding MR prevention, and people's participation in the eradication drive. The present study was done to assess people's knowledge, attitude and practice in relation to the current anti-MR campaign.
Materials and Methods: This cross- sectional study was carried out fur months after the mass (anti-MR campaign (performed in May 2004). The target population included at the people aged 20-25y who lived in areas covered by Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services. The calculated sample size was 384, using a 2-stage sampling procedure. We used X2 tests, odds ratios and confidence intervals to detect relationships between various categorical variables. We also performed Cronbach's alpha test to assess questionnaire reliability, and principal component analysis to ensure construct validity.
Results: Data were collected on 390 individuals. The percentages of people with an acceptable level of knowledge, attitude and practice were 63.3%, 53.6% and 93.1% respectively. After controlling for confounders in a logistic regression model, it became apparent that knowledge concerning the mass immunization campaign was related to the individual's own education and that of his/her mother. Attitude was found to be affected by factors such as education, marital status and the family's main income level. The practice component, on the other hand, was not significantly related to any of the variables included in this study.
Conclusion: The positive achievements of this program should be used in planning any future immunization campaigns. Particular attention should be paid to factors that affect overall coverage. These include human resources, equipment, vaccines and other materials, service uality, the cold chain, information provided to the public, and people's as well as providers' knowledge of the immunization program, the target diseases (s) and the vaccines.
M Naghavi, F Abolhassani, F Pourmalek, N Jafari, M Moradi Lakeh, B Eshrati, N Mahdavi Hezaveh, H Kazemeini, A Tehrani Banihashemi, Sh Shoaee,
Volume 4, Issue 1 (22 2008)
Abstract
Background & Objective: Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) summarizes the fatal and nonfatal outcomes of diseases and injuries in one number and gives a quantitative assessment of the health of a population. Estimating the burden of diseases and injuries in Iran in terms of DALY both nationwide and in 6 provinces.
Methods: We used slightly modified versions of the methods developed by the World Health Organization for estimating the burden of premature mortality, disability, and the DALY.
Results: The DALY rate per 100,000 was 21572 and 62% of this was life lost due to premature mortality the remaining 38% was due to disability from diseases and injuries. Fifty-eight percent of the total DALYs had been lost due to non-communicable diseases, 28% due to external causes (injuries), and 14% due to communicable, maternal/ perinatal and nutritional illnesses. The group of diseases and injuries with the highest burden in males waz intentional and unintentional injuries (2.789 million DALYs), while in the female population this position was held by mental disorders with 1.191 million DALYs. The single most important cause of burden was traffic accidents in males and ischemic heart disease in females. Disease burden showed considerable variability between different provinces.
Conclusion: The profile of health and disease in Iran has generally shifted from the predominance of communicable, maternal/perinatal, and nutritional illnesses towards predominance of non-communicable diseases and injuries at the national level. These figures on disease burden at population level are the most objective evidence that can be used in policy making and management of health programs, health research, and resource development within the health sector.
