Shoboo Rahmati, Zahra Abdolahinia, Sakineh Narouee, Naser Nasiri, Reza Goujani, Ali Akbar Haghdoost,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2024)
Abstract
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.
Fariba Zomorrodi Zare, Fatemeh Khosravi Shadmani, Roya Safari Faramani, Fatemeh Torkamanasadi, Yazdan Rezaei, Farid Najafi,
Volume 20, Issue 1 (6-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination was crucial in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and saving numerous lives. Countries implementing COVID-19 vaccination programs have reported significant reductions in cases, ICU admissions, and COVID-19-related deaths. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines used in Hamadan province, explicitly focusing on their impact on hospitalization and death caused by COVID-19.
Methods: A test-negative case-control design (TND) was conducted involving patients aged 12 and above who were admitted to hospitals in Hamadan province, Iran, and had symptoms of acute respiratory diseases. Data were extracted from hospital and health system databases. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate vaccine effectiveness for the first, second, and reminder doses in prevention of hospitalization, and severe outcomes (ICU admission or death).
Results: The study was conducted on 3,702 patients, and the maximum effectiveness of vaccines against hospitalization was 50% for patients who received a booster dose. The effectiveness of the first dose of vaccine on severe outcomes (admission to ICU or death) was estimated as 42%, but the effectiveness of the vaccines in the second and booster doses were not significant.
Conclusion: Despite the predominant use of inactivated virus vaccines and delayed initiation of vaccination in Iran, this study shows the effect of vaccination on reducing hospitalization and improving the outcomes of COVID-19. The use of more effective vaccines at a more appropriate time plays an important role in reducing the burden on health services and preventing further transmission in future epidemics.
Ali Esmaeilpour, Parya Jangipour Afshar, Nouzar Nakhaee, Mehrdad Farrokhnia, Aliakbar Haghdoost,
Volume 20, Issue 1 (6-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the COVID-19 severity and lifestyle among hospitalized patients at Afzali Pour Hospital, Kerman, Iran.
Methods: A total of 289 patients with severe COVID-19 infection (with ICU admission or death) and 293 patients with non-severe type (discharged with no need for hospitalization in ICU) were selected in 2020-2021, and their lifestyle was compared in the last year before the hospitalization.
Results: The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for severe disease was 1.83 (95% CI: 1.24-2.69) in males compared to females, and 4.35 (95% CI:2.20- 8.59) for people older than 60 years compared to age less than 60. The linear effect of average hours of sleeping during a day was 1.21 (95% CI: 1.08-1.36). The ORs of people who had considerable physical activity at work and people with little activity compared to people who mostly sit in a fixed place were 0.35 (95% CI:0.19-0.65) and 0.44 (95% CI:0.23-0.83), respectively. The use of opioids, traditional remedies, and supplements such as vitamin C raised the risk of severe disease, but the use of vitamin D supplements reduced the risk of severe disease, although this was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: It seems that some aspects of lifestyle, such as lack of physical activity, excessive sleep, and consumption of certain substances, such as opioids, might increase the risk of contracting severe and deadly forms of COVID-19.
Maryam Zamanian, Rahmatollah Moradzadeh,
Volume 20, Issue 1 (6-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Indirect methods for estimating hidden populations are essential. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of cigarette and waterpipe consumption in the Arak metropolis, Iran, directly and indirectly through network scale-up.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,604 participants. Daily and weekly cigarette and waterpipe consumption data were collected to measure the prevalence directly. The indirect network scale-up method was used to estimate the size of cigarette and hookah smokers. A confidence interval of 95% was considered.
Results: About 49.9% of the participants were men. The average age of men was 39.8 and women 38.7 years. In the direct method, the prevalence of smoking at least one cigarette per day during the last year in women and men was 1.8% (1.0-3.0) and 38.3% (34.9-41.9), respectively. The prevalence of using waterpipe at least once a day during the last year was as much as 0.9% (0.03-1.8) and 4.1% (2.8-5.7) for women and men. In the indirect method of network scale-up during the last year, the prevalence of continuous smoking was 4.8% (4.3-5.0) in women and 19.7% (19.6-19.9) in men. The prevalence of waterpipe in women was calculated at 7.8% (7.8-8.0) and 9.8% (9.7-9.9) in men.
Conclusion: Based on the results, the prevalence of waterpipe and cigarette smoking was high in the Arak, especially among young people. It is suggested to the health system policymakers to pay attention to measures related to reducing the prevalence of these two risk factors, especially among young people, in their health plans.
Aliasghar Fakhri-Demeshghieh, Hamideh Hasannejad, Alireza Bahonar,
Volume 20, Issue 1 (6-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Antibiotic residues in food, including eggs, are potentially risky to public health. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the relative frequency of antibiotic residues in eggs sold in Iran.
Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, MagIran, Scientific Information Database, and IranDoc were searched. Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria were articles written in English or Persian investigating the relative frequency of antibiotic residues in eggs in Iran, and the exclusion criteria were articles without an available full text. Frequency data, publication year, diagnostic test type, and sampling location were extracted from relevant articles.
Results: Among the 217 identified results, 11 articles were included in the systematic review. ELISA (six articles) was the most frequently used diagnostic test. East Azerbaijan province accounted for the most significant number of studies (four articles) based on the geographical distribution of sampling locations. Seven classes of antibiotics and 12 types of antibiotics were estimated in terms of antibiotic residues, with tetracyclines (5 articles, 6 assessments) having the highest number of assessments. In addition, the highest reported relative frequencies were related to tetracycline residues (100%) in Isfahan and chloramphenicol (75%) in Tabriz.
Conclusion: Tetracycline and chloramphenicol residues had the most significant relative frequency in eggs across Iran.
Mahnaz Shoghi, Khadijeh Yahyavi, Raheleh Mohammadi,
Volume 20, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The use of modern and technology-based educational methods can play a significant role in enhancing nurses' capabilities in stress management and improving their responses to stressful situations. Therefore, this study aims to determine the impact of stress management on the stress responses of nurses working in pediatric departments of educational hospitals affiliated Iran University of Medical Sciences through a multimedia software intervention.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, a random sampling method was employed to select 102 nurses (51 individuals in the intervention group and 51 in the control group) working in general hospital departments. The inclusion criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of stress management training on the stress responses of nurses included having at least a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 6 months of work experience in pediatric wards, no reported psychological disorders, and no use of psychiatric medications based on self-reports. Additionally, participants were required to have access to a computer capable of running DVDs and familiarity with its operation, with no prior experience or readiness to participate in a stress management workshop within the last 6 months. Conversely, the exclusion criteria were participant dissatisfaction, change of department, and hospital relocation. This assessment is shared in improving the skills and response to the stress of nurses in pediatric department of medical centers. To measure the stress responses, the Inventory Response Stress questionnaire was utilized, which was completed by both groups prior to the intervention. Subsequently, the educational content regarding stress management was provided to the intervention group for duration of 8 weeks. At the end of the eighth week, both groups completed the stress response questionnaire again. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22 software, with statistical tests including Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).
Results: No significant difference was observed in the mean of stress response in the intervention (29.69 ± 23.66) and control (33.20 ± 27.95) groups before the intervention (p = 0.661). The average stress response score in the intervention group (19.65 ± 16.74) was significantly lower than the control group (32.67 ± 28.17) after the intervention (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: These data demonstrated the positive effect of the stress management program on nurses' stress response who participated in this study.
Tahereh Tiemori, Marjan Ajami, Sareh Shakerian, Morteza Abdollahi,
Volume 20, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Evidence shows that blood lipid disorders in people are influenced by their unhealthy diet. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the dietary pattern of people with lipid disorders and the status of non-communicable diseases in the studied population.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 patients with lipid disorders. The participants were selected among people with lipids who referred to comprehensive health service centers in Alvand city by multistage sampling method. The data were collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The findings were analyzed by SPSS software.
Results: Three dietary patterns including healthy, unhealthy and average were identified in the research participants. Most people (66.3%) followed a moderate dietary pattern. Also, 85% of people were overweight or obese. The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that an unhealthy eating pattern increases the likelihood of developing diseases by 2.267 times compared to a healthy eating pattern. It also showed that with increasing age, the probability of contracting the disease increases by 1.093. Also, there was a significant relationship between food pattern and education level (P<0.05). In this study, there was no significant relationship between age, marital status of people and their food pattern (P>0.05).
Conclusion: The results showed that people who follow an unhealthy food pattern have more non-communicable diseases. Therefore, it seems that modifying the food pattern through nutrition education is appropriate and can be effective in preventing other non-communicable diseases in the future.
Parvaneh Isfahani, Mohammad Sarani, Somayeh Samani, Aliyeh Bazi, Seyedeh Masoumeh Hosseini Zare, Ahmad Siar Sadr, Maryam Sadat Hosseini, Seyedeh Mahboobeh Hosseini Zare,
Volume 20, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders among students associated with a major decline in academic and social performance. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of depression in Iran's nursing students.
Methods: the research was conducted as a systematic review and meta analysis, all published scientific articles related to the prevalence of depression in nursing students were searched in 5 databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, SID, Magiran) and Google Scholar search engine and then their quality was evaluated. The heterogeneity of the studies was investigated using the I2 index and meta-regression model to evaluate heterogeneity-prone variables at a significance level of 0.05. Ultimately, 9 articles met the criteria for inclusion in this study and were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software.
Results: Based on the random model, the prevalence of depression in Iranian nursing students was equal to 3.2% (2.1 – 4.5; 95% confidence level). Results showed that the highest prevalence of depression in nursing students was 6.2% (5.3-7.1; 95% confidence limit) in Sistan and Balochestan province in 2004, while the lowest prevalence was 0.8% (0.5-1.2; confidence limit 95%) in Esfahan and Qom provinces in 2016. Also, there was a significant relationship between the calendar year, sample size, average age, and prevalence of depression in Iranian nursing students (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results showed that the prevalence of depression in nursing students was 3.2%, which decreased with the increase of the calendar year and average age. Nevertheless, policymakers and managers must take measures to reduce depression.
Ashraf Saber, Maryam Omidi, Fereshteh Eidy, Mahdis Mehrabi Bardar, Rahman Panahi, Zahra Moghadasi, Shiva Pouraliroudbaneh, Ahmadreza Shamsabadi,
Volume 20, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Violence against pregnant women is a clear violation of women's rights associated with many consequences and complications both for the mother and fetus. In this study, we aimed to determine factors affecting the severity of domestic violence against pregnant women.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was carried out between July 2020 and September 2021. The participants were 234 women with low-risk pregnancies (28-40 weeks) who were transferred to the maternity ward of Bentolhoda Hospital in Bojnurd City. Mothers were selected by the convenience sampling method. A two-part questionnaire was used in this study, which included demographic and midwifery information questionnaires and a domestic violence questionnaire created by Tabrizi in 2013. Subsequently, the data were analyzed using logistic regression.
Results: The prevalence rate of violence against pregnant women (experiencing at least one type of domestic violence from the husband) was 64.6%. Among those who had experienced violence, 36.1% of the participants experienced low to very mild violence during pregnancy and 63.9% experienced moderate violence. However, severe violence was not experienced by any of the research units. Also, there was a significant relationship between babies' gender and the severity of violence (P=0.03). Pregnant women with male fetus (OR = 3.14, CI95%:1.093–9.069) were 3.14 times more exposed to violence with moderate severity.
Conclusion: In this study, most women suffered domestic violence with moderate severity. Among pregnant women with male fetuses, the severity of violence was even higher. Thus, it is necessary to pay a proper attention to the design and implementation of educational and support programs for these women to prevent domestic violence and reduce its adverse impacts.
Zahra Kordi, Mostafa Enayatrad, Abolfazl Emamian, Fatemeh Rahaei, Mansooreh Fateh, Mohammad Hassan Emamian,
Volume 20, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Colorectal cancer is considered as one of the most common cancers in the world and Iran. Epidemiological studies are necessary to evaluate the trend of this disease in society. This study aimed to describe the incidence and trend of colorectal cancer in 13 years in Shahroud and Meyami districts, Iran.
Methods: The data were obtained from the population-based cancer registry system at Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, including patients in Shahroud and Meyami districts. The standardized incidence rate (ASR) was calculated based on age and gender, and the 13-year trend from 2010 to 2022 was calculated using joinpoint regression along with the percentage of annual changes.
Results: In general, 543 cases of colorectal cancer were recorded from 2010 to 2022, including 280 (51.6%) males and 263 (48.4%) females. The most recorded cases of this cancer were in 2021 with 54 cases. The Age-standardized mean incidence rate of colorectal cancer in this period was 17.6 per 100,000 people. The ASR of colorectal cancer in males and females was 18.4 (95%CI: 16.2 - 20.6) and 16.8 (95% CI: 14.8 - 18.9), respectively. The annual percent change of ASR during the study period was 2.33% (95% CI: 0.13 – 4.87), indicating an increasing trend.
Conclusion: In the Shahroud and Meyami districts, the incidence rate of colorectal cancer was 17.6 per 100,000 people and has increased relatively over the 13-year study period.
Ali Alami, Hassan Eshaghiyan Farimani, Farnaz Sharifi Mood,
Volume 20, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Suicide is a major health concern worldwide, and there is a strong association between the presence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in the future. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological status of suicidal thoughts among university students and its correlation with some of their personal, family, and social factors.
Methods: An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted on 556 students of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences (GMU) who met the inclusion criteria and were selected by multi-stage sampling in 2023. To collect data, a checklist and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI) were used. The collected data were analyzed using independent t-tests, chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression.
Results: The prevalence (95% confidence interval) of suicide ideation among students of GMU was estimated at 20.5% (17.2-23.8%), with 11.5% of the students having high-risk (High and very high risk) suicidal thoughts. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was significantly higher among female compared to male students (P=0.016). Moreover, single students had more suicidal thoughts compared to married ones (P=0.019). In contrast, there was no statistically significant association between suicidal ideation and age, native status, place of residence and faculty of study of students.
Conclusion: The prevalence of suicide ideation and high-risk suicide ideation among the students was found to be relatively high. Thus, attention to state of mental health of students, especially female and single students, as well as creating suitable conditions for living and studying for them is recommended.
Manoochehr Karami,
Volume 20, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the process in which computers, rather than human intelligence, perform tasks, such as early warning of an epidemic. This editorial aimed to describe the potential applications of digital health and the challenges faced by the health system of Iran concerning the application of artificial intelligence and innovative technology in public health surveillance and early warning of epidemics. The use of new technologies at national and subnational levels for early warning of public health threats requires a suitable platform within the context of disease surveillance systems. The Iran health system currently utilizes a syndromic approach and event-based surveillance to monitor acute respiratory infections. However, the structure of Iran's national communicable disease surveillance system has faced challenges due to the inability to share and exchange data at the level of primary health care data sources. Accordingly, application and integration of AI should be considered as Iran’s health priority to promote infrastructure and technology requirements, including compatibility, interoperability, and strategies for ethical and responsible use by public health authorities. Since pandemics and epidemics have not been limited to the previous ones, such as COVID-19, influenza, SARS, dengue fever, and similar threats, operations planning is required for the integration of artificial intelligence tools to prepare and respond to biological threats promptly by the Iranian Ministry of Health, stakeholders, and other parties.
Pardis Mohammadzadeh, Maryam Afraie, Elham Nouri, Mohammad Aziz Rasouli, Ghobad Moradi,
Volume 20, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: This study aimed to compare the health status of Iran with that of the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Countries in terms of various health indicators.
Methods: The data from 27 health indicators were collected in 2023 from WHO, EMRO, and the World Bank and then grouped into five categories: mortality and morbidity indicators, nutritional risk factor and non-communicable disease indicators, health financing indicators, maternal and immunization indicators, and health workforce indicators. This study used MEREC, a method that analyzes the effects of deleting criteria, to determine the weighting of the indicators. The countries were then ranked using the MARCOS method, one of the new multi-criteria decision-making methods.
Results: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were in the best situation. Iran ranked 8th, 6th, 7th, 4th, and 13th in the first to fifth categories mentioned in the methods. Iran also ranked 10th among the countries in the region in the overall ranking of all these indicators.
Conclusion: Many researchers and policymakers evaluate the health status in Iran based on the introduced health indicators. Iran needs to intensify its efforts to strengthen its position in the Eastern Mediterranean region, considering its overall circumstances.
Marzieh Fattahi-Darghlou, Hamid Gheibipour, Neda Mahdavi, Fatemeh Shahbazi,
Volume 20, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: More than 12 types of cancer are caused by contact with environmental factors and occupational carcinogens. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the trend of mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates attributed to occupational carcinogens in Hamedan province, Iran, from 1990 to 2021.
Methods: In this ecological study, the Global Burden of Diseases database was used to collect the required data. The trend of changes in the mortality and disability-adjusted life years rates was examined using joinpoint regression analysis and the Join Point Regression software.
Results: The years of life lost (YLLs) due to premature death and disability attributed to occupational carcinogens in Hamadan Province increased from 10.31 per 1,000 population in 1990 to 23.33 per 1,000 population in 2021. The average annual percent change (AAPC) in DALYs was 3.79% for women and 2.57% for men. The all-cause mortality rate attributed to occupational carcinogens rose from 0.31 per 100,000 population in 1990 to 0.74 per 100,000 in 2021 (AAPC = 2.78%; 95% CI: 2.68% to 2.90%).
Conclusion: The trend of mortality and disability-adjusted life years due to occupational carcinogens in Hamadan province had an increasing trend overally. Periodic screenings for workers in high-risk occupations are essential to mitigate the burden of occupational cancers.
Iman Dianat, Mohammad Sadegh Masoumi, Homayoun Sadeghi Bazargani, Gholam Hossein Safari, Sepideh Harzand-Jadidi,
Volume 20, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: One of the most important steps in reducing traffic accidents is the accurate recording of the spatial information of these incidents using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).The present study was conducted with the aim of geographically analyzing high-risk areas for traffic accidents in Tabriz and determining the spatial distribution pattern of traffic incidents based on accident outcomes.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, data on property damage, injury, and fatal traffic accidents in Tabriz during 2017 were collected from various sources, and accident locations were identified using geographic addresses and coordinates. To analyze the geographical distribution of high-risk accident zones, spatial analysis methods including Moran’s Index, Kernel Density Estimation, Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), and correlation analysis were employed.
Results: In this study, the cumulative pattern of accidents in Tabriz was confirmed, such that district 8, northeast of District 3, central and southern regions of District 1, and the entrance to District 5 of Tabriz city had dense accident distribution patterns. The religious, commercial, and service land-use layers had the highest correlation with accident density. High-traffic axes had fewer accidents; the highest was related to areas with low traffic volume. Autumn and winter have the most damage accidents, and the highest number of accidents leading to death was assigned to the spring season.
Conclusion: Given the concentration of traffic accidents in high-risk areas of Tabriz—particularly in District 8 and the eastern entrances—it is recommended that traffic infrastructure be improved, traffic regulations be strengthened, and monitoring be enhanced through intelligent systems to reduce accidents. Additionally, conducting public awareness campaigns can also be effective in decreasing traffic incidents.
Saeed Dastgiri, Leyli Mohammad Khanli, Ehsan Farifteh, Elham Davtalab Esmaeili,
Volume 20, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
Biological evolution leads to changes and extension in biological units’ pool of the population, which is called “gene.” This definition of evolution has comprehensively become more complex today, which includes behavior and cultural units called “meme”, and electronic or digital units called “teme in addition to the biological units. The spread of all three units (gene, meme, and teme) follows a specific evolutionary algorithm inspired by Darwinian principles regarding reproduction and selection of the best adaptation.
The propagation pattern of genes is based on the genetics laws, whereas the epidemiological pattern for meme and teme usually follows viral models. The success of a meme lies in its ability to spread across an entire population like an epidemic to ultimately become a stable and endemic component of that culture.
In conclusion, further research would be essential for the comparison of cultural and behavioral evolutionary algorithms with biological evolution and modeling the development and evolution of meme and teme in order to discover their advantages and disadvantages in human populations.
Zahra Saboohi,
Volume 21, Issue 1 (6-2025)
Abstract
Electronic health records, as a new tool in monitoring and controlling epidemic diseases in Iranian schools, can help reduce the spread of diseases. This article examines the role of this system in preventing epidemics and increasing coordination between educational and health institutions.
Niloufar Bahrampour, Seyed Vahid Ahmadi Tabatabaei, Maryam Faraji, Aliakbar Haghdoost,
Volume 21, Issue 1 (6-2025)
Abstract
ackground and Objectives: Waste refers to solid, liquid, and gaseous materials (excluding sewage) generated from human activities and considered discardable by the producer. The production of household waste also rises with the increase in population. Therefore, evaluating the effects of household waste management on health is a critical issue. Effective interventions can be implemented to mitigate its impacts by identifying the problems and risks associated with this type of waste.
Methods: This study is a scoping review aimed at health impact assessment of household waste management. In this study, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases were searched in English between 2014 and 2024, and the results were entered into Endnote software and screened.
Results: From the initial search of 3,504 studies, 109 full-text articles were ultimately included in the review. The results indicated that most of the research was conducted in developing countries. The primary data collection tools were laboratory samples, and most of the studies were quantitative. Most of these studies have focused on the effects of household waste management on physical health, while the least explored dimension was spiritual health.
Conclusion: This study shows that household waste management, in addition to its effects on physical health and environmental pollution, can affect mental, social, and spiritual health. Therefore, by identifying these effects, we should seek solutions for better household waste management to minimize negative health effects.
Aliasghar Fakhri-Demeshghieh, Hesameddin Akbarein, Rouzbeh Bashar, Mohammad Reza Shirzadi, Zahra Boluki, Narges Ghasemzadeh,
Volume 21, Issue 1 (6-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Rabies is a public health threat worldwide. This study aimed to determine the amount and trend of the costs of anti-rabies serum and rabies vaccine in Iran between 2015 and 2022.
Methods: Using national data from March 2015 to March 2022, the cost of anti-rabies serum, human rabies vaccine, and the total cost of both were determined. The annual trend of the serum, vaccine, and total cost was determined using Joinpoint regression with a maximum of one.
Results: The highest rabies serum and vaccine costs were observed in 2021 and 2020 (58.3 and 6.874 US million dollars), respectively. Average Annual Percent Change was statistically significant (p<0.001) and indicated an increasing trend in the costs of anti-rabies serum. The trend in vaccine costs between 2015 and 2020 was increasing, and the annual percent change between 2015 and 2020 (p˂0.001) and 2021 (p˂0.001) were statistically significant. The average annual percentage change was statistically significant for the total costs of anti-rabies serum and rabies vaccine (p˂0.001) and indicated an increasing trend in Iran.
Conclusion: The lowest rabies vaccine costs were observed in 2021, which might be due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To reduce rabies losses, the domestic production of anti-rabies serum, implementing rabies control measures in unowned dogs, and increasing public awareness about animal bites, particularly dog bites, are recommended.
Haniyeh Salehi Sarbijan, Tanya Dehesh, Firuzeh Mirzaei, Armita Shahesmaeilinejad,
Volume 21, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Declining fertility rates have become a significant demographic challenge in Iran. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of desire for childbearing and its associated factors among women in Jiroft, Iran, in 2022.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 600 married women under 49 years of age who attended comprehensive health centers in Jiroft. Data were collected using a questionnaire that covered demographic information and questions related to the study objectives. Statistical analysis, such as frequency, percentage, and logistic regression, was performed using SPSS version 20 software.
Results: The current desire for childbearing was found to be 32.7%, while the future desire was 59.7%. The primary reasons cited for desiring children were the wish to be a mother (94.4%) and the love for children (93.9%). Conversely, the main reasons for not desiring children included concerns about securing the future of children (57.2%) and the increased economic burden of having another child (50%). Factors significantly associated with the desire for childbearing were the number of children (one child vs. no child: OR=5.23,95% CI: 2.03–13.49; two children vs. no child: OR=2.21,95% CI: 0.98–5.001), the subscale “Child as a Pillar of Life” (OR=1.02,95% CI: 1.008–1.04), the subscale “Postponing Childbearing to the Future” (OR=1.06,95% CI: 1.05–1.08), and the subscale “Childbearing Requires Prerequisites” (OR=1.01,95% CI: 1.002–1.03).
Conclusion: Overall, one-third of the women who participated in this study currently desired childbearing, and nearly two-thirds expressed a desire for it in the future. A positive attitude towards childbearing emerged as the most essential factor associated with this desire.
