Showing 15 results for Economic
K Holakouie Naieni, A Fotouhi, M Borhani, B Pooya,
Volume 1, Issue 3 (2-2006)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Malnutrition is a major health problem in Iran. A nationwide survey (ANIS) in 1998 revealed that over 800 000 children in this country were suffering from moderate or severe malnutrition. The southern province of Hormozgan is one of the most severely affected regions, so there is a need to determine disease associations and risk factors for child malnutrition in this area.
Methods: In this case-control study, we selected 1725 children aged 6 to 30 months from both rural and urban areas of Hormozgan. Data for the study were obtained by filling questionnaires and studying family health files. Using the weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) as outcome measure, we examined the effects of 21 different variables, including putative risk factors, confounders, and background variables.
Results: Father's job (p<0.004), parents' education, interval between pregnancies, urban versus rural residence (p<0.001), family size (p<0.03), and misconceptions regarding the growth chart were recognized as risk factors for malnutrition. Moreover, the mean age of the cases was 2.3 years higher than that of the controls (p<0.001). Complete vaccination (p<0.018) and attending day care centers (p<0.005) emerged as protective factors.
Conclusions: Poverty (low-income jobs, rural residence, large family size, etc) is an important factor causing malnutrition among children in Hormozgan. In contrast, immunization and mother's knowledge of the child's growth chart are major protective factors. Therefore, the health system must continue its support for the current immunization program. It should also try to improve the quality of its health education programs targeted at mothers attending state-run health and medical clinics
M Vahdaninia, A Montazeri,
Volume 2, Issue 1 (3-2006)
Abstract
The term "health inequalities" is not a descriptive one: it refers to discrepancies in morbidity and mortality, life expectancy, disability life adjusted years, etc that are due to differences in such factors as socioeconomic status, gender and race/ethnicity. Socio-economic inequalities are the differences in health status (e.g. disease prevalence and incidence rates) across various socio-economic groups.
In Europe, measuring socio-economic health inequalities has long been a major research topic. However, there have been relatively few experimental studies in Asia, especially in developing countries. In the social context, measurement of socio-economic status is based on income, educational level and employment status. Stratifying the socio-economic groups based on a hierarchy identifies the pattern of morbidity and mortality in each socio-economic stratum. It also shows the exact relationship between socio-economic status and health.
The main data sources for determination of population health status and measuring health inequalities are registries and cross-sectional surveys.
It seems that monitoring, prevention and evaluation of health inequalities, especially with a focus on socio-economic level has been neglected in developing countries, including Iran. Due to the lack of formal registries on population health status in these countries, designing cross-sectional and population-based studies would be a useful approach in the prevention and monitoring of health inequalities.
M Babakhani,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (6-2009)
Abstract
ackground & Objectives: In fact, economic growth, income inequality and health are integrated issues. Economic growth along with increasing income lead to individuals' health promotion and public health and has a positive impact on it, but if there is inappropriate policy to redistribute of these resources, it would have reverse effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between economic growth and ecological income inequality indices with health in Iran from 1978 to 2006.
Methods: An ecological study was designed and relevant data were gathered from the statistics center of Iran and Iran Central Bank.
Results: The correlation between Gini coefficient and health indices was statistically significant (P<0.01). The association between economic growth and mortality rate of children under five years index (P<0.01) and with life expectancy (P<0.05) were statistically significant as well.
Conclusions: Economic development and decreasing income inequality should be considered as important determinant factors to have better health in Iranian society.
Z Boluki , A Bahonar, K Amiri, H Akbarin, H Sharifi, A Akbari Sari, R Partovi,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (2-2017)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Brucellosis in livestock has led to a significant reduction in the economic capital in Iran. Estimation of the economic losses due to this disease helps to highlight the importance of the disease and makes it easy to justify brucellosis control programs.
Methods: Estimation was done based on the data received from the Iran Veterinary Organization and statistics book of the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture. Economic Loss was estimated assuming the equality of the incidence of the disease in total livestock population with its incidence in tested livestock. The direct costs of culled brucella positive animals, reduced milk production, reduced weight of animal, abortion, and reduced fertility were calculated based on the price of the animal or the product in each year. Due to inflation, the costs were adjusted using the discount rate. Therefore, the losses were compared in each year.
Results: The maximum loss due to brucellosis in the studied period occurred in 2014. Comparison of the losses due to bovine and ovine brucellosis showed that the total economic loss in the sheep and goat population was 5.53 times greater than the loss in the cattle population. Estimation of total economic loss in 12 years of the study was 8,129,116 million IRR (1 USD≅35000 IRR).
Conclusion: More serious attention should be paid to animal brucellosis from both health and economic points of view. Prevention from massive economic losses and human brucellosis control and eradication will not be possible without controlling the disease in the animal population.
F Heydarpour, A Akbari Sari, M Mohebali, S Bokaie,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (6-2017)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Leishmaniasis encompasses a wide range of clinical complaints from skin injury to fatal visceral infections. Detailed information about the economic burden of the disease can help health care decision makers to estimate the magnitude of the problem, economic advantages obtained from the prevention of this disease, resource allocation, and disease management. The study was conducted to determine the economic burden of leishmaniasis in humans and animals in Iran in 2013.
Methods: The cost unit was determined through public service tariffs determined by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and interviews with experts, and service costs were calculated by multiplying the cost unit for one person by all infected cases. The course of the disease and the services provided to patients were obtained from the review of the literature and records and interview with experts.
Results: The economic burden of leishmaniasis was estimated more than IRR 213 billion ($6,700,000). Moreover, 39%, 27%, 18%, and 16% of the costs were related to indirect costs, direct medical costs, indirect medical costs, and dogs, respectively. The average direct medical cost of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis was IRR 3381186 ($106) and IRR 9392832 ($295) per person, respectively.
Conclusion: The economic burden of leishmaniasis compared to some diseases such as hydatid cyst showed a smaller number( 232.3 million$). It is recommended that IIranian health politicians consider the economic burden of other diseases.
E Goodarzi, Gh Moradi, A Khosravi, N Esmailnasab, B Nouri, A Delpisheh, E Ghaderi, D Roshani,
Volume 14, Issue 2 (9-2018)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Life satisfaction is one of the important dimensions of health, which is influenced by health determinants. The aim of this study was to investigate the status of socioeconomic inequalities in satisfaction with life in women aged 15-54 in Iran.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, randomized multistage cluster sampling with equal clusters was done to select the participants. A total of 35,305 women aged 15-55 were enrolled in the study. Data analysis was done in two stages. In the first stage, social and economic inequalities were investigated using the concentration index and concentration curve method. In the second stage, a multilevel method was used to identify the determinants.
Results: The mean life satisfaction was 12.81±4.23. The concentration index for dissatisfaction with life was -0.06 [95% CI: -0.1, -0.02], indicating dissatisfaction with life in low socioeconomic groups. The results of multilevel analysis showed that age, marital status, occupation, place of living, education, and the economic class correlated with dissatisfaction with life in women (P<0.05).
Conclusion: There is inequality in dissatisfaction with life. Dissatisfaction is concentrated in the poorer groups of the society and varies in different provinces. Socioeconomic variables affect inequality in satisfaction with life in women, which need to be addressed to reduce inequalities.
H Soori, M Heidari, A Razzaghi ,
Volume 14, Issue 4 (3-2019)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Evidences show an increase in the occurrence of road crashes and causalities in early stages of economic growth. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the incidence of motorcyclists’ crashes and the level of development of the provinces of Iran in the year of 2015.
Methods: This was an ecological study of the motorcyclists’ crashes in all provinces of Iran. Motorcyclists’ injuries were obtained from the database of traffic police and the report of population census in 2011 was used. Given that more than 99% of motorcycle-related crashes occurred in male motorcyclists, the population of males was used to adjust the results. The Pearson correlation coefficient was also applied.
Results: Totally, 90,724 crashes occurred among motorcyclists. The highest rate was in the age group of 18 to 30 years with 46,944 crashes (51.7%). As for sex, men had 90363 crashes (99.6%). Among different provinces, Tehran and Ardabil had the highest and lowest incidence with 1129.84 and 77.37 per 100 thousand male populations, respectively. Significant correlations were found between the incidence of motorcycle crashes and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (P value: 0.601) and Human Development Index (HDI) (P value 0.497), respectively (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Increased the incidence of motorcycle crashes is associated with the level of provincial economic development. In order to prevent the injuries and reducing its incidence, attention should be paid to the safety of roads and vehicles.
ُsm Hosseini Shokouh, M Arab, S Emamgholipour, M Meskarpour Amiri ,
Volume 16, Issue 4 (3-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Understanding and analyzing the socio-economic factors affecting mental health is important for mental health policy-making in metropolitan areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between socio-economic factors and mental health of households living in Tehran.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 650 households from 22 districts of Tehran using mixed sampling method. Mental health measures were collected using the standard SF-36 questionnaire and socioeconomic measures of the household were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. The face validity of the questionnaire was measured by qualitative method and its content validity was confirmed by quantitative method. The test-retest method was used to test the questionnaire reliability. Regression models were estimated using ordinary least squares (OLS) and weighted least squares (WLS) methods. The Stata software was used for data analysis.
Results: Among the socioeconomic variables, four variables including years of education, health behaviors (regular physical activity, healthy eating habits), not-smoking, and social capital had a positive and significant relationship with all mental health measures (social role, emotional role, mental health and vitality ). The relationship between not-smoking and all mental health measures was more than other socioeconomic variables (P <0.05).
Conclusion: Mental health policymakers should place extra emphasis on the development of social capital in metropolitan cities, promotion of the citizens' health behaviors, and particularly on tobacco use and the related behavioral disorders.
Y Salimi, T Paykani, S Ahmadi, M Shirazikhah, A Almasi, A Biglarian, N Rajabi Gilan, Z Jorjoran Shushtari ,
Volume 16, Issue 5 (3-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Vaccine acceptance could seriously affect global efforts to control the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to estimate the Covid-19 vaccine acceptance and its related factors in Tehran and Kermanshah.
Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 850 participants in Tehran and Kermanshah using the random digit dialing method. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio of factors related to vaccine acceptance.
Results: The frequency of the Covid-19 vaccine acceptance was 66.47% (95% confidence interval: 69.57%, 63.21%). Moreover, 86.02% of the participants stated that they would use any type of (Iranian / foreign) vaccine approved by the Iranian Ministry of Health. However, 13.98% of the participants stated that they only preferred foreign approved vaccines (if available). The variables of age, fatalism, and socioeconomic status had significant associations with the Covid-19 vaccine acceptance.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the Covid-19 vaccine acceptance was moderate. In order to achieve herd immunity by vaccination faster in our society, the strategy of prioritizing vaccination can be planned based on the related variables such as religious beliefs and fatalism, younger age groups, and people with higher socio-economic status that are willing to receive the vaccine.
L Shams, Gh , T Nasiri, M Meskarpour Amiri,
Volume 17, Issue 4 (3-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status and non-communicable diseases (NCD) risk factors in one of the northern counties of Iran.
Methods: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Langrud County in 2019. In this study, 906 rural and urban households were surveyed using mixed sampling. The data collection tool was the standard questionnaire of "NCD disease care system". Households’ exposure to NCD behavioral risk factors (including unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and smoking) in different socio-economic groups was examined and compared with logistic regression models using the STATA software.
Results: The probability of smoking in illiterate subjects and those with unfinished high school education and high school diploma was 5.1, 7.5 and 4.2 times higher than those with university education (OR = 5.1,7.5,4.2; P <0.05). The probability of unhealthy diets in the first and second quartiles of income (very low and low income) was 3.4 and 2.6 times higher compared to the people in the fourth quartile of income (high income) (P <0.05; OR = 3.4, 2.6).
Conclusion: The micro-level socioeconomic inequalities (within the county) have a significant relationship with households’ exposure to NCD risk factors. Reducing socio-economic inequalities at the micro level should be considered as an appropriate tool to reduce health inequality at the macro level.
Aliakbar Haghdoost, Alireza Alikhani, Mostafa Hosseini Golkar, Reza Dehnavieh, Samira Seifi,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 epidemic and its subsequent effects have become a significant global challenge. In addition to being affected by this crisis, Iran is also facing many other problems, including sanctions and economic problems. So, there is a concern that it will suffer more severe consequences.
Methods: Scenario planning is one of the ways to recognize future changes and environmental uncertainties. This study used the so-called global business network (GBN) method, also known as the scenario matrix method. This method is based on two key uncertainties and six steps have been taken to examine variables related to health and socio-economic factors and use the opinions of relevant experts.
Results: To be expected, Iran's health system will be able to manage the epidemic in the face of various conditions with severity and weakness, and only in the pessimistic scenario or in Worst-case scenario with the default assumption of the continuation of sanctions and the spread of the epidemic. It leads to global restrictions, loss of foreign exchange reserves, loss of performance or collapse of the health system, increasing the number of deaths and diminishing the quality of life.
Conclusion: Regarding the COVID-19 epidemic and the existing background factors, scenarios of Iran’s health and economic conditions were narrated. Given the ability of the scenarios to understand the complexity and help in decision-making, it is considered a useful tool for policy makers to have a broader, comprehensive and reasonable look to achieve a correct consensus. This situation leads to the preservation and continuation of society health and conventional economic decisions.
Vajihe Armanmehr, Hossein Mirzaei, Abdoljavad Khajavi, Toktam Paykani, Reza Esmaili,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Faster than expected, the COVID-19 disease changed people's lives on an unprecedented scale. The present research aimed to shed light on the economic challenges of the pandemic and the efforts made concerning economic resilience. Thus, this study delved into the experience of families residing in a suburban town.
Methods: The present study was qualitative in type. It used a qualitative content analysis with a guided approach conducted through 17 in-depth semi-structured individual interviews with subjects over 15 years of age living in Tawheed Gonabad town. These subjects had lived in the area for at least three years. The interviews were held and audio-recorded in a purposive sampling method after gaining informed consent from the participants in the spring of 2021. In order to estimate the validity of the data, Lincoln and Goba's criteria were used.
Results: The economic resilience of families during the pandemic was marked by three main categories and nine sub-categories. The categories were:
1) changes to the economic dimension of the family (the sub-categories: employment, income, consumption and socioeconomic status),
2) solutions to the economic changes of the family (sub-categories: reliance on internal resources, family and receiving support from outside of the family), and
3) the effectiveness of economic resilience of families at higher levels (sub-categories: macroeconomics, family social capital and regional resilience).
As more detailed results showed, the pandemic has caused a decrease in the income and consumption of essential items in quantity and quality and imposed excessive costs on the target community. The dominant solution to economic problems has been changing consumer’s behavior and income diversification. The lack of supportive plans, poor social networks and the identity of the neighborhood are the significant barriers to the increase of economic resilience.
Conclusion: The families investigated in the present study were vulnerable in many ways and had low economic resilience. In order to improve the families' level of economic resilience, it is necessary to know the context and carry out interventions and support plans based on the families' internal and external capacities, including the neighborhood's empowering conditions.
Mohammad Meskarpour-Amiri, Sayyed-Morteza Hosseini-Shokouh,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The socioeconomic factors affecting health include various variables that are not clearly and consistently classified in the studies. This study aimed to identify and classify the main socioeconomic variables affecting household health.
Methods: This applied study was conducted with a quantitative approach and a systematic review method in 2019. A systematic review of the studies with PRISMA protocol was used to search and identify the main socioeconomic variables affecting household health in international and national scientific databases. The inclusion criteria included focusing on socioeconomic variables affecting health at the household level, providing a specific model for influencing socioeconomic variables on health, publishing in English or Persian, and accessing the full text of the study. The qualitative evaluation of the studies as well as their conformity with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were performed by peer review. All socioeconomic variables were extracted in researcher-made form, classified using MAXQDA 2018 software and finally synthesized narratively.
Results: Twenty-one conceptual models were identified to influence socioeconomic factors on household health. Researchers and international organizations provided all models, and no native models were found in Persian regarding socioeconomic factors affecting household health. Content analysis of the studies showed that the three main variables of education, income and employment in all models (100%) were used as socioeconomic factors affecting health. After that, household health behaviors (81%), age (71%), family support (71%), housing area per capita (67%), place of residence (67%), social capital (62%) and gender (57%) were the most commonly used socioeconomic variables affecting household health respectively.
Conclusion: In addition to vital socioeconomic variables (education, income, and employment), other contextual variables such as household health behaviors, family support, per capita housing area, and social capital need to be considered for policy interventions. In addition, it is suggested that a native model of socioeconomic factors affecting health be designed for Iranian households' socioeconomic conditions.
Javad Emami, Saeed Bokaie, Yousef Mohammadzadeh, Samad Lotofollahzadeh,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (9-2023)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is the most significant livestock disease in the world and can cause great economic losses to the population of domestic ruminants. This study aims to investigate the economic impacts of FMD on dairy farms in West Azerbaijan province during the period of 2017-18.
Methods: Employing a questionnaire survey, this study covered all industrial dairy farms affected by the disease in eight units during the specified period. The results underwent descriptive analysis using Excel software version 2013 and SPSS version 18.
Results: Absolute (in million Rials) and relative (percent) losses attributable to FMD were categorized as follows: mortality losses amounted to 2,170 million Rials (60.6%), distress sale of livestock reached 713 million Rials (19.9%), treatment incurred 288.65 million Rials (8.1%), short-term reduction of milk production accounted for 193.35 million Rials (5.4%), extra labor costs totaled 152.4 million Rials (4.3%), abortion amounted to 35 million Rials (1%), and sampling costs were 32 million Rials (0.9%). The total losses from FMD in dairy industrial farms were estimated at 3584.4 million Rials, equivalent to 38,758 dollars at the average exchange rate of one dollar to 92,487 Rials in 2018.
Conclusion: The substantial investment in dairy farms amplifies the economic impact of FMD, resulting in prolonged recovery periods and contributing to a decline in livestock and dairy production in the province and the country.
Elahe Faghihifar, Marjan Ajami, Sareh Shakerian,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (3-2024)
Abstract
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.
