Journal of

Background and Aim: Underlying factors of Obesity is various and the main aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and some socio-demographic related factors among Iranian northern primary school children in year 2010.

Materials and Methods: This is a crossectional-descriptive study that was performed on 7399 primary school children (3934= male and 3465=female) from 112 schools that were chosen by two step sampling (cluster and simple random). The number schools were equal with respect to residential area and sex. Center of Disease Control and prevention (CDC) criteria was used for comparing anthropometric indexes.

Results: Linear regression analysis revealed that weight, height and BMI increase 2.70 kg, 4.62 cm and 0.42 kgm-2 in boys (P=0.001) and 3.12 kg, 5.19 cm and 0.52 kgm-2 in girls (P=0.001) in each of years, respectively. Highest and lowest obesity was observed in Gomishan and Ramian districts, respectively. Results of logistic regression analyses showed that the risk of overweight and obesity was 1.203 times in male as compared to females[1.078-1.341, CI 95%], 1.382 times in urban as compare to rural areas[1.240-1.541, CI 95%] and 2.297 times in high economic group as compared to low economic group[1.911-2.761, CI 95].

Conclusion: Obesity was a health problem in primary school children in Golestan province and urbanization and rise of economic status was a risk factor.

 Background and Aim: Information literacy is a set of skills required to identify rightful information resources and access to them. These skills are empowering goal oriented use of information resources. This study aimed to determine the ability rate of information literacy among health services administration students in Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences based on SCONUL seven pillars model.  

 Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study was conducted using a questionnaire developed based on SCONUL information literacy seven pillars model. Validity of the questionnaire was confirmed through content analysis and coefficient of Chronbach’s alpha was 0.93. The study population included students of health services administration in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in 2013. The sample size included 40 cases collected randomly. Data analyzed through SPSS descriptive statistics and non-parametric statistical tests.

 Results: The mean score for the studied components of information literacy abilities among the study population was 0.5±0.43. Information Literacy score among freshmen was significantly different from other students (P<0.03). Students who passed Computer Basics and Research Methodology educational courses showed significant differences from other students in the information management (P<0.01).

 Conclusion: Given the increasing development in information technology, the need to develop information literacy skills is considerable especially among those who are going to be engaged in the health sector. Although studied students’ information literacy estimated relatively well, it seems necessary to take measures to improve their information literacy in all components.