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Marzieh Farnia, Mohammad Shahbazi, Ghobad Moradi, Sepideh Alizadeh, Bahman Ebrahi, Maryam Kandi Kalle,
Volume 11, Issue 1 (8-2013)
Abstract
Background and Aim: probably after pestilence, HIV/AIDS is most important and severe health threat for public health. Prisons could facilitate the spread of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis and transmit it to societies. The main strategy to control HIV/AIDS and hepatitis among Injecting Drug Users is Harm Reduction Programs. These programs are conducted in Iran Prisons. The goal of this study is to evaluate Harm reduction Programs including Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) and Needle exchange from the viewpoint of prison staff in Iran including principals, managers, physicians and counselors.
Materials and Methods : It was a cross sectional study in which 370 prison staff working in prisons all around the country were evaluated to assess their viewpoint and insight about Harm reduction Programs including Methadone Maintenance therapy and Needle exchange.
Results: A percentage of 95.23 of prison managers and experts had a positive view toward Methadone Maintenance therapy. 70.25 percent had a positive insight toward needle exchange program. The employment type and work experience was significantly (p<0.05) related to the viewpoint of managers and experts towards Methadone Maintenance therapy program. Age was the only factor that had a significant relationship (p<0.05) with Needle exchange program.
Conclusion: MMT has lots of supporters in prisons. The positive insights of managers and experts towards methadone maintenance therapy program demonstrate the high level of staff’s approval for conducting this program it could be interpreted as a sign of success of program in the country. However there is not a comprehensive approval and collaboration with needle exchange program in prisons. Nevertheless, it is alarming that 42.5% of staff believe that conducting methadone maintenance therapy may increase and intensify addiction in prisons.
Mohsen Shamsi, Hadi Neyestani, Hassan Ebrahimipour, Habiballah Esmaeili, Ali Vafaei Najjar, Maliheh Nosrati,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (5-2014)
Abstract
Objectives: The role of mammography in early detection of b reast cancer is evident and persuasion to do that is very important in health sector. Majority of the interventions are based on education and informing and there has been less attention to making mammography cost beneficent. This study aimed at assessing the effect of a social marketing-based intervention to persuade to do mammography in Bojnord.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, two villages around Bojnurd with similar demographic characteristics, considered as intervention and comparison groups randomly. All 35- years and older women consist of 343 women (151 in intervention and 191 in comparison groups) were identified. To obtain the main idea for intervention, and exploring the viewpoints of target group about mammography, a formative research combined of a quantitative survey (through completing the questionnaire for assessing the women’s attitudes based on health belief model) and a qualitative study (through establishing four focus group discussions) was done. According to the gathered and analyzed data, an intervention focused on the main barriers designed and implemented through four weeks. One week after the intervention, the number of mammograms in two villages was determined and compared.
Results: Quantitative survey showed that the mean of the scores related to expending time and high economical costs (perceived barriers) not remember to do mammography and fear of exposure to x- ray is less than other constructs. In qualitative study, time expending and high economical cost considered as two main factors related to not doing mammography. After the intervention, 48.1 percent of the women in intervention group went to do mammography and there are no change similar results in comparison group.
Conclusions: Educational interventions are not enough to persuade women to do mammography and we have to consider their perceived barriers and concerns. One of the most effective approach to promote an idea, behavior or service, is identifying the viewpoints of target group and design them as consumer- oriented programs. So, acceptance of the idea and behavior will be cost-beneficent.
Ghobad Moradi, Minoo Mohraz, Mohammad Mehdi Gouya, Masoumeh Dejman, Seyed Ahmad Seyed Alinaghi, Sahar Khosh Ravesh, Hossein Malekafzali,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (10-2014)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the views of policy makers and key persons about national AIDS control politics.
Materials and Methods : This qualitative study used purposive sampling. To collect data, the perspectives of six experts about AIDS were inspected. Framework analysis was used to analyze the data.
Results: The results of this study showed that beside the strengths there are also significant weaknesses in making the policies, administering the existing policies, executing the programs in organizations, and planning new policies to control AIDS hence these problems and weaknesses must be identified to achieve the main goals of AIDS control program.
Conclusion: AIDS is not only a health problem but a social, economical and cultural problem, which requires more attention from authorities and related organizations for developing and implementing policies in accordance with international guidelines. To achieve Millennium development goals (MDGs) in the context of AIDS it is essential for policy makers and key figures to consider more effective activities and measures in their agenda.
Masoumeh Dejman, Maroe Vameghi, Fatemeh Dejman, Payam Roshanfekr, Hasan Rafiey, Ameneh Setareh Forouzan, Majid Rezazadeh, Parisa Fazeli,
Volume 12, Issue 3 (1-2015)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Children who work or live in the streets are one of the high-risk groups for HIV. The high population of street children and lack of comprehensive intervention programs for them increase their risk for HIV in Iran. This study intended to explore the situation of drug abuse in street children in Tehran, the capital city.
Materials and Methods: This paper reports part of a comprehensive rapid assessment and response (RAR) research project on street children in Tehran during 2012-13. Data were collected by interviewing subjects using questionnaires. The sample size was 289 street children selected by time-location sampling in Tehran.
Results : Data showed that about 25.6% of the street children had had some history of cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, and/or drug abuse. Most of them were boys aged 15-18 years. The prevalence rate of cigarette and/or hubble-bubble smoking, alcohol consumption and drug abuse during the preceding 6 months 12.1%, 11% and 6.9%, respectively. Significant associations were found between alcohol consumption and drug abuse on the one hand and the children’s age, type of occupation and home-leaving experience on the other. Further analysis of the data showed that the main reason for drug abuse was curiosity (56.6%), followed by mere enjoyment (39.6%) and leisure (35.8%) .
Conclusion : It can be concluded that drug abuse among street children is highly associated with gender, age, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and leaving home experience. Therefore, it is recommended to start drug abuse prevention programs at lower ages, with particular emphasis on boys. In addition, family intervention and improvement of children’s lifestyle aiming at preventing home-leaving could be a main strategic plan for reducing drug abuse among street children.
Arezoo Falahi, Esmaeil Ghahremani, Parastoo Falahi, Yadollah Zarezadeh,
Volume 13, Issue 4 (3-2016)
Abstract
Background and Aim: To succeed in study and deliver service to community, training spiritual and related skill is urgent need in public health students. The aim of study was to explore spiritual needs and related skills in public health students of Kurdistan University of medical sciences.
Materials and Methods: This research was done through content analysis approach in Kurdistan university of medical science in 2015 year. Public health 15 students’ needs and perspective investigated via purposeful sampling. Inclusion criteria were including willingness to participate in the study, public health students, and ability to speak fluently. Data was gathered using individual and group in-deep sim-structural interviews and field note. Interviews recorded, typed, and analyzed using content analysis method. credibility, dependability, confirmability and transferability were employed to rigor and trustworthy of data.
Results: from Analysis of data were extracted 4 main categories: “individual interaction with superior existence”, “individual’s interaction with surrounding”, “strengthen individual characteristics”, and “improvement of study”.
Conclusion: the results of the study showed that acquiring of spiritual and life skills is an urgent need for students. Earning these skills not only is not an individual factor but also is multi-factorial and this is regarding to educational organizations, ministries, universities and families.
Zahra Hossein Khani, Maryam Sabaghian, Arsalan Fouladvand, Narges Shams Gilani, Zahra Fatahi, Morteza Motahharifard,
Volume 14, Issue 1 (6-2016)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The quality of life of community health workers (Behvarzes) is of special importance since they are in direct contact with the community offering health services to individuals and families. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of life of Behvarzes in Qazvin Province, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 406 male- and female-Behvarzes working in the health houses in Qazvin Province, Iran. Data were collected using the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). The questionnaire was distributed in the Behvarzes’ monthly refresher training sessions and completed by them (self-administrated). Data were analyzed using SPSS version17.
Result: The average age of the participants was 35.4± 6.3 years. Analysis of the data showed the means of quality of life scores for physical, psychological, social and environment domains to be 50.81%, 53.00%, %53.96 and %35.7, respectively. In all domains, the score of quality of life for the Behvarzes with a high education level was significantly higher than those of others (p<0.001). In addition, marital status was significantly associated with the quality of life
in all the domains (p<0.001) except in the environment domain (p=0.16).
Conclusion: The result of this study show that the quality of life of health workers (Behvarzes) is medium. Considering the importance of their work and the services they offer to the community, attempts should be made to improve their quality of life.
Hossein Malek Afzali, Payam Roshanfekr,
Volume 14, Issue 2 (9-2016)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Much emphasis is being put on participation of the community and parents in early child development (ECD). This article discusses the lessons learnt from the MAZDAK project, which attempts to involve the community in the Monitoring and Promoting Children’s Development Program.
Materials and Methods This was a 9-month community-based participatory research (CBPR) project of the Health System Research (HSR) type. The target population were the families residing in western Eivanak, including 300 children. All the phases of the project were conducted with participation of groups of 10 local volunteer women (in Persian singular Rezakar, plural Rezakaran), each group covering 30 children. At the end of the period challenges and limitations of the community participation were discussed in 2 focus-group discussions (FGDs) and a telephone survey with the participation of 50 of the parents.
Results: Community participation could be seen at three levels: 1. Integrating and linking the existing services and programs in community organizations; 2. Creating an interface organization of people in order to facilitate involvement of community members (Rezakaran); 3. Involving the parents themselves in the process of monitoring and promoting child development. Barriers to more active participation of parents were as follows: mothers’ occupation; number of children; father’s or other family members’ disagreement of the; holidays and bad weather; large numbers of individuals under coverage of each Rezakar which made her deeper understanding and communication with the mothers difficult; irregular follow-ups; age and educational differences between the Rezakaran and those under their coverage; frequent changing of Rezakaran.
Conclusion: Building trust, engaging and empowering people and governmental and non-governmental organizations is the greatest challenge in such a program. Experience shows that it is possible to increase the chance of success by selecting people’s favorite programs and priorities, using simple and friendly tools (ASQ Album), use of technologies to facilitate communication, selection of volunteers with due consideration of social conditions and, finally, increasing the motivation of volunteers for sustainability of activities.
Afsaneh Behroozpour, Mohsen Shams, Masoumeh Mousavi, Rahim Ostovar, Mostafa Maleki,
Volume 14, Issue 3 (12-2016)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Self-medication, as a common risky health behavior, has financial and non-financial costs for Iranians. This study aimed at determining the situation of self-medication and factors influencing it among women in Yasuj, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 192 women referred to urban health care centers in Yasuj, selected randomly from the existing health files at the centers. Data were collected using a standard questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model and analyzed by SPSS 16 statistical software.
Results: The most widely used medicines for self-medication were those for common cold and antibiotics from among over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and prescription-only-medicines (POM), respectively. Perceived susceptibility (17.63± 3.46) was the main construct associated with self-medication among women.
Conclusion: Once the causes of self-medication and its relationship with the Health Belief Model constructs are known, designing and implementing educational programs aiming at promoting awareness and perception of population groups, especially women, seems necessary.
Behjat Marzbani, Parvaneh Taymoori, Bijan Nouri,
Volume 15, Issue 1 (6-2017)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The incidence of breast cancer in women is expected to rise sharply over the coming decades in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for breast cancer in under-50-year-old women during the period 2013-2015 in Kermanshah, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This case-control study was carried out in Imam Reza Hospital and private clinics of oncologists (three clinics) in Kermanshah, Iran. The participants were 202 patients with breast cancer and 398 without breast cancer. Subjects of the experiment group were selected from among patients in the Departments of Oncology, Radiation Therapy, and Chemotherapy of the hospital, while the control group subjects were selected from among outpatients referred to specialty and subspecialty departments and private clinics of the hospital (outpatient, oncology, gynecology, ophthalmology, sonography, ENT, infertility). The two groups were matched for age. Data were collected by interviewing the subjects, the Gill standard questionnaire and the patients’ files and analyzed using the STATA software (version 12) ─ Odds Ratio (OR), 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and the Conditional logistic regression model.
Result: The following variables were found to be the most important risk factors for breast cancer among under-50-Year-old women: a family history of breast cancer in second degree relatives, an age of 18-35 years at the first childbirth, and a history of a benign breast lump.
Conclusion: It is recommended to conduct further studies on the subject with due consideration of other risk factors for breast cancer, as well as education of women about breast self-examination and importance of periodic clinical examinations.
Mostafa Maleki, Ali Mousavizadeh, Saadat Parhizkar, Mohsen Shamsi,
Volume 15, Issue 2 (9-2017)
Abstract
Background and Aim: In Iran the rate of Cesarean section is reported to be 48%, which is higher than the acceptable rate recommended by WHO (15%). This study was conducted to determine the effect of an intervention based on social marketing on the reduction of intention to choose Cesarean section by primigravidae in Boyer-Ahmad County, Iran in 2015.
Materials and Methods: In this field trial 39 primigravidae three to four months pregnant who had an intention to choose Cesarean section for delivery participated. A formative research (a quantitative survey and a qualitative study) was done to achieve the social marketing mix, and based on the results a tailored intervention was designed and pretested on the subjects. The final intervention was implemented for a period of one month and its effectiveness assessed after at least one month by a proportion test.
Results: The average age of the women was 25.82 years. The proportion of the women with a high school (or lower) and university education was 38.5% and 61.5%, respectively. One month after the intervention thirty of the pregnant women expressed willingness and intention to have a normal delivery, which was a statistically significant change (p=0.01).
Conclusion: An educational intervention based on the consumer-oriented social marketing theory can be effective in designing, implementing and evaluating a program aiming at reducing Cesarean section intention.
Masoumeh Majdpour, Mohsen Shams, Saadat Parhizkar, Ali Mousavizadeh, Zahra Rahimi,
Volume 15, Issue 3 (12-2017)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Sexuality education is one of the most important educational needs of adolescents, and mothers can have a key role in sex education of their daughters. This study aimed at developing, implementing and evaluating a skill-based training program for mothers for sexuality education of adolescent girls in Mahshahr, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This was a field trial conducted on 140 mothers having 12- to18-year-old girls between September and March 2012. Data were collected using two reliable questionnaires developed by the investigators ─ a "Parent-Child Relationship: Mother" questionnaire for assessing the mothers’ communication skills completed by the adolescent girls, and a "Knowledge and attitude about sexuality education of adolescents" questionnaire for assessing the mothers’ knowledge and attitude about sex matters and communication, skills completed by the mothers themselves. Based on the results, an educational intervention for mothers was designed consisting of three training sessions and implemented. The mothers’ knowledge, attitude and communication scores after a period of three months were compared with the respective baseline scores.
Results: Three months after the intervention, the mean scores of mothers’ knowledge and attitude about sexuality matters increased significantly (in both cases p <0.01). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the initial and final scores of mothers’ communication skills (p = 0.37).
Conclusion: Based on the findings it can be concluded that the designed educational program was effective in improving the knowledge and attitudes of the mother about sexuality matters although it did not affect their communication skills. Promoting communication skills of mothers as an important factor for sexuality education of their daughters requires regular, continuous educational sessions, as well as practice and experiences.
Leila Allahqoli, Azam Rahmani, Reza Ghanei Gheshlagh, Arezoo Fallahi, Masoumeh Hashemian, Hamed Fallahi, Babak Nemat-Shahrbabaki,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (12-2019)
Abstract
Background Aim: Job burnout among health educators is increasing with serious physical, psychological and social consequences. The purpose of this study was to explore the causes of job burnout from the perspective of health educators and identify their needs for reducing it.
Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was carried out in comprehensive health service centers of Sanandaj, west of Iran, in 2017, including 15 health educators selected by purposive sampling. The data were collected through individual interviews and semi-structured group discussions, observation and field notes and analyzed using the conventional content analysis approach with due consideration of acceptability, verifiability and transferability to ensure the accuracy and strength of the data.
Results: The causes of job burnout were extracted in 5 categories including "issues related to comprehensive health service centers", "individual challenges of staff members", "management weakness", "executive system challenges" and "issues related to clients". The participants emphasized the following actions for reducing job burnout: strengthening individual skills, effective evaluation and management support, providing recreational and welfare facilities, reducing job stress, and strengthening intra- and inter-sectoral communications.
Conclusion: The results of this study show that various factors contribute to job burnout among health educators. Improvements in management, laws and welfare facilities not only would reduce job burnout but also may increase the efficiency of health education programs.
Leila Dehghankar, Marzieh Hajikarimbaba, Rahman Panahi,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (12-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Considering the central role of low health literacy (HL) in causing health inequalities and the fast growth of university student populations, this study aimed to determine the HL and its related factors among university students.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study including 375 female students of Imam Khomeini International University in Qazvin, Iran in 2019 selected using the stratified random sampling method. The data-collecting tools included a demographic and background questionnaire and an Iranian adult HL assessment questionnaire. The SPSS 23 software was used for data analysis, the statistical tests being descriptive and logistic regression tests.
Results: Data analysis showed that 17 (4.5%) of the students had inadequate, 112 (29.9%) insufficient, 188 (50.1%) adequate, and 58 (15.5%) excellent HL, the mean HL percentage (± SD) being 70.80 (± 12.49). Based on logistic regression analysis, there was a statistically significant association between HL and physical activity (p =0.039), such that the chance of having good HL among the students with physical activity on most days was 2.097 times that of those with regular daily physical activity. A significant relationship was also found between HL and employment (p =0.042), such that the chance of having good HL among the employed students was 0.534 times that of unemployed students.
Conclusion: Considering the low health literacy rate among the students with low physical activity and those who are unemployed, it is recommended to pay more attention to these students when designing educational programs to increase their health literacy.
Rahman Panahi, Leila Dehghankar, Mahya Shafaei, Ali Razaghpoor,
Volume 17, Issue 4 (3-2020)
Abstract
Background and aim: Health literacy can be one of the most important effective factors in the adoption of preventive behaviors of osteoporosis by raising awareness and understanding the benefits of diagnostic and preventive behaviors. The objective of this study was to determine the health literacy skills effective in predicting adoption of osteoporosis preventive behaviors in high school female students.
Materials and methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study including 375 high school girls in Qazvin, Iran, selected by multi-stage sampling. Data were collected using the standard Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents (HELMA) and the Preventive Behavior of Osteoporosis Measurement questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS-23, the tests being descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis.
Results: Two of the eight components of health literacy, namely, understanding and communication, and two, namely usage of health information and calculation, were found to receive the highest and the lowest mean scores, respectively. The total scores of health literacy and the adoption of preventive behaviors of osteoporosis were 70.84±12.58 (out 100) and 22.43±5.60 (out of 36), respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that the components of health literacy could predict 38.4% of the changes in the adoption of preventive behaviors of osteoporosis (R2 = 0.384). The only other predictor of adoption of behavior was the usage of health information (P=0.001، β=0.044).
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended to pay special attention, when developing educational programs for the prevention of osteoporosis in adolescents, to health literacy as a whole, especially the usage of health information component.
Ahmad Mehri, Ali Akbar Hasanpour, Akram Robatjazi, Mehrsadat Mahdizadeh,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (9-2021)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Social capital is a social component affecting health outcomes considered to be one of the important factors influencing health inequity in the communities; it is one of the main concerns of health system in the suburbs. This study aimed to determine social capital and its relationships with demographic factors and perceived health status in the suburbs of Mashhad, Iran in 2020.
Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical study including 300 residents in the suburbs of Mashhad, Iran selected using the cluster sampling method. The data collection tool was a questionnaire containing demographic and perceived health status questions, as well as the Onyx and Bullen social capital questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the t-test, Pearson correlation test, one-way analysis of variance and multiple linear regression, using SPSS-version 24.
Results: The mean age of the individuals was 34.6± 11 years and their social capital score 53.63± 10.52. Among the eight social capital components, the value of life (57.91± 17.7) and participation in the local community (44.28± 15.28) were found to have the highest and lowest mean scores, respectively. Further analysis of the data showed that sex, education level and perceived health could predict 23% of the changes in the total social capital (p <0.001).
Conclusion: In this study, the level of social capital of the participants was low, but the demographic factors and health status were related to social capital. Therefore, policymakers and social and health planners should design and implement community-based interventions to improve the level of social capital.
Mohammad Moradi-Joo, Ali Akbari-Sari, Maryam Seyed-Nezhad, Seyed Mansoor Rayegani, Alireza Olyaeemanesh,
Volume 20, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs), are "recommendations intended to optimize patient care based on systematic reviews of available evidence and assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options". CPGs play an important role in improving the quality of care, reducing the diversity of treatment methods, reducing medical errors, managing health costs and increasing patient safety. This study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the decisions, consequences and policy trends of using CPGs in Iran during the period 2001-2021.
Materials and Methods: This study was a type of health policy analysis, carried out using analysis of the policy process approach. Data were collected through reviewing policy documents (n=79) and qualitative interviews (n=27). Analysis of policy documents was done using the content analysis method, the software used being Excel software, while for analysis of the interviews the framework analysis method was used, the software being the MAXQDA10 software.
Results: The policy of using CPGs in Iran started in 2001 and has improved over the past two decades. During the period 2016-2021 a total of 836 CPGs (knowledge products) were published, but according to the participants, many of these CPGs or knowledge products did not have the necessary quality and were not used by physicians. The findings of this study also showed that in Iran there is a suitable atmosphere for implementing CPGs and the policies of using them are sound policies; however, there is a huge gap between the development and implementation of CPGs.
Conclusion: Although the process of applying CPGs has improved in Iran, their implementation faces challenges and, thus, they have not been fully implemented. Therefore, there is a need to adopt new standard methods and approaches to improve the quality and reliability of CPGs. Certainly, the support of the government, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, the medical community, insurance organizations and other stakeholders, along with proper collaboration and appropriate policy formulations, are essential to achieve success.
Abedin Iranpour, Nouzar Nakhaee, Ali Bahramnejad, Ali Karamoozian, Tahereh Yazdinejad,
Volume 22, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: One of the most significant predictors of substance use disorders is the level of resilience in individuals. This study aimed to determine the association between resilience and substance (alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs =ATOD) use disorders among young people aged 18 to 29 in Kerman city, Iran in 2022.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using a multi-stage sampling method including 407 young individuals aged 18 to 29 years in Kerman city, Iran from spring to winter 2022. The sample was selected from among individuals referring to five women's and five men's hair salons and four methadone maintenance treatment centers in each district of Kerman Municipality. The date on resilience, as well as demographic information, were collected using the short-form RS-14 Resilience Scale, the ACE-8 Childhood Experiences Scale and the Substance Use Disorder questionnaires through face-to-face interviews.
Results: The likelihood of substance abuse and referral to methadone maintenance treatment centers was found to increase with age, male gender, a history of domestic violence, and lower education levels. Conversely, higher resilience was associated with decreased likelihood of substance abuse and referral to treatment centers (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the importance of developing effective programs to enhance resilience among youth, which will result in reduced risk of substance abuse. The results of this study can be used for appropriate planning and development of strategies to support youth health.
Seyed Alireza Ahmadi, Mohsen Momeni, Mina Danaei,
Volume 22, Issue 3 (3-2024)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Stomach cancer is of great importance in Iran due to its high incidence and mortality rates. This study aimed to evaluate the status of behavioral risk factors for stomach cancer among adults visiting healthcare centers in Kerman city in the year 2023.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 410 adults visiting comprehensive health centers in Kerman city using a quota sampling method. A questionnaire containing demographic information and a Gastric Cancer Behavioural Risk Assessment Inventory (GC-BRAI) was provided to the participants. Independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation tests were used for analysis. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered.
Results: The total score for behavioral risk factors for stomach cancer was 49.54. The mean total score decreased with increasing age (p=0.007) and increased with a higher body mass index (p=0.006). Men had a significantly higher mean score than women (p<0.001). The mean total score significantly differed based on occupation (p<0.001).
Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of addressing modifiable risk factors for stomach cancer, particularly in individuals identified as being at higher risk according to this study.
Seyedeh Mahboobeh Hosseini Zare, Jafar Babapour, Maryam Zare, Ahmad Siar Sadr, Seyed Mahdi Mohsenzadeh, Bijan Khorasani ,
Volume 22, Issue 4 (3-2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The prevalence of COVID-19 and its impact on mental health posed a significant challenge for healthcare systems worldwide. Healthcare systems were required, in addition to their responsibilities such as rapid diagnosis, controlling and slowing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, to adopt strategies to mitigate the psychological effects of this disease in the society. The objective of this study was to examine and review mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and strategies adopted to cope with it in various countries.
Materials and Methods: All published articles on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and coping strategies between February and October 2020 were reviewed in four databases and one search engine. A total of 394 articles that met inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected using a 15-point tool developed by Miton and colleagues. Ultimately 25 articles were selected and analyzed.
Results: The most prevalent mental health issues identified in the reviewed articles were depression, anxiety and stress. In addition, vulnerable and high-risk groups were recognized as being women, individuals with pre-existing health issues, youth aged 18 to 29 years, frontline healthcare workers and individuals without an income.
Conclusion: Despite various strategies chosen and adopted in different countries, the majority of people suffered from mental health challenges arising from COVID-19. During an outbreak collaboration between health system authorities and media in providing accurate and effective information, as well as offering preventive measures, can facilitate the prevention of mental health within a population. Therefore, it is essential for the health systems to pay attention to mental health infrastructure and design comprehensive strategies to address future crises.
