Showing 13 results for Afzali
H Malek Afzali , A.s Forouzan , F Bahreini , A Mowla ,
Volume 3, Issue 4 (4 2005)
Abstract
Natural disasters cause millions of death and disability and major financial losses
world wide every year. The major concern of our health system has already been to
reduce physical mortality and morbidity. While such events may be a considerable
source of stress for the survivors and cause serious and long-lasting psychiatric
complications. The purpose of this study was to assess the function of rescuers in
mental health service delivery to survivors of Bam earthquake in four steps Rescuing,
Emergency services, Transportation of the injured survivors and Treatment in the first
2 weeks after the earthquake.
For reaching the purpose 4 groups of the survivors were selected: first group was the
healthy survivors (>15 years) living in Bam after the earthquake, the second group
was healthy survivors (<15 years) living in Bam after the earthquake, the third group
was the injured survivors admitted in Kerman and Tehran hospitals and the last group
was the Relatives who accompanied the injured survivors. 2 weeks after the
earthquake a questionnaire including questions about, demographic data, function of
rescuers in rescuing and emergency services steps, informing the survivors of their
relatives condition and Condoling with the survivors and mental health services
delivery was filled for each of the cases.
In all groups, more than 85% of the cases who needed help and rescued from the load
of the earthquake were rescued by their relatives and rescuers of the Red Crescent
Society or other governmental organization just had a little portion (5%)in this field.
Only 25%of the cases who needed help and rescuing from the load of the earthquake
were rescued in the first hour after the earthquake. Only 40% of the cases were
sympathized by their rescuers. About 65% of the cases had enough information about
their relatives. 40% of the cases were prevented from crying by rescuers. Only 30% of
the cases said that they knew addict individuals who were hot given alternative
materials. 30/% of the children had played during 2 weeks after earthquake and 42/%
of them had facilities for playing.
Regarding to all studied groups rescue activities, primary care services and transfers
have been performed by relatives and domestic people , therefore general training and
organizing CBO (community Based organization) for providing services in disasters
especially in regions which are at high risk of earthquake will be useful for reducing
the injuries. According to this research rescuers are in serious need of training in
mental health services and that major areas of education need are: using counseling
techniques, providing the necessary information for the survivors and stress
management techniques.
Sh Asghari , H Malekafzali , K Holakouie Naieni , R Majdzadeh , F Soleimani , S Amirsalari ,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (2 2007)
Abstract
Background and Aim: One of the biggest problems faced by parents of handicapped children is the child's health care. This study investigates patterns of heath care utilization and the related factors in children with mental impairment.
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 110 children (≤14 year old) with developmental disabilities in Tehran. Parents were selected by systematic random sampling for face-to-face interview. Statistical analysis was based on negative binomial regression.
Results: Over 99% of the surveyed children received ambulatory care and 15 % had been hospitalized over the preceding year 0.9% had never used health services. These children had utilized health services 207+18 times in a year. Among these services 38+3 were not subsidized by the State. Factors affecting service utilization were parent information (p<0.033) and referral to the proper service delivery points (p<0.029).
Conclusion: Appropriate interventions are required to address the above-mentioned factors and improve service utilization.
Mehdi Mohebali, Gholamhossein Edrissian, Mohammad Reza Shirzadi, Yavar Hosseingholizadeh, Mohammad Hossein Pashaei, Akbar Ganji, Zabihallah Zarei, Ahmad Kousha, Behnaz Akhoundi, Homa Hajjaran, Hossein Malekafzali,
Volume 9, Issue 2 (21 2011)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Visceral leishmaniasis is a systemic parasitic disease with a high fatality rate in under-5-year-old children. The disease is endemic in some parts of Iran, particularly in the north-west region. In 2001 a visceral leishmaniasis (VL) surveillance system was established for children aged ≤ 12 years in the primary health system in Meshkin-Shahr District, Ardebil Province, situated in the north-west of Islamic Republic of Iran.
Materials and Methods: All cases with clinical signs and symptoms of VL and confirmed positive by the direct agglutination test (DAT) were referred for physical examination and treatment.
Results: The mean annual incidence of VL decreased significantly from 1.88 per 1000 children before (1985-2000), to 0.77 per 1000 child population after (2001-07), the intervention. In the control area with no surveillance, it increased from 0.11 to 0.23 per 1000.
Conclusion: Early detection of VL using serological tests and timely treatment of cases can decrease the mortality and morbidity rates of VL in endemic areas.
Fereshteh Farzianpour, Saharnaz Nedjat, Azin Rahimi, Bahareh Malekafzali,
Volume 9, Issue 2 (21 2011)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Experience at the national and international levels shows that internal evaluation, especially at the level of academic departments, can play a critical role in warranting having a university with high standards. The objectives of the present research project were to determine (a). the quality of the structural elements of the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department (EBD) School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and (b). The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, on the basis of which action could be taken to improve the quality of activities in the Department.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted with the collaboration of the head and faculty members, all of the students (residents, Ph.D. and M.S. students), and the graduates, of the EBD. Nine variables were studied, namely, 1). Aims and objectives 2). Organizational and management structure 3). Faculty members 4). Students 5). Teaching and learning process 6). Courses and curricula 7). Graduates 8). Research and educational facilities and equipment and 9). Research activities of the faculty members. First the initial weight of the 9 variables were determined by opinion poll carried out among all the faculty members of EBD. Then unrelated data were identified through proper tests and omitted and the final weights extracted. The tools used to collect the data included interview, observation, and 7 self-prepared questionnaires and 2 check lists.
Results: The mean score for the 9 factors studied was 59.8%, the range being between 37.0% (for objectives and mission) and 72.0% (for graduates).
Conclusion: The graduate domain is one of the key areas in internal evaluation of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. On the other hand, the lower score for objective and aims domain implicates the need for future intervention in this domain.
Arezou Fallahi, Fazl Allah Ghofranipour, Fazl Allah Ahmadi, Beheshteh Malekafzali, Ebrahim Hajizadeh,
Volume 10, Issue 4 (18 2013)
Abstract
Background and aim: Oral and dental diseases limit an individual&aposs activities at the school, work place and home, leading to a loss of millions of work and school hours all over the world. The period of adolescence is critical as regards shaping of healthy behaviors related to oral and dental diseases. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe school pupils&apos viewpoints on factors influencing development of dental caries.
Materials and Methods: A qualitative study with a content analysis approach was conducted to collect the perspectives of 18 Iranian students in 8 guidance schools selected by purposive sampling. Structured and semi-structured interviews were held to collect data. An informed consent was obtained and the interviews were recorded and transcribed. The data was analyzed through an inductive approach of content analysis. In order to support the validity and rigor of the data, different criteria such as acceptability, confirmability and transferability were utilized.
Results: Data analysis could identify four major factors influencing dental caries development: "family interactions in dental health", "role of school in caring for teeth", "role of dentists in caring for teeth" and "effect of education in caring for teeth". The factors influencing caring for teeth and mouth had a greater significance.
Conclusion: The students&apos experiences, as observed in this study, can help in developing mutual trust between students and dentists, delivering better services in schools by relevant organizations, and designing more effective oral health interventions, with due consideration of vital role of the parents.
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.
Hossein Malekafzali,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (10-2014)
Abstract
In this article 40 years of Iranian experience in primary health care in west Azarbaijan and behvarzs is presented. In this regard quantitative development of PHC during this period will be discussed, moreover challenges and opportunities of this program will be analysed. Finally family physician program should be considered as an appropriate tool to achieve universal coverago of PHC in iran.
Batool Hossein Rashidi, Hossein Malek Afzali, Fedyeh Haghollahi, Mina Naghi Jaffarabadi, Mohammad Eslami, Mahdieh Yazdanpanah, Mohammad Mehdi Naghizadeh,
Volume 14, Issue 2 (9-2016)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Over 200 million pregnancies occur worldwide annually; one third are unwanted and half end up in abortion. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of unwanted pregnancies and induced abortions during women’s childbearing age over a period of 30 years (divided into 5-year intervals) in Tehran, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014 on 518 married women 15 to 55 years old living in Tehran with a history of at least one pregnancy. A questionnaire containing two sets of questions on individual and demographic characteristics and women’s abortion history was used to collect the data for a period of 30 years (divided into 5-year intervals). The data collected were analyzed using SPSS 16 (the significance level was a p-value of <0.05).
Results: Of the 966 pregnancies among the 518 women studied, 665 (68.4%) were planned and 307 (31.6%) unwanted. There were 249 abortions, 108 (43.4%) of which were miscarriages, 41 cases (16.5%) for medical reasons, and 100 cases (40.2%) induced (deliberate). The proportion of induced abortions in unwanted pregnancies increased from 0.0% in 1981-1986 to 41.7% in 2011-2014.
Conclusion: Based on the findings it can be concluded that due to changes in family planning program effectiveness and accessibility of contraception methods in Iran unwanted pregnancies and the subsequent abortions have become more common.
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.
Ahmad Ali Noorbala, Hossein Malek Afzali, Nasrin Abedinia, Marzieh Akhbari, Alireza Moravveji, Fatemeh Vaseghi, Zahra Nakhi, Mamak Shariat, Maryam Mirzaeeneyestani, Fatemeh Sadat Ghoreishi,
Volume 16, Issue 3 (12-2018)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Stress during pregnancy can have a lasting effect on the mental health of women after childbirth. Statistics show that about 18% of pregnant women have major or partial depression during pregnancy, but many have not been screened or treated. Lack of treatment can have serious consequences for the mother and her child. The purpose of this study was to determine the mental health status and marital satisfaction of pregnant mothers in Kashan city, Iran in 2015.
Materials and Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study. Using the convenience sampling method 202 pregnant women were selected from four urban health centers in Kashan, Iran and entered the study. Data were collected using a Diagnostic Interview, the General Health-28 Questionnaire and the Golombok Rust Inventory of Marital State. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis, the statistical tests being one-way ANOVA, chi-square test, Pearson correlation test and logistic regression.
Results: The results showed that 26.7% of the pregnant women were suffering from psychiatric disorders, the most and least serious disorders being related to physical activity and depression, respectively. About 80% of the women expressed very good marital satisfaction. Further analysis of the data showed statistically significant associations between depression and age and anxiety, insomnia and duration of marriage, marital satisfaction and delivery type, and mental health and marital satisfaction. Furthermore, marital satisfaction had a negative association with education. (p<0.05).
Conclusion: It seems that it is essential to develop and implement a therapeutic, psychiatric and health care model for women at risk of psychiatric disorders during pregnancy and after childbirth in the health service delivery system in Iran.
Mohsen Roshanpajouh, Roksana Mirkazemi, Mehrdad Ehterami, Houman Narenjiha, Hossein Malek Afzali, Hamidreza Sarrami, Majid Rezazadeh, Fatemeh Abbasi, Saeid Noroozi,
Volume 16, Issue 4 (3-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Drug abuse is a long-standing social and public health problem in Iran. Access to accurate, reliable and up-to-date data related to drug use is essential for planning and policy-making for prevention of, treatment of, and harm reduction related to, drug abuse. The purpose of this study was to access accurate data regarding drug abuse prevalence and substance use in Tehran Province population.
Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional household survey with a sample of 6024 individuals aged 15-64 years residing in Tehran Province. Data on demographic characteristics and drug use during the previous week, month and year and the whole lifetime were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire.
Results: A total of 5646 individuals participated in the study. The lifelong prevalence of cigarette-smoking, hookah-smoking, alcohol consumption and drug use were 21.9%, 26.8%, 12.1% and 7.3%, respectively. The corresponding proportions during the previous week were 12.9%, 10.5%, 1.8% and 2.2%.
Conclusion: The prevalence of cigarette-smoking, hookah-smoking, alcohol consumption and drug use is high in Tehran Province. The prevalence of lifelong cigarette and hookah smoking and alcohol consumption is higher, while that of drug use is lower, than the respective national averages.
Leila Afzali, Sogand Ghasemzadeh, Maryam Hashemi Bakhshi,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (12-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of family-based interventions on clinical symptoms and social skills of hyperactive children.
Material and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with pre- and post-test. A total of 28 school students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) referring to a Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Counseling Center along with their parents were selected using the available sampling method as the main sample of the study. They were then divided into two equal groups ─ an experimental group receiving intervention (family therapy) and a control group receiving no intervention. The research tools were the Inderbitzen and Foster Adolescents Social Skills Questionnaire (CWS, 1992) and the Conners Parent Questionnaire (1999). Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data.
Results: Analysis of the data showed that family-based interventions can lead to increases in social skills and decrease clinical symptoms in children with ADHD.
Conclusion: It is concluded that family-based intervention can result in enhancing social skills and reducing clinical symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Behzad Damari, , Narges Rostamigooran, Mohammad Hossein Salarianzadeh, Sheyda Malekafzali,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (5-2020)
Abstract
Background and Aim: For achievement of equity in the population health the implementation of health in all policies is essential. The most crucial intervention in this approach is inter-sectoral collaboration.
Materials and Methods: This was a qualitative study based on the national policy framework. Data were collected using literature review, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with the stakeholders. The results were categorized into three sections, namely, situational analysis and factors affecting it, developing goals and objectives, and requirements and interventions.
Results: Currently inter-sectoral collaboration in the Iranian health system potentially allows to have health in all policies policy in terms of explicit legislative support, national macro-policies/upstream documents and organizational structure. It will require proper planning as regards designing and institutionalizing appropriate mechanisms for collaboration, as well as cultural and skills capacity building, for stakeholders within and outside the health sector.
Conclusion: The findings of this study can be used in annual operational planning of the High Council of Health and Food Security secretariat.
