Journal of School of Public Health and

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Background and Aim: Demographic, physical, social and psychological factors make breastfeeding and its maintenance complex. Despite extensive breastfeeding promotion programs, no progress has been achieved. As breastfeeding is a phenomenon embedded in culture and folk perceptions, identification of its key determinants is essential when designing policies and implementing programs.

Materials and Methods: In this qualitative study, data were collected from 35 health professionals through a 4-day group interview using a structured questionnaire (open-end questions). The participants were purposefully recruited from among the health professionals attending a 4-day breastfeeding promotion workshop.

Results: The determinants of breastfeeding were categorized into 2 main domains, namely, people's perception of breastfeeding phenomenon and approaches employed in its promotion. The former domain was described by beliefs, demographic characteristics, social variables, and indigenous theories, and the later by practice in the cultural and social context, policies, interactions and practical skills.

Conclusion: From the participants' perspective, misperceptions of people can determine the degree of success or failure of a breastfeeding promotion program. Our findings confirm that people's perceptions are deeply influenced by their demographic characteristics, folk theories and social variables. As regards the breastfeeding promotion domain, the barriers are social-cultural factors rooted in the local beliefs and folk theories. The participants listed the breastfeeding promotion determinants as lactation policies and health providers' performance related to their skill in effective communication with mothers. Our findings also indicate that wrong beliefs, maternal and child diseases, caesarian section, and mothers' employment were believed to be deterrents in promoting breastfeeding in the community and that pediatricians, obstetricians and other health professionals can play key roles in the field. Based on our findings, we can further conclude that the phenomenon of breastfeeding and its maintenance are deep-rooted in social structure and cultural diversity. When designing and implementing breastfeeding promotion programs, local variables and determinants should be taken into consideration. 

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  Background and A im : sexual health in children is difficult subject, does not deal with it formal method. Importance of Sex education of children is accepted in the world. The aim of this paper is describing the concept of sexual health from the viewpoint of children's famil y and identification norms of child sex education and determining sex education priorities of the parent's viewpoint.

  Materials and Methods: This is qualitative study. Samples were selected by targeted method of student's parents of five regional educated o f Tehran. Data were collected by focus group interview and discussion and were analyses by subject and content analysis.

 
Results: The findings were classified in three main areas: 1) Family management 2) the role of school 3) framework of the religion an d traditions.

 

  C ONCLUSION onclusion : Most participants believed sexual health behavior in children is not health indicators. They implemented their family policies in management of Sexual behavior o f their children. In Family control was meant: restriction of sexual behavior in child as a norm. Culture of silence and connivance in management of children's behavior has become norm, because child's sexual behavior is inconsistent with traditional values of family. In identifying priorities of sexual education of children, progression interaction between home and school was known as the most deficits. They are acting their internal values in educational system of children because their conflict of values, norms and tastes difference has not been challenge. It is important and priority of parents to being prepared for the management of their children's sexual behavior .

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Background and Aim: Quality of life amongst people living with HIV/AIDS is affected by their experiences such as social isolation, stigmatization and discrimination. Physical, mental and social problems are common throughout their lives. Therefore, studying the quality of life of HIV-infected individuals are shortcomings in various cultural contexts. The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. We used convenience sampling to recruit 300 HIV-infected adults attending the Imam Khomeini Hospital consultation center for clients with risky behaviors in Tehran. To collect the data we employed the World Health Organization Quality of life for HIV Brief version (WHOQOL-HIV BREF). T-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s coefficient and multiple regression were used for analysis. Results: The mean ±SD age of the respondents was 34.3±7.5 years. The majority of them were males (55%) and asymptomatic (51.7%). Among the domains of quality of life, Level of independence had the highest score (13.4±3.1), and environment (12.5±2.8) and psychological (12.5±3.1) domains had the lowest. Younger's, women and employed subjects reported better quality of life for different domains of quality of life (p<0.05). Conclusion: Psychological and environment domains in quality of life were found to be adversely affected by HIV. Accurate and culturally sensitive interventions are suggested to address the patients' psychological and environmental needs.