Journal of School of Public Health and

  Background an d Aim : Several factors can affect the sexual function of women. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between exercise and sexual function in post-menopausal women.

  Materials and Methods : This was a community-based, descriptive-analytical study including 405 post-menopausal women 40-65 years old selected by multi-stage stratified random sampling . The data were obtained through interviews using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and a researcher-made questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical tests such as multiple linear regression and logistic regression models .

  Results : On the whole, 61% of the subjects had sexual dysfunction. The most common type of exercise was “walking” (79.8%). For the women who exercised, the mean score in the domain of pain was significantly lower (worse) (p=0.013). The total FSFI, lubrication and pain domains scores were significantly lower in the women who did exercises other than walking as compared to those who did not exercise or practiced only walking. The weekly exercise frequency had positive correlations with lubrication (r=0.18, p=0.014) and orgasm (r=0.146, p=0.045) domain scores. However, multiple regression analysis to determine predictors of total score of FSFI and the domains scores did not give any statistically significant results. Finally, the logistic regression test showed that one additional exercise session per week would result in reduction of chances of sexual dysfunction by 80.2%.

  Conclusion : Based on the findings, it may be concluded that exercise can be a w ay to compensate for sexual problems and dissatisfactions caused by reduced sex and sexuality in post-menopausal women. Exercising more frequently during the week could have positive effects on the sexual function of post-menopausal women.

Background and Aim: Prenatal and neonatal care provides an opportunity for counseling, resulting in reduction of pregnancy-related and neonatal complications. It is expected that such care would result in promoting the health status of these vulnerable groups and improving the relevant indicators.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey including 668 mothers and 2-month-old children. Data were collected using questionnaires and structured interviews.

Results: On the whole, 35.9%, 21.0% and 5.1% of the mothers reported, at least, one pregnancy, one complication, and one neonatal complication, respectively. Results of the logistic regression model showed that the odds ratio of reporting at least one of the pregnancy complications increased by more than double in women who had a medical history or a high-risk pregnancy, increase decreased by 63% in those who had continuous care during pregnancy, decreased by 40% in those who had received thorough prenatal care, and increased by 0.05% for every unit increase in age. The odds ratio of reporting at least one postpartum complication increased by 70% per unit of in the density of health workers. Moreover, the odds ratio of reporting at least one neonatal complication decreased by 48% in women who had received full neonatal care and by 50% per every unit of increase in the density of health workers.

Conclusion: The findings of this study show the important role of behvarzes (community health workers) in detecting postpartum and neonatal complications, as well as the importance of antenatal care and quality of antenatal care as regards detecting at-risk women and neonates and prevention of pregnancy and antenatal complications.