Journal of School of Public Health and

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Background and Aims: The ready-to-eat foods, before and after preparation, usually kept in a refrigerator before consumption for a relatively long time, increase the risk of food poisoning. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of refrigeration in the fast-food shops on the microbial contamination of fast foods.

Materials and Methods: A total of 100 samples, including 46 cooked beef livers and 54 cooked sausages were collected from fast-food shops in the south of Tehran and analyzed according to the procedures of the Office of Food Control Laboratories (OFCL). The samples were tested randomly for the microbial contamination on the first, third, fifth and seventh days of storage in the refrigerator.

Results: Results of microbial analysis showed that 35 cooked sausage samples (64.8%) and 34 cooked liver samples (73.9%) on the first day, 44 cooked sausage samples (81.5%) and 42 cooked liver samples (91.3%) after the third day, 47 cooked sausage samples (87.1%) and 44 cooked liver samples (95.6%) after the fifth day, and 50 cooked sausage samples (92.3%) after the seventh day were unfit for consumption Frying of the food items before consumption would decrease, though to a small extent, microbial contamination (P<0.05). Increased total micrbial counts of the food items, exceeding the respective standards, is the most important inhibitory factor for their consumption.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that keeping cooked foods for a long time in the refrigerator causes increased microbial contamination over time.

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Background and Aim: One of the most important health problems in the modern society is reduced appropriate physical activity by people. The five-step counselling process, which is composed of five essential principles in health counselling, can help to improve health behaviors, such as physical activity, in different individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an educational intervention using the five-step counseling process based on the stage of change construct on physical activity promotion in female-employees working in Toos Industrial State factories, Mashad, Iran.

Materials and Methods: This was a controlled intervention study including 76 women working in the Mashad industrial estate factories, Iran, divided into an experimental (n=36) and a control (n=40) group. Data were collected using the standard Marcus Physical Activity Stages of Change Questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), which measures physical activity at three levels of light, moderate and severe, and analyzed using the SPSS software; a P<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

Results: The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences before the consultation intervention between the two study groups as regards the stage of change and level of physical activity (p>0.05). Further analysis of the data revealed that the intervention had caused increases in both the physical activity and stage of change (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is concluded that the five-step counselling process is effective in promoting physical activity and can be used as an appropriate strategy by health professionals in the health-service delivery centers and organizations to promote the health behaviors of people.

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Background and Aim: Congenital hypothyroidism is the most common metabolic disease and endocrine disorder in children and a major cause of mental retardation, which can be prevented only through early diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism in newborns referred to Shahid-Ghodsi Health Center in Mashhad, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study, including 4484 newborns referred to Shahid-Ghodsi Health Center for congenital hypothyroidism screening, was conducted during the first six months of 2015. Data were collected from the screening forms and analyzed using the statistical software SPSS 21, the tests being the two-sample T-test, analysis of variance, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests; in all the tests the significance level was 5%.
Results: Of the 4484 neonates screened, 51% and 48% were males and females, respectively. The recall rate was estimated to be 2.6% and prevalence of the disease 1 in 370 neonates. There were statistically significant associations between hypothyroidism on the one hand and birthweight, type of feeding (nutrition), primary and serum TSH levels of the neonate on the other.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism in Mashhad is significantly higher than that national and global averages. It is essential to conduct more comprehensive research to determine the associated factors and design suitable interventions in order to prevent the disease.