[ effects of health indices on economic growth in Iran]

Investment in human capital and enhancement of its quality has an important role in improving economic growth. Improvement of the health condition of labor force leads to an increase in human capital and an enrichment of labor productivity which subsequently improves the economic growth. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of healthy human capital on the growth rate of per capita income in Iran during 1982-2007. The expanded Solow's growth model, simultaneous equations system and three-Stage Least Squares were used in this study. The data were then analyzed by applying Eviews7.0 software. The results showed that the stock and investment in health human capital influenced the growth rate of per capita income positively and significantly below one and ten percent, respectively. The estimates indicated that a one percent increase in healthy human capital stock and investment result in an increase in the growth rate of per capita income [0.16% and 0.22% increase, respectively]. The stock of health human capital affects the growth rate of per capita income in a quadratic form, suggesting that ultimate effects of health human capital stock decreases at its high levels and that an increase in the stock of health human capital rises the growth of per capita income at a decreasing rate

[Effect of nutritional education on iron-deficiency anemia in high schools girls]

Iron-deficiency anemia is one of the main nutritional problems especially in young women. There are many strategies to combat iron deficiency anemia, including change in food habits and nutritional education. Aim of this study was to determine the effect of nutritional education on iron deficiency anemia among high schools girls. In this semi-experimental study, 68 high schools girls with iron deficiency anemia were educated for 4 months. Education materials were included brochures, pamphlets, and lectures. During nutritional education sessions the girls were presented with a pamphlet in which nutritional topics such as food groups, iron absorption enhancers and inhibitors, good sources of iron and ways to improve absorption of iron from foods were explained in simple word. Hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and serum zinc were measured in the beginning and end of the intervention. The girl's knowledge and their attitude about nutrition were also obtained before and after the study. Paired-t test, Wilcoxon, and Spearman tests were used for data analysis. The amount of hemoglobin at the beginning and the end of the study were 109.5 +/- 10 g/l and 123.3 +/- 13 g/l. respectively [P<0.001]. Serum ferrtin level was 4.5 +/- 3.2 and 25.4 +/- 36.9 microg/l, respectively [P<0.001]. Serum zinc level was 1.4 +/- 0.5 mg/dl at the beginning of the study and it was increased to 3.7 +/- 1 mg/dl at the end of the study [P<0.001]. Knowledge scores at the first and final intervention were 5.7 +/- 2.7 vs. 6.8 +/- 1.9 [P<0.01], and attitudes scores were 25.1 +/- 3.4 vs. 25.4 +/- 3.7 [P>0.05], respectively. Nutritional education can be used for improving the serum iron and zinc among anemic girls