Development and validation of a new tool to measure Iranian pregnant women's empowerment

Empowering pregnant women improves their health and reduces maternal mortality, but there is a lack of suitable tools to measure women's empowerment in some cultures. This study aimed to design and validate a questionnaire for measuring the dimensions of empowerment among Iranian pregnant women. After a literature review, and face and content validity testing, a 38-item questionnaire was developed and tested on a sample of 161 pregnant women. Factor analysis grouped the items into 3 subscales: educational empowerment [e.g. prenatal training], autonomy [e.g. financial independency and mental ability] and sociopolitical empowerment [e.g. involvement in social and political activities]. Criterion validity testing showed a strong positive correlation of the total scale and subscales scores with the Kameda and the Spritzer empowerment scales. Cronbach alpha was 0.92 for total empowerment. A total of 32 items remained in the Self-Structured Pregnancy Empowerment Questionnaire, which is a valid new tool to measure the dimensions of pregnant women's empowerment

[ study of male involvement in prenatal care in Shahroud and Sabzevar, Iran]

Male involvement like women empowerment and maternal health is one of the main strategies in achieving millennium development goals. To prepare the theoretical grounds necessary for male involvement, this descriptive study specifically aims to understand the prevalence and the forms of male involvement in maternal health. This is a descriptive-analytic study. Subjects consisted of women hospitalized for delivery in Shahrood and Sabsevar hospitals, Iran. Inclusion criteria were alive and healthy fetus. Exclusion criteria were illegal pregnancy. The questionnaires were completed by 507 women and 420 husbands. Data were analyzed using t-test, Pearson correlation and descriptive tests. 17% of men didn't attend at the time of woman's admission at the hospital. Low level of husband's companionship to health centers, low male involvement in household tasks and receiving low health recommendation by husbands were reported by 25%, 33% and 61% of the women, respectively. 77% of men had a low level of knowledge concerning pregnancy complications; however, 93% of them were aware of their wives' problems in pregnancy. The observed awareness of men of their wives' problems in pregnancy and their companionship in receiving prenatal care indicates their high level of interest in pregnancy health; however, their low level of knowledge concerning pregnancy problems, women's physical and psychological needs is an important barrier to male involvement in maternal health. Designing and providing reproductive health education programs for men seems to be necessary

Risk factors for spinal osteoporosis as compared with femoral osteoporosis in urban Iranian women

We aimed to define and compare the risk factors of spinal and femoral Osteoporosis in postmenopausal Iranian women. It was a multicentre based study carried out in two stages during 2002 to 2005 among post menopausal women in Tehran. In first stage case group included 140 women with diagnosed spinal Osteoporosis using DEXA method as definition of WHO and Controls were 167 women with normal spinal BMD. In second stage, among the same study population case groups were 72 women with total femoral neck osteoporosls. The controls included 191 women with normal femoral BMD/ Odds Ratio was used for estimation the association of risk factors with spinal and femoral Osteoporosis. Plus common well known Osteoporosis risk factors, significant risk factors for each region with their odds ratios included: Steroid use [2.4] and low activity [3.6] for femoral Osteoporosis and parity>3 [2] and lactation duration > 2 yr [1.9] for spinal Osteoporosis. There are some common and different protective and risk factors for spinal and femoral Osteoporosis in this population

[Premenstrual syndrome and complementary medicine in Iran: a systematic review]

Most women who experience some unpleasant or uncomfortable symptoms of premenstrual syndrome [PMS] may use some natural therapies or complementary medicine for relieving its symptoms. In making an evidence-based decision regarding the use of alternative medicine for these women, the health care providers should have access to high quality information. This study aimed to review the outcome and efficacy of clinical trials done in Iran on using herbal drug and complementary/alternative medicine to relieve PMS symptoms. Electronic searching of Medline, Sid, Irandoc, Magiran, Journals of herbal drugs and sports sciences was performed during 2010-11. Moreover, through Internet search engines [e.g. Google and Yahoo], randomized clinical trials of herbal and complementary medicine for PMS in Iran were identified. The bibliographies of articles and students' theses were searched and evaluated. The results showed that exercise is beneficial for PMS and preliminary findings indicated that Hypericum perforatum, Saffron, Oenothera Lamarkiana, Starchy diet, Fennel and Chamomile, Vitex Agnus Castus, Ginkgo biloba, acupressure and counseling were also effective to relieve the PMS symptoms. Among the above-mentioned measures, there is much evidence to support the use of exercise to reduce PMS symptoms

[Systematic review on effect of herbal medicine on pain after perineal episiotomy and cesarean cutting]

The object of perineal cutting [Episiotomy] is to increase the diameter of outlet pelvic on normal vaginal delivery. This procedure is the commonest surgery cutting in obstetrics the cesarean is the commonest surgery that its rate increasing in Iran and world. The object of this systematic review is to summarize the clinical trial performed in Iran and world. And to survey of safety and efficacy uses of the herbal medicine on pain relief and repair of perineal episiotomy and cesarean cattily. The searching on information database, SID, Magiran, medline, pubmed, Google schollor, yahoo, Cochrane, tomson, Iran doc is done. The evaluation of article is performed at the basis of jaded scale. First the abstracts of clinical trial performed on herbal medicine in Iran and world are reviewed, then, 18 articles are reviewed at the basis of jaded scale. 12 of them are published in Iranian journal and the other in English journals. The results showed that medicinal herbals are more effective on pain relief and the recovery of perinal episiotomy and cesarean cutting. These can be used after pregnancy but it is necessary to do more study for side effects. Although, in this study, the most herbal medicine has effect on pain and the recovery of perinal episiotomy, but the complications researches are necessary

[Determination of prevalence of anemia in orphanage children and the correlation of anemia with dimorphic variables]

Anemia is the time that blood hemoglobin level will decrease. Side effects of anemia is obvious for any one. It results to failure in speaking and motor nervous coordinating, decreasing in learning and schooling, resistance to infection, Apathy, numbness, fatigue. It is necessary to prevent and treat it. Because anemia may be neglected in nursery settings, it seems that doing this research is essential. This research is cross analytic which is done in 5 orphanage that affiliate to welfare organization. 226 orphan child after taking consent from all nurseries setting were included this study. The method of sampling was census. Data gathering were done by questionnaire which was included demography data and anemia indices. Criteria for anemia was used as a 11 milligram [6 month -4.9 years and 11.5 foe [5-11.9 years] base on WHO. After data gathering, analysis was done by SPSS soft ware as a Mean, percent, Mest and%2. Findings showed that 32.2% [73] were female vs 64.8%[153] male. 32.2 of them had anemia. The children of 0-4 year old and 5-12, had anemia respectively 30.2% and 37%. This study showed that didn't significant difference between anemia, gender and disease. Results showed that the rate anemia in orphanage children is 32.2% which is higher in 5-12 year old children. Regarding to this children deprive of family and they are high risk rather than children who live with family deal with physical and mental disability. So, It should be offer nursing care in suitable with their physical conditions