[Knowledge, attitude and practice of non-medical students to the ways of transmission and prevention of AIDS in Rafsanjan city]

Prerequisite for implementation of behavior modification interventions to reduce the spread of AIDS among young people is understand their knowledge and attitudes associated with subjects related to AIDS. If the youth must be reduce HIV, it is necessary to know what the risks are and how it can be avoided. This study aimed to determine knowledge, attitude and practice of non-medical students to the ways of transmission and prevention of AIDS as a prerequisite for subsequent corrective interventions were performed. This descriptive analytic study on 384 non-medical students of nonrandom sampling was done. Students voluntarily and in full consciousness of the subject in the study participated. Instrument for data collection was constructed questionnaire consisting of four sections including demographic data, knowledge [20 questions], attitude [11 questions] and behavior [16 questions]. Because of confidentiality; students put the completed questionnaires into sealed box. Data was analyzed with using the software SPSS v.17. The Statistical tests include Chi square test, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman correlation coefficient was used and data with P<0.05 were considered significant. 282[73.4%] of subjects were female and 102 male [26.6%] and their mean age 22 +/- 2 years. The mean scores were: knowledge 50.4 +/- 4, attitude 18.4 +/- 2.26 and behavior 24.3 +/- 2.2. 89.6% of them had good knowledge, 80.2% had relatively positive attitude and 52.6% of them had safe behavior against HIV disease. Between the knowledge with attitude scores, as well as attitude and behavior significant relationship was observed [P<0.0001]. The results showed that improving knowledge and attitudes, the performance will also improve. Also, people who had a more positive attitude towards the disease had a more secure behavior. Thus, with promoting awareness and understanding of people can be much reduced high-risk behaviors and controlled this fatal disease

[Occult HBV infection in HBsAG negative and anti HBC positive blood donors]

In recent years with introduction of better screening tests, the risk of infection with transfusion- transmitted viruses has been reduced remarkably, although obtaining a zero-risk blood supply still remains international blood transfusion services goal. The routine test for detection of HBV infected blood samples is examination of HBsAg with ELISA method but in occult I-mV infection, HBsAg is not detectable by ELISA. Therefore, a more sensitive or complementary test is needed. Some international blood transfusion services have introduced anti-HBc screening as a surrogate test for the presence of HBV infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of occult I-IBV infection in Isfahanian blood donors and the potential value of anti- HBc testing of donors as a screening test to detect occult HBV infection. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 545 blood units were collected [from Isfahan blood center] and tested by HBsAg ELISA kit from April to June 2004 and then all HBsAg negative samples were tested by anti-HBc ELISA kit. To detect occult HBV infection, all HBsAg negative and anti-Mile positive samples were tested by PCR method. All samples were negative for HBsAg while 43 blood units were anti-HBc positive [8%]. These HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive blood units were tested for HBV DNA of which five units [% 11.6] were HBV DNA positive. Occult I-IBV infection is a clinical form of HBV infection that cannot be detected by usual method [ELISA] for HBsAg and therefore more sensitive techniques are needed for detection of FIBV infection. PCR is a sensitive technique that detects IIBV DNA even in a trace mounts. Our results identified that more sensitive and complementary tests such as, PC.R and anti-HBc, are essential and helpful to ensure safety of blood units

[Frequency of the accidents in children under 15 years old referring to the emergency center of Ali Ebn Abitaleb Hospital in Rafsanjan 2000-2001]

Nowadays, accidents and injuries are the main community health problems and are also the most important cause of children death worldwide including in our country [Iran]. To prevent these accidents from occuring an epidemiological investigation concerning the type of accident and its relevant risk factors including personal characters, time and place condiotions are warranted which were the goal of this study. This research was a cross-sectional study that performed on all children under 15 years old during a period of one year referring to the emergency ward of Ali Ebn Abitaleb Hospital in Rafsanjan from January 13th of 2000 to January 13th 2001. The patients accompaniers were interviewed using a questionnaire and the data were then analyzed by SPSS software and descriptive statistical method. The results showed that, 69.6% of injured children were male and most of them [71.6%] were living in the urban areas of Rafsanjan. More than half of the accidents [58.8%] occurred outdoor and most of the victims 45.5% were more than 7 years old. The higher frequencies caused by fall [34.1%], and collision [26.7%] and the smallest ones by animals [0.7%]. Since in cases of accidents children are especially vulnerable any prevention programs should be based on teachers training and also on childhood education programs with strong parent involvement