ABSTRACT
Growth retardation in children is a result of nutritional ignorance, inappropriate care, and lack of growth monitoring. This study was performed to assess the effect of mothers training program, based on the PRECEDE model, on the prevention of growth retardation in 6-12 months old children. This quasi experimental study was conducted on 120 mothers [60 in the experimental and 60 in the control group] with single child and exclusively on breast feeding who were cared by health centers in Shiraz, Fars province. The data were gathered through a questionnaire which included demographic characteristics, the components of the PRECEDE model [knowledge, attitude, enabling as well as reinforcing factors, and maternal function] and child weight. Educational intervention was performed during 6 sessions each of which lasted for 55 to 60 minutes. The questionnaire was completed by the experimental group before and 4 months after the training program. The results showed that the educational intervention program in the experimental group caused significant increase in the means of knowledge score [P<0.001] and attitude score [P<0.001]. This study showed that enabling and reinforcing factors [and training sessions], performance score of mothers as well as weight of children among experimental group were significantly higher than control group [p=0.01]. The results of this study indicated that mothers training program based on the PRECEDE model was highly effective on the prevention of growth retardation in the study population
ABSTRACT
Heat stress is a significant occupational health and safety for workers in petrochemical industries. Heat stress is a combination of heat load individual and environmental factors impose on workers' bodies, which in turn, have impacts on workers' performance, safety, and health. The present paper is carried out to determine the heat stress levels in workplace and to compare it with allowed Wet Bulb Globe Temperature [WBGT] according to ISO 7243 standard. the present study was carried out in three consecutive weeks in Mehr Petrochemical Complex in South Pars Special Economic Zone in Assaluyeh, 270Km southeast of Bushehr in spring of 2011. The study was carried out on workers in different parts including workers in packaging, mechanics, welding, and store keeping sections. Environmental parameters of dry temperature, natural wet temperature, glowing temperature, and relative humidity were measured to calculate an index for Wet Bulb Globe Temperature according to ISO7243 standard, and metabolism rate was estimated according to ISO 8996 standard. Metabolism level for workers in two groups of mechanics and welding sections according to ISO 8996 standard was 95W/m2, and for workers of packaging and store keeping sections calculated as 75W/m2. Based on ISO 8996, work load for all four sections was light. The means of weather parameters such as dry temperature, natural wet temperature, glowing temperature, and relative humidity were statistically significant for all four sections. It was also indicated that the highest level of WBGT were obtained for workers in mechanics [33.26+/-0.21], packaging [32.02+/-0.2], welding [31.37+/-0.2], and the lowest level was estimated for store keeping workers [27.4+/-0.22], with changes being statistically significant. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: findings of the present study indicated significant changes between different groups in measured parameters and calculated indices, which confirm results of previous body of research. Workers in three groups of mechanics, packaging, and welding are exposed to heat stress, and among these three, mechanics workers' exposure to heat stress is higher, but WBGT index in store keeping work place is lower than allowed level. Thus, they have been experiencing favourable work atmosphere
ABSTRACT
Psychological disorders are universally common problems. Social support contributes much to the health of individuals. Focusing upon social support and upon vicissitudes of life can help prevent the depression-induced disorders. The present paper investigated the relationship between perceived social support, depression and perceived stress in university students.The descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 390 students living in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sceince campus, whom were selected based on a simple random selection method. The related questionnaires of multidimensional scales of perceived social support, Beck's depression, and perceived stress then were distributed during midterm among students to collect the necessary data. Data was fed into SPSS 16 and analysed using ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t-test, Chi-square, and Fisher exact test.Our results indicated that 49.7 per cent of students suffered from specific degrees of depression. 30.5 per cent of students had given educational progress and employment as sources of stress in living in the campus. The perceived social support scores were 28.32+/-9.56, depression, 12.10+/-9.02, and for perceived stress was 26.84+/-8.27. A significant relationship was shown to be between perceived social support, depression, and perceived stress [p<0.001] The conclusion made in the paper is that considering depression and stress is crucial to the health of the students. Also, forming workgroups to increase social support for students can help alleviates depression and stress in university students