ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES@#This study investigated the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and its risk factors among elementary-school students. @*METHODS@#In this cross-sectional study, 693 elementary students from Hamadan city, western Iran, were selected by multistage stratified cluster sampling. Data were collected through interviews using questionnaires. Posture and psychosocial elements were assessed using the observational Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) checklist and the standard Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, respectively. Penalized logistic regression with the group smoothly-clipped absolute deviation regularization method was used for variable selection and data analysis (α=0.05). The chi-square test was also used. @*RESULTS@#In total, 26.6% of the students (7-12 years old) reported LBP in the last month. Older age (odds ratio [OR], 3.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.80 to 5.26), watching TV for more than 3 hours a day (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.46 to 4.68), very short seat backrests (OR, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.61 to 5.90), excessively curved seat backrests (OR, 4.36; 95% CI, 2.08 to 9.13), very short desks (OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.61 to 7.35), a family history of LBP (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.58 to 3.91), carrying a school bag on one shoulder (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.03 to 3.54), and RULA scores of 3 (OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.13 to 4.50) or 4 (OR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.37 to 5.91) were associated with LBP. @*CONCLUSIONS@#A high prevalence of LBP was found among elementary-school students. This study underscores the importance of recognizing vulnerable children and teenagers and developing interventional health promotion programs to prevent LBP based on an appropriate consideration of its contributory factors.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES@#This study investigated the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and its risk factors among elementary-school students. @*METHODS@#In this cross-sectional study, 693 elementary students from Hamadan city, western Iran, were selected by multistage stratified cluster sampling. Data were collected through interviews using questionnaires. Posture and psychosocial elements were assessed using the observational Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) checklist and the standard Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, respectively. Penalized logistic regression with the group smoothly-clipped absolute deviation regularization method was used for variable selection and data analysis (α=0.05). The chi-square test was also used. @*RESULTS@#In total, 26.6% of the students (7-12 years old) reported LBP in the last month. Older age (odds ratio [OR], 3.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.80 to 5.26), watching TV for more than 3 hours a day (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.46 to 4.68), very short seat backrests (OR, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.61 to 5.90), excessively curved seat backrests (OR, 4.36; 95% CI, 2.08 to 9.13), very short desks (OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.61 to 7.35), a family history of LBP (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.58 to 3.91), carrying a school bag on one shoulder (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.03 to 3.54), and RULA scores of 3 (OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.13 to 4.50) or 4 (OR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.37 to 5.91) were associated with LBP. @*CONCLUSIONS@#A high prevalence of LBP was found among elementary-school students. This study underscores the importance of recognizing vulnerable children and teenagers and developing interventional health promotion programs to prevent LBP based on an appropriate consideration of its contributory factors.
ABSTRACT
There is an international emphasis on providing timely and high quality data to monitor progress of countries toward Millennium Development Goals. Iran's Multiple Indicator Demographic and Health Survey [IrMIDHS] aimed to provide valid information on population and health outcomes to monitor progress in achieving national priorities and health programs and to assist policy makers to design effective strategies for improving health outcomes and equity in access to care. A cross-sectional multi-stage stratified cluster-random survey is conducted through face-to-face household interviews. The sampling frame is developed using Iran's 2006 population and housing census. Provincial samples ranging are from a minimum of 400 households per province to 6400 households in Tehran province. Cluster size is 10 households. The target sample includes 3096 clusters: 2187 clusters in urban and 909 clusters in rural areas. IrMIDHS instruments include three questionnaires: Household questionnaire, women aged 15-54 questionnaire, children under five questionnaire, supervision and quality assessment checklists and data collection sheets and standard weight and height measurement tools for under-five children. A cascading decentralized training method is used for training data collection and supervision teams. Quality assurance procedures are defined for the five steps of conducting the survey including: Sampling, training data collection and training teams, survey implementation, data entry and analysis. A multi-layer supervision and monitoring procedure is established. All the questionnaires are double entered. IrMIDHS will provide valuable data for policymakers in Iran. Designing and implementation of the study involve contributions from academics as well as program managers and policy makers. The collaborative nature of the study may facilitate better usage of its results
ABSTRACT
Introduction and Aims: the workers of mosaic art are susceptible to musculoskelet al disorders due to various risk factors including body posture during work, repetition of movement, old and sometimes non-ergonomic tools. The aims of this study were estimating the prevalence of musculoskelet al disorder and assessment of body posture of workers in the mosaic workers in Kerman
Methods: in this study, calling out Kerman Office of Cultural Heritage, 16 mosaic workshops and 32 mosaic workers were selected. Standardized Nordic questionnaire were completed for 26 mosaic worker. Using hierarchical task analysis, task of the mosaic profession were analyzed. After using ART posture analysis method for assessment of repetitive task, body posture of worker were used. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 18
Results: in this study, 18 [69.2%] males and 8 [30.8%] female were selected The mean of age [year], work experience [year] and working hours per day [hours] were subsequently 6.6, 32.9 and 11.9, respectively The highest prevalence of musculoskelet al disorders during the past 12 months was in neck with a prevalence of [66.7%], upper back with prevalence of [63.2%]. The results of the ART assessment method showed that, calculated risk scores for right and left hands in the mosaic career were not equal. And risk scores in all right hand's functions was higher than left hand's ones, that these results are consistent with the results of the Nordic questionnaire
Conclusion: the results of posture assessment indicated that body condition of right hand were more critical than left ones, and results of ART method confirm the Nordic questionnaire results
ABSTRACT
Toluene diisocyanate [TDI] is an imperative chemical substance used in the production of polyurethane foams, elastomers, paints and coatings that cause a variety of health problems in workers who are exposed in work places. This study aimed to determine the asthma symptoms and serum specific IgE levels in TDI exposed workers and comparing the results with healthy control group. All the plants that use TDI in the manufacturing of paint and glue in the west of Tehran Province entered to the study and all the workers [550] completed modified initial questionnaire of the NIOSH, the questions were consisted of asthma symptoms. For each symptomatic exposed worker one healthy, sex and age matched control selected. Total IgE and Specific TDI IgE tests were done for each case and control groups. Among 550 TDI exposed workers, 26[4.7%] had asthma symptoms. Nine [34.6%] of symptomatic workers who were exposed to TDI were active cigarette consumer versus 3[11.5%] unexposed workers, P=0.049[CI= 0.953-17.29] OR=4.059. Nine [34.6%] workers had positive family history of atopy versus 1[3.8%] unexposed workers, P=0.0138 [CI= 1.45-305.41] OR=13.24. TDI specific IgE was found in 2 TDI exposed workers and 1 unexposed worker [P=0.5]. Mean of total IgE was 339.05 in exposed workers [P=0.201]. This study provides clinical and paraclinical data of workers exposed to TDI and points to a relation between atopy and smoking habit with asthma symptoms that offer preventing recommendations for TDI exposed workers and their heath administrators
ABSTRACT
Iron deficiency anemia[IDA] is the most common type of malnutrition in the world and more than 30 percent of Iranian women suffering from that. Increasing of knowledge with education of population can be an effective program to preventing this problem. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of education on mother's knowledge about preventive methods of iron deficiency anemia. In this quasi-experimental study as before and after study, 336 students' mothers from 8 schools of Tehran participated in 2011 year. The knowledge about IDA before and after education was gathered by a researcher made questionnaire. The educational contents were presented as a lecture in 45 minutes. The knowledge score of participants increased after education in all of understudy subjects and the significant difference was seen between the mean knowledge score before and after study [p<0.0001]. There was significant and positive correlation between mothers' educational level and the program effect [r=0.169, P<0.002] and negative correlation between number of children with program effect [r= -0.140, P<0.007]. There weren't any significant association between educational program effectiveness with mother's age and her occupation, father's age and his occupation and children educational level. This study indicated that educational program even a short-term training is an effective knowledge strategy to promoting mothers' knowledge about IDA.
ABSTRACT
Objective[s]: To evaluate the sleep quality of bus drivers and its relationship with several factors
Methods: Participants included 238 bus drivers were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling. We measured the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI], a self-report measure of sleep quality, and age, duration of deriving and consumption of tea and smoking
Results: The results showed that 85% of bus drivers have unfavorable sleep quality. Multiple regression analyses have shown that duration of deriving seemed to influence patients' sleep quality
Conclusion: Health education regard the quality of sleep and legal supervision to prevent the overloading of shift work of bud drivers may be helpful in decrees the road crashes incidence