ABSTRACT
Pregnancy is the most sensitive period in women's life which makes many mental changes. Unfortunately, physiological rather than mental aspects of these periods are considered more. This study aims to investigate mental health and related factors in pregnant women. This descriptive-analytic study has been done on 182 pregnant women referred to health centers of Estahban, Iran in 2015 by Convenience sampling method. Research tools used in this study were General Health Questionnaire 28 (GHQ-28). Data were analyzed using Regression testing and the P<0.05 was considered significance. Research findings showed that 53.8% of women were psychologically healthy and About 46.2% of them suspected of mental disorders. Also, factors such as “Economic situation”, “Smoking”, “The age of first pregnancy”, “Unwanted pregnancy”, “Physical illness” and “Others satisfaction with pregnancy”, a significant relationship was observed with the mental health of pregnant women(p<0.05). Considering the present findings, informing the women and their family about prevalence of mental illness, the effect of underlying factors and confronting ways with these problems are essential; Also, it is important for therapists to know about these issues in order to help pregnant women.
ABSTRACT
In recent years, the widespread use of mobile phones has lead to a public debate about possible detrimental effects on human health. In spite of years of research, there is still a great controversy regarding the possibility of induction of any significant physiological effects in humans by microwave radiations emitted by mobile phones. This study aims to investigate the effects of electromagnetic fields induced by the Global System for Mobile communications [GSM] mobile phones on the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone [TSH] and thyroid hormones in humans. 77 healthy university students participated in this study. The levels of T3, T4 and TSH were measured by using appropriate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] kits [Human, Germany]. The average levels of T3,T4 and TSH in students who moderately used mobile phones were 1.25 +/- 0.27 ng/ ml, 7.76 +/- 1.73 micro g/dl and 4.25 +/- 2.12 micro u/l respectively. The levels in the students who severely used mobile phones were 1.18 +/- 0.30, 7.75 +/- 1.14 and 3.75 +/- 2.05 respectively. In non-users, the levels were 1.15 +/- 0.27, 8.42 +/- 2.72 and 2.70 +/- 1.75, respectively. The difference among the levels of TSH in these 3 groups was statistically significant [P<0.05]. As far as the study is concerned, this is the first human study to assess the association between mobile phone use and alterations in the levels of TSH and thyroid hormones. Based on the findings, a higher than normal TSH level, low mean T4 and normal T3 concentrations in mobile users were observed. It seems that minor degrees of thyroid dysfunction with a compensatory rise in TSH may occur following excessive use of mobile phones. It may be concluded that possible deleterious effects of mobile microwaves on hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis affects the levels of these hormones