[ effect of group discussion method on the self-image of teenaged thalassaemic patients]

Major thalassaemia, which is a chronic, and everlasting illness may has permanent effect on self-image of these patients, which most of them in our country are under 18 years old. These effect in self-image of may cause psychosocial problems such as unpleasant image for threat, isolation, etc. Therefore this study was carried out to investigate the effect of group discussion on intellectual image of 11-18 year old patient with major thalassemia in the city of Shahrekord. In a quasi experiment, 35 teenagers [13-19 years old] with major thalassaemia referred to thalassaemia ward of Hajar Shahrekord hospital were selected none-randomly. Their intellectual images of selected patients were collected with questionairs. The patients were first divided into groups of 8-12 individuals, and participated in-group discussion sessions twice a week, for 8 weeks. The collected questionairs were analyzed using x[2] and ANOVA tests just and one month after intervention. Our results showed that self-image marks were 180.1 +/- 7.66 and 187.9 +/- 5.9 before and after intervention, respectively. This was equal to 187.83 +/- 5.6 [p<0.001], after one month of intervention. There were significant relationship before and after intervention in psychological self and adaptation self of both male and female groups, but there were no significant relationship in scope of social self, sexual self as well as familial self [p<0.001]. Using of group discussion method causes intellectual image improvement in thalassaemic teenagers, and is suggested as a health measures for chronic mentally ill patients such as people with thalassaemia

[Body image dissatisfaction and body mass index in adolescent girls]

Background and Aim: Adolescence is an important stage of life accompanied by deep physical and psychological changes frequently leading to body image dissatisfaction. Body image dissatisfaction, found to predict the formation of eating disturbances, psychiatric disturbances and low self- esteem. The present study examined the body image dissatisfaction and body mass index in adolescent girls

Method and Materials: This cross- sectional study was conducted in Isfahan city in 2006. Three hundred and eighty four[384] high school girls were selected through cluster- randomized sampling. Data were collected using demograghic and body image satisfaction questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements including weight and height were taken by one person and were analysed by SPSS soft ware using descriptive tests, one- way ANOVA and independent t- tests

Findings: By using the reference data of BMI for age, the overall prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity among Isfahan high school girls were 7.03%, 9.1% and 1.03% respectively. There was a significant association between body image dissatisfaction and body mass index among the high school girls[P = 0.012]

Conclusion: Compared to most other cities in our country, the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity are lower in Isfahan girls aged 14-18 years but many girls exhibit dissatisfaction with their body image. There was a significant correlation between lower satisfaction with body image and higher body mass index. These findings indicate the importance of Planning for prevention and treatment of body image dissatisfaction