Study of the relationship of socioeconomic and demographic factors with fertility

Background and Purpose: Epidemiologists have always been sought to discover factors influencing populations so that they can control population growth. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of socioeconomic and demographic factors with fertility

Methods and Materials: This descriptive analytical study was conducted in two stages in 2003 on 1300 families in the Northwester province of Azarbaijan-Gharbi in Iran. The study data were collected through questionnaires and interview. The relationship between woman's age, marital age, marital duration, sexual preference, number of wanted children, stillbirth, child death, education and employment, couples age difference and fertility was determined using Pearson's correlation coefficient, stepwise multiple linear regression and ANCOVA in SPSS

Results: Mean age of the participants was 32.61 +/- 7.97, and mean live birth was 2.39 +/- 1.82. In the regression model, child death, number of wanted children, sexual preference marital duration with positive coefficients, and couples education with negative coefficients emerged. Fertility in marriages under 15 years [4.20 +/- 2.43] was significantly higher than other marital age groups. Fertility was higher in illiterate or low-education women. Mean wanted child in women of younger than 20 years old and women of 40-49 years of age were 2.9 +/- 0.56 and 3.37 +/- 0.84 respectively

Conclusion: As the results suggest, child death, sexual preference, desire to bear more infants and marriage before the age of 15 are associated with higher fertility rates . Illiterate or Low-education women are more fertile than other educational groups. Mean wanted children in women of under 20 years of age is higher than the current fertility rate

[Risk of preeclampsia in planned and unplanned pregnancies: a comparative study]

To determine and compare the risk of preeclampsia in planned versus unplanned pregnancies in Tehran, Iran. We studied 1800 pregnant women attending the urban and rural health centers of Shahr-e-Rey in Tehran for their routine prenatal care. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: Group a consisted of women with planned pregnancy and group B included women with unplanned pregnancy. Inclusion criteria were: gestational age less than 28 weeks at the time of entering the study and consent to take part in the research. Both groups were followed through their prenatal care and up to their delivery. The occurrence of preeclampsia was ascertained by the presence symptoms [hypertension and edema] in the prenatal visits. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg measured on 2 separate occasions, at least 6 hours apart. There were 23 cases of preeclampsia in Group A [2.5%] and 37 cases in Group B [4%]. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant [P=0.066, Odds ratio=1.635, 95% CI=0.96-2.77]. In multiple logistic regression analysis, there was no significant relationship between unplanned pregnancy and preeclampsia [P-value=0.081, Odds ratio=1.603, 95% CI=0.943-2.724]. There was no significant relationship between unplanned pregnancy and preeclampsia. As there is not enough evidence in the literature to support this finding, larger studies are recommended to evaluate the relationship between unplanned and preeclampsia

[Educational needs about acute rheumatic fever in mothers]

Introduction: Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs as a delayed, upper respiratory infection with group A streptococci. This disease with its effect on the heart has special importance on the person's individuality, family and sociality. It is a major cause of cardiovascular mortality in developing countries. Major determinants influencing this disease are socio- economic, cultural, and environmental and health services related factors including low level of health education

Objective: The goal of his study was to determine mothers' educational needs on Acute Rheumatic Fever in urban areas of Guilan

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study 500 mothers referring to Maternal and Child Health Centers for child monitoring and immunizing were selected by cluster sampling. Data were collected with questionnaire consisting of 41 closed ended questions

Results: Based on the findings of this study 66.3 % to 95.7 of mothers had weak to moderate knowledge on four aspects [epidemiology, symptoms, prevention and side effects] from the total of five aspects [epidemiology, symptoms, prevention, side effects and treatment] of this disease and needed education. There were significant relation between educational level and knowledge level in each aspects of the disease [P<0.001]

Conclusion: In attention to the low level of mothers? knowledge and its important role in prevention of rheumatic fever and its complications, this study emphasizes face to face training programs during pregnancy and after that in Health Centers and on the other side, since there was a significant difference between educational level and knowledge level, it is emphasized that all Iranian women to have at least guidance schooling