Evaluation of a health education program for head lice infestation in female primary school students in Chabahar city, Iran

An important health problem in students is pediculosis capitis [head lice infestation] which causes physical, mental, and social complications. Social stigma induces feeling of shame, anger, and embarrassment for families and may prevent people from coming forward. This study was a quasi-experimental [case - control] study which was done during periods of 2008 - 2009. Data collection tools were questionnaire, checklist, and head examination. Two schools were randomly selected among female primary schools in Chabahar, where 153 students were divided into case and control groups. After collecting the data, an educational program was designed and performed in the experimental group and was evaluated after two months. The results showed a significant difference in knowledge, attitude, and practice of the students in the case group, before and after the intervention [P < 0.0001], but in the control group it was not significant [P > 0.05] .The infestation rate was 69.3% in the case group before the intervention, and 82.1% in the control group, which decreased to 26.7% in the case group after the education [P < 0.0001], but there was no significant difference in the control group [P < 0.05]. The health education program had a positive effect on the reduction of pediculosis capitis among students; thus, it is suggested to perform and evaluate educational programs in students and their parents

[Pap smear test structures for measuring health belief model and factors affecting women in Urban centers covered Zarandieh]

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide and although pap smear is considered as an effective screening program, the level of using screening is low. The purpose of this study is pap smear test structures for measuring health belief model and factors affecting women in urban centers covered Zarandieh. This was a cross-sectional study [descriptive-analytical] which included 265 Urban Women's in Zarandieh. Data collection instrument was a questionnaire included demographic variables and knowledge and health belief model questions. Data was analyzed using chi-square tests, Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, at the significance level of p<0.05. Significant differences were detected between those tested and not tested in mean of score knowledge and all the variables HBM [sensitivity, benefits, barriers, threat and intensity perceived],]p<0.001]. The HBM constructs, age, level of study and knowledge accounted for 30.8% of the variance observed for Pap test. Perceived susceptibility and benefit were the most important predicting factors. These findings can be used to guide the development of more effective educational programs and increase the amount of women's participation in Pap smear

[Health beliefs and performance regarding pap smear test in Zarandieh city women's]

Cervical cancer is the commonest malignancy among women in developing countries. Pap smear is only one proven strategy for the prevention by diagnosis of cervical cancer. The assessment of Health Belief Model construct about the performance s of Pap smear Test and its effective factors among Women's urban centers in Zarandieh. This is a cross-sectional analytical study carried out with 265 Urban Women in Zarandieh. This survey was done by completing a questionnaire based on health belief model. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, independent samples t-test, logistic regression and descriptive statistics. The mean age of participants was 34.6 +/- 4.25 years, and the mean score of all the constructs in this group was higher than that in the group with no history of pap smear [P<0.001].The most common reasons for testing was recommendation by health workers [71%]. Among those who were never tested, low levels of perceived susceptibility [79%] were the most common barrier. Significant differences were detected between those tested and not tested in mean of score of all the variables HBM [sensitivity, benefits, barriers, threat and intensity perceived][p<0.001]. Based on the findings of this study, health care professionals must design educational program about cervical cancer in which both the benefits of Pap smear test and other HBM constructs including sensitivity are utilized

[Effect of designed health education program on knowledge, attitude, practice and the rate Pediculosis Capitis in female primary school students in Chabahar city]

Background and aim: Pediculosis Capitis is one of the important health problems in students which cause physical, mental and social complications. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of designed health education program on knowledge, attitude, practice and Pediculosis Capitis rate among female elementary students in Chabahar city during 2008 and 2009

Methods: This research was a quasi-experimental [case -control] study. Data gathering tools were questionnaire, check list and head examination. Two schools were randomly selected among female primary schools in Chabhar and 153 students were divided into case and control groups. After collecting the data, an educational program was designed and performed in case group and was evaluated after 2 months. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Wilcoxon-Mann Whitney, and McNemar tests

Results: Results showed a significant difference in knowledge, attitude and practice of the students in the case group before and after the educational program [P<0.001], however, it was not significant in the control group [P>0.05]. The infestation rate was 69.3% in the case group before education and 82.1% in the control group which decreased to 26.7% in the case group after the education [P<0.001]. However, it was not significant in the control group [P>0.05]. Significant relationship was observed between infection and the variables such as father's level of education, number of bedrooms, number of individuals per room, existence of continuous water at home, type of hair, history of infection in students and infected cases in the family [P<0.05]

Conclusion: The health education program had a positive effect on the reduction of Pediculosis Capitis among students. Therefore, performing and evaluating educational programs for students and their parents is suggested

Effective health education program on reduction of tinea capitis; a quasi-experimental study on primary school-aged children

This study intends to evaluate the effect of health education program on healthy behavior and tinea capitis in Chabahar primary school-aged boys. For this quasi-experimental [case-control] study, two primary schools were randomly selected in Chabahar, south-eastern of Iran. Initial data of 115 students were gathered using a well-prepared questionnaire, by means of a check list and a thorough clinical examination. Meanwhile, scalp and hair samples [direct slide exam and culture] were assessed. Subjects of the experimental [case] group had received necessary educations for one month after which both groups were evaluated 2 months later. Totally, 20% and 18.3% of cases and controls were infected before conducting the educational program, respectively, however, following the education only 5.5% of cases were remained infected [p=0.008]. pre- and post-education infection rate did not differ significantly. Our results showed that health education program had a positive effect on reduction of tinea capitis among prepubescent boys

[ effect of hydrogen peroxide and solvent on photolysis of PCBs to reduce occupational exposure]

Polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs] are toxic bio-accumulate components and may increase risk of adverse effects on human health and the environment. For different social, technical and economic reasons, significant quantities of PCBs contaminated transformer oil are still in use or storied. The study aimed to determine the effect of hydrogen peroxide and solvent on photolysis of PCBs to reduce occupational exposure. The photochemical annular geometry [500 ml volume] reactor was designed with a cylindrical low-pressure mercury lamp [UV-C Cathodeon TUV 6WE] with emission at 254 nm. The radiant power emitted by the lamp was 6w. The whole lamp was immersed in a reactor thermostat controlling of temperature at 32 +/- 2 oC. The PCBs was determined using GC/ECD and data was analyzed by SPSS. Degradation of total PCBs in terms of%10 and%20 of volume of H2O2 were 41%, 75% and 94%, respectively. The degradation of total PCBs in terms of ratio to solvent with oil transformer in 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 was 61%, 75% and 94%, respectively. Our study show that UV-C photolysis of H2O2 leads to a degradation efficiency of PCBs only in the presence of isooctane, therefore indicating that the intermediates formation after ethanol oxidation are able to initiate PCBs degradation

[ effect of health education program on knowledge, attitude and performance in male primary school students regarding Tinea capitis in Chabahar]

In many parts of the world Tinea Capitis is a public health problem, especially in primary school children. The control of the disease is dependent on patients' education for increasing their knowledge and health. The aim of this study was to evaluate on knowledge, attitude and performance in male primary school students regarding Tinea Capitis in Chabahar in 2007-2008. In this quasi-experimental [case - control] study, 115 primary school students were randomly selected from two primary school in the city of Chabahar. Students were assigned into two groups. Tools and data collection methods were included: questionnaire, check list and laboratory samples of scalp and hair. At the beginning of the research, a pre-test was performed on the students and according to the data obtained, an educational program were prepared and was performed for experimental group. Post-test was done after two months. Data was analyzed using chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon and McNemar tests. The findings showed a significant increase in the knowledge, attitude, performance in experimental group [P<0.001]. In addition, experimental group demonstrated a significant decrease in Tinea Capitis [P<0.01]. The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between Tinea Capitis and weight, type of skin and parents' education [P<0.05]. The results of this research show that the risk of Tinea Capitis transmission is a public health problem and health education is a suitable response to this problem

[Degradation of transformer oils by photolysis in order to reduce occupational and environmental hazards]

Polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs] are toxic, persistent, bio-accumulate and pose a risk of causing adverse effects on human health and to the environment. PCB compounds exert varios impacts on human depending upon age, route of entry, intensity and frequency of exposure. This study was conducted to determine the effect of UV-C, hydrogen peroxide and solvent on the photodegradation of PCBs. The photochemical reactor was of annular geometry [500 ml volume] with a cylindrical low-pressure mercury lamp emitting at 254 nm. The power emitted by the lamp was 6 W. The whole lamp was immersed into a reactor with temperature of 32 +/- 2 C. The PCBs were analyzed by GC/ECD equipment. The degradation of total PCBs in terms of one, two and three lamps was 77.5%, 82.9% and 85.2% respectively. The degradation of total PCBs in terms of not using of H[2]O[2] and using 10% and 20% of H[2]O[2] were 74.5%, 79% and 94.5% respectively. The results of this experiments showed that UVC-photolysis of H[2]O[2] leads to a degradation efficiency of PCBs only in the presence of ethanol