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
The aims of this study were to evaluate the employees' subjective assessments of different aspects of lighting condition as well as task area illuminance in manufacturing plants. This field study was conducted between March and May 2013, in three packing plants [Saveh, central Iran]. Data were collected by questionnaire and measurement of the task area illuminance levels. Data were analysed using contingency coefficient test, Spearman's correla-tion analysis and non-parametric Friedman tests. The recommended illuminance levels were not met in 46.9% of the work areas. This finding was in agreement with the employees' perception of light level, and with low satisfaction with lighting in the work environment. Adverse effects of lighting condition on job performance, changing posture for better viewing of the work area and eye tiredness were reported as 64%, 33% and 31% of the employees, respectively. Satisfaction with lighting was negatively correlated with the age of respondents [r=-0.229; P<0.010]. The employees' satisfaction with lighting was also highly correlated with the employees' subjective assessments of the light level [r=0.779; P<0.001], type of artificial light sources [r=0.591; P<0.001], light colour [r=0.50; P<0.001] and use of daylight [r=0.254; P<0.004]. The type of artificial light sources was correlated with job performance [r=0.311, P<0.001] and eye tiredness [r=0.273; P<0.002]. The findings highlight the potential usefulness of subjective assessments to sup-plement objective measures and provide a more holistic approach to lighting design and plan-ning.
ABSTRACT
Natural disasters are always one of the human health threatening factors in the worldwide which Iran provinces including East Azerbaijan are involved. This study aimed to assess awareness of environmental health experts in East Azerbaijan province about health problems during natural disasters. In this descriptive study, 144 environmental health experts were randomly selected and studied in East Azerbaijan province [including 52.1% from all Townships and 47.9% from Tabriz city]. Questionnaires distributed among experts after validation by specialists; then the collected data was analyzed using SPSS. According to the results, significant differences were found between the awareness of participants [45/5% experts and 53/5% technician of environmental health] in Tabriz and other Townships of province. Significant differences were also found between the level of education and workplace [P /= 0/05]. The results indicate that the effect of education on experts' awareness of environmental health in natural disasters. So, some measures should be taken such as: to promote employees scientific level by training courses or retraining programs; to provide facilities in order to continue their education and recruiting new experts. Thus, these measures can reduce injuries or mortality rate due to lack of awareness of the health issues in natural disasters