Self-care behaviors and related factors in women with type 2 diabetes

To prevent diabetes complications and improve the quality of life of these patients, adherence to self-care is essential. The purpose of present study was to examine self-care behaviors and related factors in women with type 2 diabetes. This descriptive analytic cross sectional study was performed on 140 female patients with type 2 diabetes who referred to the diabetes clinic in Ahvaz between December-March 2014. Research data were collected through interviews using demographic and disease characteristics questionnaires and the summary of diabetes self-care activities measure. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire was assessed and approved. The range of self-care scale was 0-77. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients tests, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and multiple linear regression models. The mean score of self-care behaviors in patients was 11.55 +/- 30.93, indicating moderate self-care. The highest mean scores were those of diet, 16.28 +/- 5.38 and proper medication compliance 5.74 +/- 2.57, while blood sugar monitoring 1.89 +/- 3.38 and physical activity 2.24 +/- 3.09 showed the lowest scores. The score of self-care behaviors showed a statistically significant difference among levels of education, duration of disease, life network, level of fasting blood glucose and mode of physician referral [P<0.05]. These significant variables, except fasting blood glucose explained 23% of self-care variance. The findings of this study could be useful for designing and implementation of educational programs to promote self-care behaviors and more effective control of type 2 diabetes in women

[Risk factors of growth faltering among 3-36 months old children in Ahwaz, Iran]

Malnutrition is defined as nutritional disorders or unfavourable health status that can be the result of overconsumption or underconsumption of one or more nutrients. The causes of malnutrition are complex, multidimensional, and population specific. United Nations Children's Fund [UNICEF] has adapted a conceptual framework for facilitating researchers in determining the causes of malnutrition in each area. The aim of this study was to determine some risk factors of growth faltering among 3-36 month old children in Ahwaz, Iran. This case-control study was conducted on 180 children 3-36 months old in Ahwaz. The subjects were children whose growth curves were horizontal or downward for at least two recent consecutive months. The controls were children with upward growth curves. Data collection was done by face to face interview, family file at the health centers, and direct measurements [mainly for anthropometric measurements]. Data analyses were performed by SPSS software. Moreover, chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Student's t-test, and logistic regression were statistical tests which were used according to the type and distribution of the variables. From household variables, the number of family members [P=0.013], number of siblings [P=0.012], and mother's educational level [P=0.019] showed significant association with growth faltering. Among child variables, the child's age [P<0.001], child's birth order [P=0.031], and birth interval with the next child [P=0.004] had significant relationships with growth faltering. Of the child health care variables, the mother's child care status [P=0.017], and the mother's nutritional knowledge [P=0.006] had significant relationships with growth faltering. Finally, the pattern of child nutrition [P<0.001], and the age of starting weaning [P < 0.001] showed significant differences between the two groups. This study revealed that the child nutritional pattern, number of family members, number of siblings, child's age, child's birth order, birth interval with the next child, mother's educational level, mother's child care status, mother's nutritional knowledge, and the age of starting weaning were related to child malnutrition in Ahwaz. Therefore, appropriate intervention strategies, according to these findings, should be considered by health and other relevant sectors in order to control the problem of childhood malnutrition

[KAP study of mothers referred to health centers of ahwaz, toward ascariasis of children, Southwestern Iran]

Intestinal parasitic infections are one of the health problems in developing countries. Now one to two milliard people in the world are affected by ascariasis annually, and every year people are spending heavily to treat. All the problems of the ascariasis emission can be controlled by health education programs, which cost less than treatment of the disease. This study was performed to assess health knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers referred to health centers of Ahvaz about ascariasis of children in 2006.In This descriptive analytical research 214 mothers were selected randomly from ten health centers. Using questionnaires the data were collected. Gathered data were analyzed by SPSS-13 software. The results implied that 77. 6% of the mothers were housewives. 9.8% were illiterate. The findings indicated that the knowledge of the mothers was [77. 6%] at a weak level, their attitude was [68.2%] at the middle level, and their practice was [84.1%] at the weak level about ascariasis control and prevention. In this study there were a significant correlation between health knowledge, attitude and practice at confidence interval of 95%. A significant relation was also seen between health knowledge, attitude, practice and mothers occupation and literacy at confidence interval of 95%. With regard to the results of this study the government should pay more attention to improve efficient and effective health education programs to increase the knowledge, attitude and practice about prevention of the ascariasis disease

[Prevalence of obesity and its association with demographic indices in referents to University Jahad Khozestan Clinic]

The studies represent the alarming global epidemic of obesity. The aim of this study was to determine association between obesity and demographic indices in over 18-years old referents to University Jahad Clinic. Subjects were 252 adult referents to clinic from Mar. 2009 to Sep. 2009. Participants including 68 males [26.9%] and 184 females [73.1%] had an average age 33.43 +/- 13.56 years. Anthropometric measurements [height and weight] were obtained according to standard protocol. The body mass index [BMI] was also measured. Overweight and obesity were defined according to BMI =25 - 29.9 and BMI > 30, respectively. The ages of participant categorized to 3 groups: 18-30, 31-50, 51-80 years old. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS 17 using descriptive statistics, T-test and chi square. A prevalence of overweight and obesity were 30.7% and 33.6% respectively [32.6% and 34.9% female, 16.7% and 17.9% males]. The average BMI in females was significantly more than males [P= 0.0001]. The most prevalence of overweight and obesity were observed in 31-50 age group males and females with more than 51 years old [30.7%, 49.3%, respectively]. Twenty five percent of more than 51 years old males group and 57.9% of women in these age group were obese. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in single participants were 22.6% and 14.2%, respectively and married were 32.4% and 39.5%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in more than 50 years old females group referring to clinic are high and the high risk age of obesity prevalence is 31-50 years old in adult males and females

[Effect of aromatherapy on anxiety level among preoperative patients]

Surgery can cause high levels of anxiety in patients. Preoperative anxiety can increase postoperative pain and need for postoperative analgesia, delay wound healing and increase stay in hospital. Nurses often look for ways to help control anxiety following surgery and disease. Aromatherapy is currently recognized as a complementary therapy and tool holistic nursing care in many countries that may help patients and lower their anxiety. The aim of this study was evaluation the effect of inhalation aromatherapy on level of anxiety in patient before abdominal and heart surgery. This research is a randomized clinical trial on 72 preoperative patients who admitted to Golestan and Emam Khomeini hospitals in Ahvaz city in 2008. Patients divided in two groups; first group took inhalation aromatherapy with lavender oil and second group took water vapor as inhalation placebo. The level of anxiety evaluated by Spielberger's State Anxiety questionnaire before and after intervention and vital sign documented. The data were analyzed by t and chi square tests. The results of study showed that mean of anxiety rate before intervention in inhalation aromatherapy group was 51.00 +/- 8.94 and after intervention decreased to 38.61 +/- 9.79, whiles this mean before placebo group was 50.67 +/- 9.69 and after, received to 49.53 +/- 9.37. Statical paires t-test reveals no significant difference between mean before intervention in two groups [P=0.88], but after intervention the result showed significant statistic difference between them [p=0.001]. The findings imply that inhalation aromatherapy decreased anxiety in preoperative patients and can use as a complementary therapy

[Effect of subcutaneous injection of sterile water on labor pain, type of labor, and satisfaction with pain management in nulliparous women]

Labor pain is usually the most severe pain women experience in their lives. Most women suffer from low back pain during first stage of labor. The pain can produce adverse effects on delivery procedure. Because of potential side effects of medications used in labor, alternative methods for pain relief have received more attention nowadays. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of subcutaneous injection of sterile water on labor pain, type of labor, and satisfaction with pain management in nulliparous women. This was a randomized single-blind study. Samples were consisted of 80 women who were randomly allocated to two intervention and control groups. In the intervention group [40 women] sterile water was injected subcutaneously in four sacral regions during first stage of labor. In the control group, we just inserted a needle in the same area. Low back pain intensity was assessed before and 10, 45, and 90 minutes after the injections using visual scales in both groups. Data were analyzed using descriptive [relative and absolute frequencies, mean and standard deviation] and inferential statistics [t-test, paired t-test and c[2]] in the SPSS. There was no significant difference between two groups at baseline. The mean of pain intensity in 10 and 45 minutes after the injection was decreased significantly in the intervention group [P=0.00]. There was no significant difference between two groups in the 90[th] minute. There was no difference in the type of labor between two groups. The mean of the satisfaction score was higher in the intervention group than in the control one. It seems that subcutaneous sacral injection of sterile water might be an effective and safe method to alleviate labor pain in women

Emergency contraception knowledge of women aged 15-49 to andimeshk health centers-2006

Emergency contraception [EC] has great potential for reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and abortion. One of the most important barriers that has been associated with lack of using EC is limited knowledge. This study assesses the baseline knowledge of emergency contraception in Andimeshk [a city in north of Khuzestan a, Province in Iran]. We focused mainly on emergency contraceptive pill because they are over the counter and the most common emergency contraceptive method in Iran. In a cross - sectional study, 630 women aged 15-49 refering to family planning Clinic of health centers participated in this study.The questionnaire was completed by trained research assistants. Of the 630 respondents,55.6% of them had heard about EC. 31.7% knew the proper time limit in which emergency contraceptives must be used to be effective. 26.7% of women had enough knowledge about EC. There was a significant relationship between occupation [p< 0.001], education of women wed [p<0.001], number of children [p=0.02], kind of contraceptive methods [p< 0.001] history of EC used [p<0.001] unwanted pregnancy in their last pregnancy [p =0.001] and knowledge about emergency contraceptive pills. Findings showed that there was a limited knowledge about EC. There is an urgent need to educate Andimeshk women about emergency contraception, emphasizing available methods and correct timing of use. Education on EC is a vital component of reproductive health program

[Effect of calcium supplementation on the lipid profiles of overweight or obese women: a double blind randomized clinical trial]

There is some evidence suggesting a probable beneficial effect of calcium intake on serum lipid profile. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of 1000 mg calcium supplementation for 30 days on serum lipid profiles in overweight or obese women. A double blind randomized clinical trial was conducted in 44 overweight or obese adult women [Body mass index >/= 25 kg/m2, age: 25 +/- 6 years] randomly assigned to the calcium [receiving 1000 mg elemental calcium per day] or the placebo group. Serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins including triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, ApoA-I and Apo B were obtained at baseline and after the intervention period. Freidwald equation was used to calculate LDL cholesterol and VLDL cholesterol was calculated from TG divided by 5. Dietary calcium and energy intake were estimated using 24 hour recall for 3 days. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software [version 9]. P values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. No significant differences were observed in dietary, anthropometric and serum variables between the two groups at the baseline. Although all serum total-, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides tended to increase in both study groups, total cholesterol elevation was only significant in the placebo group [p=0.01], and triglyceride and VLDL cholesterol only showed significant increase in the calcium group [p=0.03]. LDL cholesterol elevation was significant in both groups [p<0.05] HDL cholesterol decreased significantly in both groups [p<0.01]. Apolipoproteins did not change significantly in the study groups. No significant differences were observed in serum variables between groups after intervention. In the present study short term calcium supplementation in overweight or obese women's showed no beneficial effect on lipid profiles. Because of the limited studies available, further studies are recommended