[Study of contraceptives used in unwanted pregnancies]

Unintended pregnancy is a worldwide problem that affects women, their families, and society. Unintended pregnancy can result from contraceptive failure, non-use or use mistake of contraceptive. This study examined the Frequency and pattern of contraceptive method use in unintended pregnancy women reffering to health and medical center of Hamadan medical science university in Iran. A descriptive study was conducted at health and medical center of Hamadan medical science in Iran. Data were collected using a questionnaire in 2006 from a convenience sample of 900 unintended pregnancy women. The survey included measures of demographic variables, type and pattern of contraceptive method use. Data were analyzed by Chi square and t-test using SPSS. Of the 900 participants, 93.9% had used contraceptive methods. The most common contraceptive method use in unintended pregnancy women were oral contraceptive pills 38.1%, natural method 31.9%, condom 19.8%, breastfeeding 4.4%, IUD 3.6%, emergency 1.9% and rhythm 0.4%. The most common problem in contraceptive use were irregular and incorrectly use in hormonal methods and condom users, no control in IUD users and mistake in date calculation in rhythmic users. The majority of participants had used contraceptive methods but have unintended pregnancy. More education is needed in this subject

[Assessment of iodine intake in Yazd province; 17 years after universal salt iodization [the fourth national survey: 2007]]

Tremendous efforts towards the elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders [IDD] during the last two decades have controlled these disorders in most of the provinces in Iran. This study was performed to evaluate the adequacy of iodine supplementation after 17 years of universal salt iodization in Yazd province. In a cross-sectional study, 1200 schoolchildren [600 girls and 600 boys] aged 8 to10 year-olds, randomly selected from Yazd province were evaluated in 2007. Goiter prevalence, urinary iodine excretion and iodine content of household salts were measured and the obtained data were compared to those obtained in 1996 and 2001. Total prevalence of goiter was 6.3% and no grade II goiter was seen. The median urinary iodine in 120 schoolchildren was 248 microg/L, with 5.8% [95% CI= 1.6-10] having urinary iodine excretion less than 50 microg/L. Eighty six percent of households were using purified iodized salt, 48% of households had appropriate salt storage, and 5% of the household salts contained less than 15 microg iodide. Goiter prevalence has significantly decreased in the Yazd province, 17 years after universal salt iodization. The median urinary iodine of schoolchildren was adequate as that reported in 1996 and 2001, indicating a well established sustainable IDD program in Iran