[Iranian women's understandings of menopause and cultural scenarios]

Women perceive menopause differently. Beside biological changes, women experience menopause based on the cultural scenarios. The qualitative research presented here is about how Iranian women perceive menopause within cultural scenarios. Data was collected during 4 focus group sessions and 6 individual in-depth interviews of women aged 40 years and older. Informants were selected from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The sessions were facilitated by using a semi-structured inventory focus group. Content analysis was adopted using combined free and analytical coding to reduce data, to extract meanings, to categorize domains and to obtain themes. We categorized our findings into four main domains: gender role, the changes in socialization, social interactions and supporting resources. Descriptions of the later domain are going to be reported in subsequent manuscript. The women's understandings of menopause are shaped based on the specific cultural scenarios. Menopause recognized as a factor which changes women's life line. Meanings as 'Loosing femininity' and 'changes in women's roles in the community' describe women's gender role, social interactions and changes in the socialization throughout the menopause years. The women's misconceptions, accumulated myths, and ignorance about femininity were evidenced based on narratives. The majority of women raised 'role change' as an important determinant in social interactions. Gender role changes as well as women's socialization patterns have forced women to accept loosing femininity as a reality. Developing comprehensive and culturally sensitive health services to address women's needs in the climacteric years is suggested

[Educational needs for mental health promotion in engaged youth]

Educational programs for couples' mental health promotion in marital life are a necessity. The first step in planning an educational program understands the needs of the target group. This paper reports the mental health educational needs in youth planning to marry. In a descriptive-analytical cross sectional study, 450 individuals taking part in pre-marriage education courses in Tehran were selected by randomized stratified sampling. The data was collected using a questionnaire that measured the educational needs in the area of mental health by the 5-point Likert-type scale. Data analysis was done using the SPSS-15 software, the statistical tests being the independent T-test, one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA], and the chi-square test. On the whole, the subjects' felt need for mental health education was more than moderate [3 on the Likert scale]; women expressed a higher need than men [p=0.001]. The main concern of the participants - both men and women - was How to keep romance alive in married life. The extent of need expressed for mental education was not statistically different in different socio-demographic groups of women, while worker men expressed a higher need than self-employed men [P=0.018]. Based on the findings of this study, young people planning to marry have a felt need for education in the area of mental health. It is recommended to design and implement educational programs to promote their knowledge in this area with due consideration of priorities stated by them

[Postoperative mortality and morbidity of carotid endarterectomy in patients with carotid stenosis]

Carotid stenosis is the most common cause of cerebrovascular accidents. If we select the patients appropriately, carotid endarterectomy would be acceptable regarding to mortality and morbidity for vascular complications. Since, carotid endarterectomy related complication is dependent on experience, equipment and facilities of surgical team, each surgical ward should be evaluated for complication separetely. Evaluating the postoperative mortality and morbidity and complication of carotid endarterectomy in patients with carotid stenosis in surgical wards of Razi Hospital in Rasht during September 2006 until end of February 2010. In this descriptive study, 51 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy in surgical wards of Razi Hospital were recruited. Postoprative complications, mortality and morbidity of carotid endarterectomy were recorded during hospitalization and one month follow up period after discharge. The mean age of patients was 66.69 +/- 10.33. 35 subjects of patients were male and 16 subjects of patients were female. Mortality was reported in one case [%1.96], complication in asymptomatic patient was [%1.96], in symptomatic patient with Transient Ischemic Attack was [1.96%] and in Cerebro Vascular Accident patients was [0%]. Results of this study showed that the rate of mortality and morbidity is acceptable after endarterectomy surgery in Razi hospital in comparison with NASCET. So in order to elevation of quality of surgery in this center, results of surgery should be recorded and analysed every year