[Comparing quality of marital relationship of spouses of patients with and without a history of myocardial infarction]

Myocardial infarction [MI] is a life threatening event and often reduces the quality of life of patients and their families' particularly close and intimate persons such as spouses. The aim of study was to determine quality of marital relationship of spouses of patients with and without a history of myocardial infarction. This descriptive-comparative study has been done on 162 spouses of patients with myocardial infarction admitted in educational hospitals of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences by convenience sampling method and 162 spouses of healthy persons [324 married individuals]. Data were collected by "Perceived Relationship Quality Components [PRQC] questionnaire with approved validity and reliability in Iran. Data was analyzed with SPSS/16. 42% of the samples were male and 58% female, with an overall mean age of 47.89 +/- 5.95, average length of common life 25.32 +/- 7.48. In addition, 56.7% of the respondents had diploma or higher education. The results also illustrated that the mean score of quality of marital relationship on the dimensions of satisfaction, passion and love in patient' spouses with a history of myocardial infarction was 13.37 +/- 5.03, 10.67 +/- 4.56, 19.56 +/- 2.56 respectively and in healthy persons spouses was 18.92 +/- 2.85, 18 +/- 3.14, 20.37 +/- 1.36. U-Mann Whitney test results determine that these differences are statistically significant [P<0.001]. MI disease has a negative impact on the overall quality of marital relationship, especially on the dimensions of satisfaction, passion and love between couples. Hence, the inclusion of family educational programs and couple therapy in heart disease rehabilitation program is important in order to improve the quality of marital relationship and subsequent quality of life patients and their family's needs

Couple communication in family planning decision-making in Zahedan, Islamic Republic of Iran

A qualitative study in Zahedan, Islamic Republic of Iran, used focus group discussions with 120 people in 8 main groups to underst and more about couple's decision-making and the role of men in family planning. The study included men and women from Sunni and Shia sects as well as theologians from both sects. Shiites, lay people and theologians, believed that both husb and and wife play a major role in decision-making about family planning, while Sunnis believed that men are the main decision-makers. All participants believed that men have an important role in family planning, but also that men do not like attending family planning clinics. Religious tenets were important in couple's decision-making about using contraceptives but there were confusions over different teachings

Knowledge, perceptions and prevention of malaria among women in Sistan va Baluchestan, Islamic Republic of Iran

A questionnaire about malaria knowledge, beliefs and practices was given to a r and om sample of 2168 married women from rural and urban areas of Sistan va Baluchestan, Islamic Republic of Iran. The mean knowledge score of subjects was low at 5.5 [maximum 15.0]. Few respondents [37.6%] knew that malaria was an important disease in the area and only 58.4% knew that malaria was transmitted by mosquitoes. Most subjects [69.4%] never used a mosquito net. Only 49.9% of rural and 73.8% of urban residents would seek care for fever and chills from the local health centre. Community health workers [behvarz] were the main source of information [29.5%] for rural women; the role of physicians in education was minimal. Subsequent health education must be tailored to the educational needs of the target population in this area

Knowledge, attitude and practice of Afghan refugee women residing in Zahedan about family planning

Considering the high number of Afghan refugees in Zahedan and the important issue of their life style, the present study was carried out to determine knowledge, attitude and practice of Afghan Refugee women residing in Zahedan about family planning. A sample of 397 married women was interviewed at their homes. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square, t-student and Kruskal Wallis tests by SPSS. Our findings indicated that there existed low marriage and pregnancy age and high rate of pregnancy and illiteracy among them. Most Afghan refugee women had knowledge about oral contraceptives and the most common contraception used by them was oral and injectable contraception. Forty eight and sixth percent were using no contraception, for which, intention to have more children, being pregnant and husband's disagreement were mentioned as main reasons. Unwanted pregnancy was reported by 20.4% with improper use of contraception as its main reason. They believed that having son in the family [51.8%] and early marriage of daughters [57.8%] are necessary. There was a significant relationship between knowledge, attitude, practice with literacy, husband's literacy, ethnicity, and their religion [P < 0.001]. Iranian health system presents health services to refugee Afghan women similar to Iranian women. It is necessary to continue those services and to provide effective training based on their changing needs