[Behavioral surveillance survey [BSS] among injection drug users [IDUs] in Zanjan-Iran]

Injection Drug Users [IDUs] include more than 69.9% of known HIV/AIDS cases in Iran. The most important causes of HIV among them are syringe sharing and high risk behaviours such as sexual practice with different partners. Since IDUs are hard to reach and there is little information about them, this behavioural survey conducted to explore Zanjan district.s injection drug users in relation to HIV/AIDS. In this descriptive-cross sectional study, 61 IDUs, inhabitants of Zanjan, were selected in non-random sampling by referring to the most probable sites and places of their presence. Data was collected using a standard Family Health Behavioral Surveillance Survey [BSS] questionnaire designed especially for IDUs. Mean duration of non injected and injected drug use was 12.1 +/- 5 and 4.5 +/- 3.5 years respectively, and age of the first injection was 24 +/- 5.4 years. The most frequently injected drug was Heroin [96.7%] and the most noninjected one was Cannabis [85.2]. 55.7% of IDUs injected 4 or more times per day, and 32.8% reported needle sharing. 100% of the subjects knew the role of used syringe in HIV transmitting. 44.3% had taken an HIV test, and 70.4% knew about their HIV status. The early age of starting drug injection, needle sharing, coverage of voluntary HIV testing in less than 25%, and unawareness of 1/3 of them about their HIV test status indicate the significance of priority and service delivery to this most high risk group

[ prevalence of iron deficiency anemia [IDA] based on hematologic indices in non-pregnant women aged 15-45 in Zanjan]

Iron deficiency anemia is a major public health problem worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Women especially during reproductive life are vulnerable group. Around 1/3 of the world's population suffers from anemia and nutritional deficiency is to blame as the most significant factor. About 350 million women and 50% of the children in developing countries are anemic. This disease has a high prevalence in our country and according to the statistis released by the nutrition improvement office, 50% of women aged 15-49 suffer from various degrees of anemia and 34% have severe anemia. Since no surveys about IDA have been carried out on non-pregnant women in Zanjan, this study was carried out with the aim of determining IDA indices among non-pregnant women aged 15-45 in Zanjan. In this descriptive cross-sectional study 33 clusters were randomly selected using the city map and out of each cluster 10 non-pregnant women aged 15-45 were studied [total: 330 people]. The data was collected through a general questionnaire, taking 5ml blood sample from right arm, and running tests on blood samples. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCHC, ferritin, serum iron, TIBC and transferring saturation were determined, then the mean values were calculated and the prevalence of IDA was measured on the basis of blood indices. IDA values were 23.6%, 47.3%, 14.5%,24.2%,39.6%, 18.2% and 30.3% in terms of hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCHC, serum iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation and ferritin, respectively, with the lowest value belonging to MCHC and the highest value to hematocrit. IDA has a relatively high prevalence among the studied women which stands above the country's average, likely to be regarded as a public health priority. Thus, the women should be trained against wrong nutritional habits as well as receiving iron supplement in the short run, enrichment of foodstuff with iron is also recommended as a preventive plan

[ gap between staff expectations and perceptions in total quality management elements in Zanjan province hospitals 2003-2004]

Improving quality of hospital services helps to optimize resource utilization and promotes quality of care and community satisfaction. Since identification of staff perceptions and expectations leads to increased efficiency, improvement of organization products and fulfillment of customers' present and future needs, this research was conducted in order to analyse total quality management [TQM] elements in Zanjan's hospitals from 2003 through 2004. This descriptive study was carried out on 256 employees of different hospitals in Zanjan province who had been selected through stratified random sampling. Data collecting tool was questionnaire [Likert scale] including optimal situation [expectations] and present situation [perceptions] of TQM elements which was completed by research samples. The gap between expectations and perceptions was calculated by subtracting the perceptions scores from expectations score. The results were analysed through statistical test [Kroscal-Wallis Wilcoxon]. The mean gap scores between optimal situation [expectations] and present situation [perceptions] were significant in all elements of TQM [P=0.01]. The fair recognition and reward system was the most important dimension from employees' standpoint and scored the most negative [mean gap score= -3]. Quality culture and staff empowerment were rated as the second and third most important dimensions. The results indicate that fair recognition and reward system, the initiative and creative culture and staff empowerment are the most important preconditions of effective implementation of TQM in hospitals. Thus, it is recommended that hospital managers establish fair reward system based on well-done performance and encourage creative work and quality culture