[Assessment of knowledge and beliefs' barriers to living with type 2 diabetes and its related factors]

Living with type 2 diabetes is a big challenge. In this regards, concentration on patients' knowledge and beliefs are main components of planning for living with the disease. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and beliefs' barriers to living with type 2 diabetes and its related factors. This was a cross sectional study conducted with 600 patients selected using random sampling. Data gathering tool was consisted of two sections: demographic and health related items, diabetes control index as HbA[1C] [10 items], and the questionnaire of knowledge and beliefs barriers [10 items]. Interviews were performed to collect the data. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyze data. Mean and standard deviation of patients' knowledge and beliefs' barriers was 31.26 and 7.61, respectively. There were significant relationships between patients' knowledge and beliefs' barriers and disease duration, level of education, type of treatment, occupation, age groups, income and HbA1C [P<0.001]. Results of the logistic regression model revealed that odds ratio of knowledge and beliefs' barriers had a significant relationship with disease duration [P=0.001], under diploma education [P<0.001], Insulin therapy [P=0.004], mixed therapy of oral agents and insulin [P=0.02], age more than 65 years old [P=0.001] and poor diabetes control [P<0.001]. The severity of patients' knowledge and beliefs barriers had a significant relationship with elderly age, disease duration, less education, non-oral agents' therapy, and poor diabetes control. Conducting experimental studies on the factors in patients with type 2 diabetes is suggested

[Effect of educational intervention based on health belief model on knowledge and attitude about pap smear test among female secondary school teachers in district 11 of Tehran]

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women with incidence of more than 500000 cases per year. It is preventable because of its long precancerous period, suitable screening programs and effective treatments. Since the social and cultural barriers alongside the lack of knowledge are deterrents to participation in screening programs, the current study was performed to assess the effect of educational intervention through the Health Belief Model on knowledge and attitude of teachers about pap smear, considering their role in making people aware. This was a controlled before-after interventional study conducted on 72 individuals selected through simple sampling, assigned to two groups. Data collection tool was a questionnaire used and compared before training and one month after that. Training methods [intervention] included lectures with questions and answers. Data were analyzed with SPSS, version 11.5. 47.2% of intervention and 45.8% of control group were 40 to 50 years old and majority of them [47.2% and 50% respectively] had undergraduate educational level and 86.1% were married. Respectively, 67.2% and 74.2% have experience of being examined via Pap smear, while the knowledge of women in both groups was moderate about the disease. Study results revealed significant differences in knowledge, attitude and Health Belief Model constructs within intervention group [before and after training] as well as between groups [p<0.05]. Using Pap smear test among the participants was lower compared with healthy people aims targeted by 2010. Therefore, necessity of education and knowledge promotions are obvious

Client and health workers perceptions on family planning services

In order to achieve maximum client satisfaction, family planning must incorporate the client's views and perception; this in turn depends heavily on the cultural and religious context. This qualitative study was performed with the aim of assessing the need for family planning services in various client groups. Focus Group Discussions [FGD] were conducted with four different categories of clients attending primary health care centers in Southern Tehran, Iran. The study also involved group interviews with Liaison Health Workers. Clients generally complained of problems such as the crowding of people inside health centers, inconvenient working hours, disrespectful staff members, poor client education, counseling, and contraceptive complications. Most clients expressed the need for higher education and quality services. Liaison workers listed their main problems as inadequate staffing, limited attendance time, client overload, the community's negative attitude towards state-run health facilities, and common misperceptions regarding various contraceptive modalities. Suggestions for improving quality of services included identification of common goals for staff and clients, providing adequate consultation courses for client and staff members, improving the general atmosphere of the clinic, reducing waiting time, and improving clinic access

Prevalence of induced abortion and associated complications in women attending hospitals in Isfahan

A high proportion of maternal deaths are caused by abortion, especially induced abortion. This cross-sectional study determined the prevalence of illegally-induced abortion prior to admittance and its associated risk factors in 8 maternity hospitals in Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran, during 2003-04. In confidential interviews with 417 women who attended the hospitals with abortion, 50 [12.0%] reported that it was illegally induced. These abortions had a significant correlation with fever, septic shock and septic abortion. Of all pregnancies, 35.0% were unwanted, and 27.1% of these were illegally-terminated by induced abortions. Unwanted pregnancy was one of the most important risk factors for induced abortion [OR = 8.84, 95% CI: 4.36-17.92]

Rubella serology in pregnant women attending health centres of Tehran University of Medical Sciences

This study was performed in 2003-05 to determine the serological status of a sample of pregnant women as a preliminary study for the rubella vaccination programme. Out of 965 pregnant women attending health centres affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences for prenatal care, the estimated rubella immunity rate was 91.1% [95% CI: 89.3%-92.9%] and the nonimmunity rate was 8.9% [95% CI: 7.1%-10.7%]. The rubella immunity rate differed in different areas of Tehran but not significantly so. However, there was a significant difference in the level of rubella immunity by the number of persons per household and by age, but no significant relationship with economic status, occupation or level of education

Systemic complications and their risk factors among Tehranian blood donors

The systemic complications of blood donation are the first reasons why patients fail to return for further blood donation. This study was designed to determine the frequency of these complications and their associated risk factors among blood donors in Tehran. Also, we aimed to provide suitable methods to decrease the frequency of these adverse events, thereby eliminating the most important causes of withdrawal, while maintaining the health of the donors. This analytical descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 554 blood donors who had donated blood from February 2005 through September 2005 in four fixed blood donation bases and four mobile blood collection buses. Each base was considered as a stratum, and a stratified random sampling proportional to size was done to select the donors. Results showed donor reaction rate to be 13.4%, the most common of which were blackout of vision [7%], dizziness [6.3%], fatigue [6.1%] and nausea [1.8%]. There was no significant relationship between the incidence of these complications and type of base blood donation or fasting at the time of blood donation. Logistic Regression analysis showed that sex, condition of blood donor, exercise or walking, duration of donation, and practice to recommendation had significant effects on the odds ratio of systemic complication. Regarding the frequency values derived for the different systemic complications it can be concluded that attention to risk factors of these complications and their control can help encourage donors to become repeated donors as well as to prevent their withdrawal for further blood donation

survey of accidents in 0-14 old year children in the city of Tabriz, Iran

The current study investigated the types of accidents and their effects among 0-14 year old children during the months of Ordibehesht-Mordad of 1990 in Tabriz, Iran. A total of 717 patients were randomly selected from the patients admitted at two hospitals. A questionnaire was used to interview the subjects or their family members present at the hospital. Results indicated that automobile accidents were most common among 5-9 year old children, while burns, cuts, and amputation of fingers more frequently occurred among 1-4 year old children. The end result of these injuries was mostly broken or deformed limbs, cuts, and even death.%3.9 of the children died at the hospital