Tattooing among Iranian prisoners: results of the two national biobehavioral surveillance surveys in 2015-2016

Abstract Background: Tattooing is among identified risk factor for blood-borne diseases. Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of tattooing during lifetime and in prisons and its related factors among Iranian prisoners. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. The required data was obtained from hepatitis B and C surveillance surveys in prisons in 2015-2016 that was collected through face-to-face interview. 12,800 prisoners were selected by multi-stage random sampling from 55 prisons of 19 provinces in Iran. Weighted prevalence and associated factors (using Chi-Square test and multivariate logistic regression) were determined by Stata/SE 14.0 survey package. Results: Out of 12,800 prisioners, 11,988 participated in the study (93.6% participation rate). The prevalence of tattooing in lifetime and in prisons was 44.7% and 31.1% respectively. The prevalence of tattooing during lifetime was significantly associated with age < 35 years, being single, illiteracy, history of imprisonment, drug use, piercing during lifetime, extramarital sex and history of STI; the prevalence of tattooing in prison had a significant association with history of imprisonment, drug use, piercing in prison, and history of extramarital sex (p < 0.05). Study limitations: Information and selection bias was one of the study limitations. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the prevalence of tattooing during lifetime and in prison among prisoners was significantly high especially in high-risk groups such as drug users and sexually active subjects. Given the role of tattooing, drug injection and sex in the transmission of blood-borne diseases, harm reduction programs are recommended to reduce these high-risk behaviors in prisons.

Physical activity and body weight status in relation to ischemic heart diseases [IHD]

Cardiovascular diseases [CVD] especially Ischemic Heart Diseases [IHD] are responsible for more than 40% of mortalities in the Islamic Republic of Iran: As is the case in the Western hemisphere. physica1lllactivity is the most prevalent CVDs risk factor. The aim of this research was to determine the association of the physical activity indices [work, sport and leisure, time indices], and body weight measures with the risk of developing IHD in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, This case - control study was conducted during 2003 and 2004 in Tehran Heart Center and Tehran Shahid Rajaii hospital. A sample of 100 IHD patients [cases] and 100 healthy individuals served as control The controls we.re matched to the IHD patients by age [ +/- 5 years], sex, Information about Physical activity was recorded by means of the Beacke questionnaire. Some important risk factors including hypertension. hyperlipidemia. diabetes and Body Mass Index [BMI] were also recorded. All the data were statistically analyzed with the SPSS for Windows. All reported P values are based on two-sided and compared to a significance level of 5%. The patients had significantly lower indices for work sports and Leisure time Physical Activity [P <0,001]. Analysis of BMI showed that there was a significant association between obesity and the ask of developing IHD [P = 0.01]. There was a significant negative correlation between BMI and Leisure Time Physical Activity index: the higher the BMI, the lower the likelihood of participation in Leisure Time Physical Activity activities. After multivariate analysis. the Leisure Tune Physical Activity [LTPA] independently had a protective effect against developing IHD risk. also in the cases group. Obesity increased the risk of IHD nearly 4 times more 10 comparison with normal subjects. Physical activity has a beneficial effect on IHD risk developing and IHD related predisposing risk factors