The relationship between maternal mental health and communication skills in children in Shiraz, Iran / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: Child development is a significant issue in global public health, and maternal mental health (MMH) can have a remarkable effect on children’s development of communication skills. We aimed to investigate the association between MMH and communication skills in a sample of Iranian children. METHODS: This study was conducted in Shiraz, Iran during 2016. In total, 640 mothers who lived in Shiraz and were registered in the Fars Birth Cohort (FBC) study were invited to attend the FBC clinic with their children. A trained physician evaluated MMH using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Additionally, a trained nurse assessed the children’s communication development status using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire for 60-month old children. RESULTS: The majority of the mothers were homemakers (82.8%) and had high school diplomas (38.9%). The mothers’ mean age was 33.7±4.6 years. Seventy-nine (12.3%) children had delayed communication skills, but no significant association was found between children’s communication skills and the mothers’ total GHQ score (p=0.43). In total, 493 mothers (77.0%) had abnormal somatic symptoms, 497 (77.7%) had abnormal anxiety/insomnia, 337 (52.7%) had social dysfunction, and 232 (36.3%) suffered from depression. Logistic regression indicated that after adjusting for confounders, the odds of delayed communication skills were 3-fold higher among the children of mothers with abnormal somatic symptoms than among other children (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The study results confirmed that MMH had a significant impact on children’s communication skills. Moreover, maternal abnormal somatic symptoms exerted the strongest impact on the development of communication skills in 5-year-old children.

The relationship between maternal mental health and communication skills in children in Shiraz, Iran / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: Child development is a significant issue in global public health, and maternal mental health (MMH) can have a remarkable effect on children's development of communication skills. We aimed to investigate the association between MMH and communication skills in a sample of Iranian children.METHODS: This study was conducted in Shiraz, Iran during 2016. In total, 640 mothers who lived in Shiraz and were registered in the Fars Birth Cohort (FBC) study were invited to attend the FBC clinic with their children. A trained physician evaluated MMH using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Additionally, a trained nurse assessed the children's communication development status using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire for 60-month old children.RESULTS: The majority of the mothers were homemakers (82.8%) and had high school diplomas (38.9%). The mothers' mean age was 33.7±4.6 years. Seventy-nine (12.3%) children had delayed communication skills, but no significant association was found between children's communication skills and the mothers' total GHQ score (p=0.43). In total, 493 mothers (77.0%) had abnormal somatic symptoms, 497 (77.7%) had abnormal anxiety/insomnia, 337 (52.7%) had social dysfunction, and 232 (36.3%) suffered from depression. Logistic regression indicated that after adjusting for confounders, the odds of delayed communication skills were 3-fold higher among the children of mothers with abnormal somatic symptoms than among other children (p=0.01).CONCLUSIONS: The study results confirmed that MMH had a significant impact on children's communication skills. Moreover, maternal abnormal somatic symptoms exerted the strongest impact on the development of communication skills in 5-year-old children.

The relationship between maternal mental health and communication skills in children in Shiraz, Iran / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES@#Child development is a significant issue in global public health, and maternal mental health (MMH) can have a remarkable effect on children's development of communication skills. We aimed to investigate the association between MMH and communication skills in a sample of Iranian children.@*METHODS@#This study was conducted in Shiraz, Iran during 2016. In total, 640 mothers who lived in Shiraz and were registered in the Fars Birth Cohort (FBC) study were invited to attend the FBC clinic with their children. A trained physician evaluated MMH using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Additionally, a trained nurse assessed the children's communication development status using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire for 60-month old children.@*RESULTS@#The majority of the mothers were homemakers (82.8%) and had high school diplomas (38.9%). The mothers' mean age was 33.7±4.6 years. Seventy-nine (12.3%) children had delayed communication skills, but no significant association was found between children's communication skills and the mothers' total GHQ score (p=0.43). In total, 493 mothers (77.0%) had abnormal somatic symptoms, 497 (77.7%) had abnormal anxiety/insomnia, 337 (52.7%) had social dysfunction, and 232 (36.3%) suffered from depression. Logistic regression indicated that after adjusting for confounders, the odds of delayed communication skills were 3-fold higher among the children of mothers with abnormal somatic symptoms than among other children (p=0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The study results confirmed that MMH had a significant impact on children's communication skills. Moreover, maternal abnormal somatic symptoms exerted the strongest impact on the development of communication skills in 5-year-old children.

Relationship between religion and school students' road behavior in southern Iran / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>PURPOSE</b>Unsafe behaviors are an important cause of accidents in adolescent age groups. This study was designed to examine the behaviors of adolescent pedestrians in southern Iran.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This is a descriptive analytical cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of high school students in Shiraz, capital city of Fars Province, Iran. Five hundred and sixteen students were selected by multi-stage sampling. Data were collected by the use of three questionnaires, which included Persian copies of adolescent road user behavior questionnaire (ARBQ), Duke University Religious Index (DUREL), as well as the context and independent variables questionnaire.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results showed that a decrease in dangerous behaviors on the road resulted in an increase in respondents' intrinsic religiosity. Also, engagement in unsafe crossing behavior in the road decreased with increasing respondents' intrinsic religiosity. Another finding showed that female students were less involved in dangerous play and planned protective behaviors on the road.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Findings clearly indicate that intrinsic religiosity has a significant role in reducing the risky road behaviors of students. Hence, religion may improve road safety in school students' road behavior in Iran.</p>

Association of gastrointestinal functional disorders and migraine headache: a population base study

Background: Migraine is one of the prevalent headaches. Many of patients with migraine, complain of gastrointestinal symptoms. There is limited studies on relation of gastrointestinal symptoms and migraine headache at population level

Methods: In this population-based study, 1038 subjects older than 15 year from a rural area in Fars province, south of Iran. were investigated for functional gastrointestinal disorders. By cluster random sampling, 160 of these persons invited to receive endoscopy along with histopathology samples of upper gastrointestinal tract. Data were analyzed using Pearson chi-square and Fisher exact

Results: Mean age of participations were 34.3 years with female to male of 3:1. The prevalence of migraine, irritable bowel syndrome [IBS], reflux, and dyspepsia were 24.6%, 17.7%, 17.4%, and 32.1%, respectively. There were significant relationship between migraine and functional gastrointestinal diseases [odds ratio of association for migraine with IBS, reflux, and dyspepsia were 3.43, 1.68, and 1.68 with p-value < 0.001 for all]. In endoscopic findings, only presence of hiatal hernia was associated significantly with migraine [p = 0.011]. No histopathologic findings in antral or duodenal biopsies were associated with migraine

Conclusion: In this population based study we found significant association between migraines and gastrointestinal functional disorders including IBS, reflux and dyspepsia. This may have implication in better management of patients with migraine headache

Prevalence and risk factors of alcohol and substance abuse among motorcycle drivers in Fars province, Iran / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>PURPOSE</b>The aim of this present study is to investigate the prevalence of alcohol and substance abuse (ASA) and its relationship with other risky driving behaviors among motorcycle drivers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This is a cross sectional study which is performed at Shiraz city of Iran. Data from motorcycle drivers were collected using a standard questionnaire in eight major streets at different times of the day. The data includes consumption of alcohol and other substances two hours before driving and some of the risky behaviors during driving.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 414 drivers with a mean ± SD age of (27.0 ± 9.3) years participated in the study. Alcohol or substance consumptions two hours before driving was significantly associated with risky driving behaviors such as using mobile phone during driving, poor maneuvering, and driving over the speed limit (both p < 0.001). It was also associated with carelessness about safety such as driving with technical defects (p < 0.001) and not wearing a crash helmet (p=0.008).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Screening for alcohol and substance consumption among motorcycle drivers is an efficient way to identify drivers that are at a greater risk for road traffic accidents.</p>

Evaluation of hepatitis C virus intrafamilial transmission among families with one index case, a pilot study from Fars province, Iran

Aim: Our aim was to survey the rate and risk factors for Hepatitis C virus interfamilial transmission among families withone index case

Background: The role of intrafamilial transmission in Hepatitis C virus epidemiology is still debated

Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 34 families [236 members] of HCV infected patientsfrom Fars province, spring to summer 2013. All subjects were first evaluated for the risk factors of exposure and then theirserum was checked for the presence of HCV antibody and the genome, using ELISA and PCR. The genotype of all PCRpositive cases was also determined by a commercial assay. Two independent sample t test and Chi-Square test were used tocompare groups together

Results: In 18 out of 34 families, HCV antibody was detected [52.9%] in new members. Among them, HCV transmissionin 11 families [32%] was also confirmed by PCR. Having a history of intravenous drug abuse [P=0.006] and incarceration[P=0.01] showed to be important risk factors for interfamilial transmission. Hence, blade/needle sharing [P=0.016] justfollowing molecular assay and sex [P=036] only in the serologic analysis were also determined as significant risk factors.Furthermore, based on serologic results, medium socioeconomic state was further associated with this manner oftransmission [P=0.019 and P=0.328]. Interestingly, among relatives, 13 cases were brothers while just 5 cases werecouples. The genotypes 3a and 1a were more prevalent among the population

Conclusion: In conclusion, our finding highlighted a noticeable role of interfamilial transmission for HCV spread andsupports the significant role of close relatives, especially brother relationship in this spread. Hence, the socioeconomic statewas associated with the transmission rate of virus in the family

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Hepatitis E virus [HEV] is one of common causes of viral hepatitis worldwide with higher prevalence in tropical and subtropical regions. Although epidemics of HEV have been reported from Iran, there are variable reports of this infection out of epidemics from different parts of Iran. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HEV in Iran

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis we searched PubMed, Scopus, Science direct, Google Scholar, Scientific Information Databank [SID], IranMedex, and Magiran for all relevant studies published in either English or Persian languages, up to 2015. Pooled seroprevalence estimates with a DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model were calculated. Statistical heterogeneity among the included studies was evaluated by Cochrane Q statistic and I2

Results: 38 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria compromising 18461 participants. The pooled seroprevalence rate of HEV in Iran was estimated about 10% [95% CI=0.09-0.12] with maximum and minimum of 46% [95 % CI=0.42-0.50], and 0.01% [95 % CI=0.000-0.002], respectively

Conclusion: HEV is common in Iran although the prevalence is lower than some neighbor countries

Time analysis of fatal traffic accidents in Fars Province of Iran / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the time factor in road traffic accidents (RTAs) in Fars Province of Iran.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study was conducted in Fars Province, Iran from November 22, 2009 to November 21, 2011. Victims'information consisted of age, sex, death toll involving dri- vers or passengers of cars, motorcycles and pedestrians, and site of injury etc. Accidents were analyzed in relation to hour of the day, season of the year, lighting condition including sunrise, sunset, daytime and nighttime.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 3 642 deaths (78.3% were males, and the ratio of males to females was about 3.6:1) were studied regarding their autopsy records. There was a steady increase in fatal accidents occurring at midnight to 15:59. The risk of being involved in a fatal traffic accident was higher for those injured between 4:00 to 7:59 than at other times (OR equal to 2.13, 95% CI 1.85-2.44). The greatest number of fatal RTAs took place in summer. Mortalities due to RTA during spring and summer were more pronounced at 20:00 to 23:59 and midnight to 3:59, whereas mortalities in fall and winter were more pronounced from 12:00 to 15:59.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The high mortality rate of RTA is a major public health problem in Fars Province. Our results indicate that the time is an important factor which contributes to road traffic deaths.</p>

Educational level and age as contributing factors to road traffic accidents / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This research analyzes data on road traffic accidents (RTA) in Fars province, whose roads are among the highly dangerous ones in Iran. It investigates educational level and age involved in RTA in order to discover patterns that can prevent or decrease accidents.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This research made use of data visualization techniques to find hidden patterns. The data included mortality rate related to RTA in Fars province and were obtained from Fars Forensic Medicine Registry covering a period of 1 year from March 21, 2010 to March 21, 2011. All data were analyzed using SPSS 11.5. The results were reported as descriptive indices such as frequency (percentage). The Chi-square test was applied to the data concerning educational level and age. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the mentioned period, 1 831 people were killed, out of whom un/lowly educated people (69.6%) accounted for the highest mortality rate. The significant relationship between educational level and mortality rate was found (X2 equal to 275.98, P less than 0.0001).Also three was a significant association between age and mortality rate (X2 equal to 371.20, P less than 0.0001). Young people (age between 20 and 29 years) contribute to higher RTA mortality rate compared with other age groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The educational level and age are significantly correlated to mortality rate. The youth and un/lowly educated people suffer more fatal RTA.</p>

Breast Cancer Risk Factors in a Defined Population: Weighted Logistic Regression Approach for Rare Events / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine out risk factors for female breast cancer in a low socioeconomic population in Iran. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2009, a total of 25,592 women who were ensured by the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation participated in this screening program. The characteristics of patients diagnosed with breast cancer (n=111) were compared with those of control cases (n=25,481). In this study, we used relogit analysis (rare event logistic regression) with a weighting method using program Zelig. RESULTS: Of 25,592 women, 3.9/1,000 had breast cancer, from which 38 were diagnosed during screening and 73 had already been diagnosed. The mean and standard deviation of age in breast cancer patients and in healthy controls were 49.18+/-8.86 years and 46.65+/-9.40 years, respectively. The findings based on the multivariate model revealed that the past history of ovarian cancer, hormone therapy, and first relatives with breast cancer were associated with increased risk for breast cancer. However, the use of oral contraceptive pills was found to be associated with reduced risk for breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Due to the rarity of the event in the population, relogit with a weighting method was used to investigate the major risk factors for breast cancer. These factors include oral contraceptive pill use, a history of ovarian cancer of the person under study, first relatives with breast cancer and hormone therapy.

Common Carotid Intima-media Thickness in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Population-based Case-control Study / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Metabolic syndrome is a well-known risk factor for atherosclerosis. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has features of metabolic syndromes. This study aimed to investigate the association between NAFLD and atherosclerosis. METHODS: In a population-based study in southern Iran, asymptomatic adult inhabitants aged more than 20 years were selected through cluster random sampling, and were screened for the presence of fatty liver and common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), with abdominal and cervical ultrasonography, respectively. Those with fatty liver were compared to the same number of individuals without fatty liver. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety individuals were found to have fatty change on abdominal ultrasonography, and were labeled NAFLD. Compared to normal individuals, NAFLD patients had significantly higher prevalence of increased CIMT (OR, 1.66; p<0.001). Those with hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), higher waist circumference (WC) and older ages had significantly higher prevalence of thick CIMT. Through adjusting the effects of different variables, we indicated that NAFLD could be an independent risk factor for thick common carotid intima-media (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.17-3.09; p=0.009). It was also shown that age could be another independent risk factor for thick CIMT. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with risk factors such as HTN, DM, and high WC are prone to develop atherosclerosis of the carotid artery. The presence of NAFLD should be considered as another probable independent factor contributing to the development of carotid atherosclerosis.

Report on first Iranian international conference on women's health held June 14-15, 2012 in Shiraz, Iran

Women's health is increasing identified as a global health priority. Women's health is affected by many factors, such as the economy, environment, society, culture, religion, and biology. For this reason, the Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz, Iran decided to hold The First Iranian International Conference on Women's Health. The aim of this conference was to provide up-to-date information on different aspects of women's health, including healthy aging, non-communicable and communicable diseases, psycho-social aspects, health promotion, reproductive health, and nutrition. Finally, the attending specialists and experts provided recommendations to be put into practice which reinforced the recommendations for additional clinical preventive services for women, mobilizing health professionals within practice, education, and research to address the national health goals, encouraging the adoption of ongoing evidence-based prevention guidelines, gender-sensitive, and culturally appropriate, persuading all stakeholders to harmonize their endeavors on women's health, changing the viewpoint to the women as a workforce alliance as with like men, along with considering the major role of women as the basis of the family, and improving the coverage, accessibility, and quality of women-oriented health services

Fatal motorcycle accidents in Fars Province, Iran: a community-based survey / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the main characteristics of victims of motorcycle accidents in Fars Province, Iran.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This cross-sectional study was conducted in Fars Province which has the fourth largest population of all 31 provinces in Iran from March 2009 to June 2010. We included data from all 542 recorded cases of fatalities due to motor vehicle accidents. Data were recorded from the forensic medicine registry consisting of demographic and accident-related information. Demographic information consisted of name, age, sex, status of fatal victim (motorcycle driver vs passenger) and educational level.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 2 345 autopsy records from the forensic medicine archives, 542 (23.1%) gave the cause of death as motor vehicle accidents. Mean age of these victims was (31.4+/-6.5) years, and the male to female ratio was 28. Head injury was the most common cause of death in these victims, and overall they tended to have a low level of education. Motorcycle accidents frequently involved younger age groups (15-35 years), and head trauma related with non-use of a helmet was the most common cause of death.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Head injury is frequent among victims in the province we studied. This situation may be related to the victims' low socioeconomic status and little education regarding traffic laws leading to speeding and disregard of these laws along with their weak enforcement.</p>

Epidemiological characteristics of fatal pedestrian accidents in Fars Province of Iran: a community-based survey / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the epidemiological characteristics of fatal pedestrian accidents in Fars Province of Iran.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This cross-sectional study was conducted in Fars Province of Iran during a 29-month period from March 2009 to July 2011. The data were from the Fars Forensic Medicine Registry. In 4 923 recorded road traffic accident fatalities, 971 deaths were due to pedestrian accidents. The demographic and accident-related information were analyzed by SPSS version 11.5. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean age of decedents was (47.2+/-26.2) years, ranging from 6 months to 103 years old. Males accounted for 69.8% of all deaths. Fatal accidents were most common in September; 56.1% of the fatal injuries occurred on intracity roads and 33.1% on extracity roads. Fatal head injuries were present in 60.54% of cases. Evaluation of the injury site and the cause of death found that they were significantly associated with age, interval between injury and death. Besides, the type of roads played an important role in mortality.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Although the clinical management of trauma patients has been improved in our country in the recent decade, decreasing the burden of injuries needs coordination among trauma system organizations.</p>

prevalence of high blood pressure and its relationship with anthropometric indicators; a population based study in pars province, IR Iran

The burden of non-communicable diseases is rising globally. The present study was carried out to examine the relationship between different anthropometric indices and blood pressure in the Iranian population. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 3916 subjects including 1976 males and 1940 females, aged 15-64 years from a healthy population in Shiraz, IR Iran. Anthropometric variables of each person including weight, height, waist circumference [WC], waist to height ratio [WHR] and body mass index [BMI] were calculated along with measuring systolic and diastolic blood pressures [BP]. The relationship between blood pressure and different anthropometric variables was determined in both genders. The mean +/- SD systolic blood pressures were 123.9 +/- 20.0 and 121.2 +/- 17.7 mmHg while the mean diastolic blood pressures were 78.3 +/- 11.9 and 77.4 +/- 12.9 mmHg in men and women respectively [P<0.001]. The prevalence of hypertension in men [23.8%] was significantly more than that of women [21.1%]. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased with age and BMI in both genders. Anthropometric indices showed a positive association with systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The BMI and WC showed a strong association with systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The suggested lower cut-off values of the anthropometric indicators will cover maximum of the population with higher odds of having hypertension and may help reduce the levels of populations mean blood pressure

A novel management method for disseminated intravascular coagulation like syndrome after a sting of Hemiscorpius lepturus: A case series

In this case series report we aim to report a Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)-like syndrome associated with Hemiscorpius lepturus sting in 4 individuals and a novel management protocol for this life-threatening condition that comprised partial exchange transfusion in severe scorpionism.

Influenza A [H1N1] Pandemic in Iran: report of First Confirmed Cases from June to November 2009

Since the declaration of a swine flu pandemic by the World Health Organization [WHO], the Islamic Republic of Iran has launched a surveillance system to test all suspected cases, both in community and hospital settings. From June 1[st] to November 11[th], 2009, there were 2662 [1307 females and 1355 males] RT-PCR confirmed cases of pandemic influenza A [H1N1] detected in Iran. Of these cases, 75% were 5-40 years-old. During this period, 58 patients [2.18%] died. Of the total number of cases, 33 were pregnant women with no reported mortalities amongst them. The prevalence of death had no significance correlation with sex and age [P=0.720 and 0.194, respectively]. Geographic distribution of the reported cases showed the highest rates in central and eastern provinces of Iran. There were two disease phases until November 2009, including an initial exogenous wave which blended into a second wave of indigenous disease, with a peak of cases after the start of the educational year. A review of the epidemiology of these initial phases of disease in Iran can help for better planning and more efficient action in future phases of the disease. It is of utmost importance to strengthen the surveillance system for this disease and appropriately transfer the resultant knowledge to the medical professionals, stakeholders and the general population, accordingly