ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: Reducing occupational accidents is of utmost importance. This research investigated how individual and job-related risk factors affect occupational accidents in one of the largest tunnelling companies in Iran. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional natural experiment utilizing data from 760 employees who consented to participate in the study. 150 individuals had a history of occupational accidents and 610 individuals did not. Information about accidents was extracted from reports, medical records, and interviews. Results: The main causes of accidents were unsafe acts performed by workers. 71% by unsafe acts alone, and another 12% unsafe acts in unsafe conditions. The odds ratio of occupational accidents was significantly higher in workers aged under 30 years (p = 0.016), with a high school diploma or lower educational achievement (p = 0.012), low job satisfaction (p = 0.035), work experience less than 16 years (p = 0.023), as well as lack of regular exercise (p = 0.001). Within the final adjusted logistic model, low levels of education (OR= 5.81; 95% CI, 1.03-9.03) and younger age group (OR= 2.38 95% CI, 0.24 to 8.02) remained significant. Conclusion: Use of young and inexperienced staff, low education, and lack of simple and understandable safety guidelines for workers in the tunnelling industry have led to unsafe acts that can increase the rate of occupational accidents. Changes in working conditions, and unstable job security also contribute to explaining the accident rates in this 12-month period. Managers should pay special attention to these individual-organizational factors to prevent accidents and promote safety.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Nickel [Ni] is one of the toxic heavy metals that exposure to it has been connected with chronic respiratory complications such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and heart disease. In this research, original studies that investigated occupational or environmental exposure to Nickel and measured nickel levels in human tissues were reviewed
Materials and Methods: In this study articles were reviewed systematically. National databases such as SID and Magiran as well as some international databases including PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Science Direct and Google Scholar were also searched; to extract studies conducted in Iran; until August 19, 2016
Results: Based on the results, industrial professions such as welding and plating who dealt directly with nickel were at a higher risk of contamination. In overall, residents in large polluted cities or taking dental treatments, had more nickel concentrations in their body than others
Conclusion: Considering the high nickel contamination in some industrial workers, it seems necessary to do regular surveillance in these occupational groups and avoid unnecessary exposure to nickel as much as possible. Also, safer dental material should be used in orthodontics
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Occupational Exposure , Environmental Exposure , Metals, HeavyABSTRACT
Introduction and Aims: Failure to thrive [FTT] is defined as delay or stop in a child's growth and in case it is not considered, will lead to serious somatic complications in the child. In this study, associated environmental factors with failure to thrive in Sarbishe 3-72 month old children was examined
Materials and Methods: The present study with an analytical cross-sectional design was conducted on 3-72 month old children in Sarbisheh city. This study was done on 422 children under supervision of Sarbisheh health center. Case [children with FTT] and control groups [children without FTT] were matched for age and sex. For data analyzing, the Chi -square, t- test and logistic regression were used by SPSS v.22
Results: From characteristics of the household; maternal education level, maternal occupation and mother's pre-pregnancy BMI had a significant relation with FTT in children. From characteristics of the child; birth weight had a significant relation with FTT in children. From economic characteristics of households; housing and addiction of the mother had a significant relation with FTT in children
Conclusion: According to the factors associated with FTT in children, parents education about child nutrition, attention to mother's weight before pregnancy, supporting unprivileged children or children with irresponsible parents is important in children's health promotion
ABSTRACT
Introduction: EQ is one of the determinants of human reaction to life events. In this study, the EQ of addicts visiting the rehabilitation centers of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2013 was evaluated
Method: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was carried out on 122 addicts and 119 healthy people as controls. Addict subjects were chosen from the addicts visiting six rehabilitation centers of Rafsanjan Medical University. Participants were evaluated by BARON questionnaire including 90 questions in four sub-categories of problem solving, emotional self- awareness, inter personal relationship and responsibility. Independent t-test and ANOVA were used for analysis through SPSS19
Results: The two groups of addicts and controls showed significant difference in regard to EQ and the sub-categories of emotional self-awareness, interpersonal relationships and responsibility [P<0.001], but no difference in problem solving sub-category [P=0.074]. Demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status or educational level did not affect EQ or its sub-categories
Conclusion: It can be assumed that higher EQ decreases the tendency toward addiction and the probability of addiction is less in people who have a higher emotional self-awareness, better interpersonal relations and accept more responsibility
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The first step in any educational programs is determining the educational needs of the target group. Providing adequate information to couples helps them to start their marital life based on a correct basis. The aim of this study was to determine the pre-marriage educational needs of couples who are about to get marry
Methods: This descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was performed on 250 couples attending in Pre-marriage counseling classes. Available sampling was used in this study. Data were collected by a questionnaire including demographic variables and 47 questions in 7 areas including family planning, congenital diseases, common cancers in men and women, sexual relationships, relationship with spouse and family, and Islamic and legal issues. Data were analyzed using analytical statistics Chi-square, t-test, ANOVA, and correlation coefficient through SPSS 21
Results: The results show a significant relationship between the need for training and education in women and men [P<0.0001]. There was a significant relationship between age and educational need in the field of congenital diseases, in females [P=0.002] and males [P=0.01]. The most important educational needs were sexual relationship and relationship with spouse and family
Conclusion: It seems that comprehensive information on sexual issues and relationship with spouse and family should be also added to educational content in order to help young couples to have healthier marital life
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the main causes of mortality and disability in the world. Many risk factors are involved in cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, high cholesterol, overweight and obesity, smoking, diabetes, inadequate physical activity, unhealthy diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiovascular diseases risk factors and the relationship between knowledge level and preventive behaviors for cardiovascular diseases among women in Kerman
Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 400 women in Kerman. Participants were selected using multistage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire and a questionnaire about cardiovascular disease risk factors, knowledge, nutritional behavior, and physical activity. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation, Spearman, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test by SPSS 21
Results: The average age of women was 42.11+/-1.40 years. Daily stress [71.75%] and inadequate physical activity [62.75%] were the most common risk factors among the participants. There was a significant positive relationship between knowledge and nutritional behavior [P<0.0001] and physical activity [P=0.001]. The mean score of knowledge in women who had tested their blood sugar, cholesterol, weight, and blood pressure over the past six months was significantly high
Conclusion: The results showed that there is a relationship between knowledge level and preventive behaviors for cardiovascular diseases; therefore, increasing knowledge level through appropriate interventions may effectively prevent cardiovascular diseases
ABSTRACT
Introduction and Aims: carpal tunnel syndrome is known as strangulation of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. There are different methods for diagnosis of this syndrome. The Boston Questionnaire is a method for determining the intensity and quality of the disorder. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Persian Boston Questionnaire in order to evaluate the severity and functional ability of carpal tunnel patients in Iranian diabetics
Materials and Methods: the study was done on 105 diabetic patients. The Persian Boston Questionnaire and its English retranslation were provided by Backward-Forward method. Its content and construct validity were evaluated and in order to determine the reliability of the Questionnaire Cronbach's alpha was calculated. Data was analyzed by SPSS v.20
Results: in this study content and construct validities of the Questionnaire were 92.75% and 77.7% respectively. The results of Spearman correlation in construct validity assay between the electro diagnosis test and two parameters: symptoms intensity and functional status were 0.33 and 0.34, respectively. Cronbach's alpha of the questionnaire was 0.86
Conclusion: the Boston Questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool in evaluation of intensity of symptoms and functional status in Iranian diabetics with carpal tunnel syndrome, but it has low validity in evaluating the physiological intensity of illness
ABSTRACT
Introduction: One of the ways for addiction control and damage reduction is methadone treatment. However, the factors related to treatment failure have not been fully studied. In this study the characteristics related to treatment failure in Rafsanjan city has been studied
Method: This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was done based on records of patients visiting two rehabilitation centers in Rafsanjan in 2011-2013. The records were evaluated in two groups of patients. The first group [291 patients] were people with treatment failure, and the second group [309 people] were those successfully treated. Data analysis was done using t-test, chi-square, and logistic regression through SPSS 22 software
Results: The mean age of participants was 37+/-10.5 years. The two groups were significantly different in regard to kind of substance use [P =0.001], existence of mental illness [P = 0.011], treatment center [P<0.001], the dose of methadone consumption [P= 0.018], and marital status [P< 0.001]; but the difference in age, addiction duration, the concomitant use of two or more psychotropic substances, number of previous treatment, presence of physical illness, and the history of legal problems was insignificant
Conclusion: Methadone maintenance treatment is likely to be more effective if it is associated with treating the patients' mental illness, solving family problems, adequate doses of methadone, and reducing the health care costs
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease which is nowadays known as a public health problem. Physical activity to maintain healthy bones is an important factor in preventing osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to determine a model for predicting factors influencing physical activity among women for the prevention of osteoporosis according to the Precede Model in Kerman, Iran
Method: This cross-sectional analytical descriptive study was performed on 120 women referred to health centers of Kerman city during 2014. They were selected randomly through multi- stages sampling method. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ] and a self-administrated questionnaire according to constructs of the PRECEDE Model [Predisposing Reinforcing, and Enabling Factors] and analyzed by descriptive statistics [measures of central tendency, dispersion, frequency and percent] and analysis statistics [logistic regression, Pearson correlation] using SPSS software version 18
Results: The results showed that the mean age of the participants were 32.44 +/- 6.97 years. 29.2% of women had intense, 5.35% moderate, and 7.66% mild physical activity. The results also indicated that enabling factors was the most predictive factors of physical activity both in raw [P=0.023, OR=1/122] and adjusted models [P=0.041, OR=1/137]
Conclusion: As enabling factors were the most important predictive factor for physical activity, it is recommended that health promotion interventions be planned according to these factors to improve physical activity and prevent osteoporosis among women
ABSTRACT
Metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent in type 2 diabetics and is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in such patients. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to the three criteria of ATPIII, IDF and the new criteria for metabolic syndrome diagnosis in Kerman, Iran. This cross-sectional study was performed on 950 diabetic type 2 patients. Data was analyzed by independent t-test, chi-square and logistic regression using the SPSS [revision 20] software. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Kerman was 73.4, 64.9, and 70.4%, according to the above criteria. Fasting blood sugar, gender, triglyceride, HDL, waist circumference, and systolic blood pressure were related to the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to the abovementioned criteria.The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is high in type 2 diabetic patients and the above-mentioned factors exacerbate the situation
ABSTRACT
Carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS] is the most common focal mono-neuropathy of median nerve in carpal tunnel. Prevalence is 2.7-5.8% and is more common in female than male. The most important diagnostic method is electrophysiologic study of median nerve. This case-control study has done on 34 patients with CTS and 44 healthy cases underwent electrophysiologic study. The diameter of nerve was measured at site of compression and also at a more proximal site in patients. In CTS group increased significant distal latency in motor and sensory conduction and proximal motor latency of median nerve was noticed. The altitude of sensory median nerve and conduction velocity of median nerve in CTS group was decreased significantly. Thenar atrophy was seen without relation with severity of nerve compression. The nerve diameter was decreased in severe cases of CTS group without significant differences. In CTS severity of anatomic changes are not the same as changes in electrophysiologic study
ABSTRACT
Background: Infections are readily transmitted as a result of bacterial contamination of swimming pools. Therefore, hygiene and preventing the contamination of swimming pools is of particular importance. The objective of this study was to determine the amount of bacterial contamination in indoor pools of Yazd in 2013
Methods: In this descriptive and analytical study, all indoor swimming pools of Yazd [12 pools] were evaluated during the spring and summer of 2013, in terms of bacterial contamination. In order to determine contamination, a sterile cotton swab was used for sampling. On average, 45 samples were taken from different surfaces in each pool [shower, dressing room, sitting places in sauna, platforms and around the pool]. In total, about 540 samples from all pools were tested for bacterial contamination
Results: The results show that from 540 samples, bacterial contamination was observed in about 93 samples [17.22%]; and was seen more in showers, edges of the pool and jacuzzis, and the slippers used in swimming pools. The most important isolated bacteria types were E. coli, Actinobacteria, Pseudomonas alcaligenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia
Conclusion: The results indicate the presence of bacterial contamination on the surface of these places. It is recommended that health authorities should pay more attention to cleaning and disinfecting surfaces around the pool, showers, dressing rooms etc, to prevent infectious disease transfer as a result of contact with contaminated swimming pool surfaces
ABSTRACT
Background: Water resource management is a strategic issue in Qom city. Water scarcity is one of the most critical concerns of industrial estates. This study aimed to evaluate wastewater management in the Shokuhieh industrial park of Qom province in 2013
Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study done by visiting the industrial units in person, completing questionnaires and analyzing the results. The questionnaire had 25 questions, including general information, the status of water supply, treatment and consumption, wastewater production, reuse or discharge of produced wastewater and the status of wastewater treatment and discharge of effluent. The industrial units evaluated were active with over 50 personnel and numbered 44 in total
Results: The water suppliers in the industries included network [70.5%], network and reverse osmosis [RO] [22.5%], network and tanker [2.4%] and tanker [4.6%]. 63.63% of the industries had water treatment systems. 19.5% reused wastewater and 31.8% performed pretreatment before discharge of wastewater. The discharge sites of water treatment units' effluent included the absorption well [17%], greenbelt [18%] and sewer [65%]. Discharge sites of sanitary wastewater in 50% of the industries was sewer and in 50%, it was absorption well. The discharge sites of processed wastewater was reuse [2%], sewer [52%] and absorption well [46%]. Discharge sites of exiting effluent from pretreatment units in the industrial park, included sewer [85.5%], transport by tanker [7.1%] and absorption well [7.1%]. The type of pretreatment process in 35.7% of the industries was chemical and in 64.3%, it was septic tank
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that pre-treatment is not done in most industries and wastewater reuse is performed in few industries. The main method of wastewater disposal in industries was by discharge into the sewer and absorbent well
ABSTRACT
Multiple sclerosis [MS] is a chronic disease of the nervous system, the cause of which remains unknown. Its prevalence rate has been estimated at 2.5 million individuals across the globe, and 31.5 individuals per 100,000 in Kerman province, Iran. Although different studies have reported disparate results, there are many authentic reports claiming that seasonal changes affect MS prevalence in certain months. The present study investigated the rate of MS seizures in terms of different seasons. Patients referring to the Neurology Ward of Shafa medical center, affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, were examined in a 5 year period from 2007 to 2011. A specially developed form, containing demographic and background information, and results of examinations, was filled out for each and every patient. A neurology faculty member approved MS seizures or otherwise rejected irrelevant observations. Findings were analyzed through SPSS20 software. In the present study, 802 attacks of MS were detected; 187 cases in men [23.32%] and 615 cases in women [76.68%]. The mean age of the participants was 32.69 years. The highest rate of hospitalization occurred in winter and spring. This finding is mostly related to MS attacks in women, but in men the rate of attacks are equal in different seasons. During the past 5 years, 802 acute cases of multiple were registered [187 cases [23.3%] in men and 615 cases [76.68%] in women]. Most cases occurred in winter and spring, which may be due to seasonal infections or other factors triggered by certain climatic conditions specific to these periods
ABSTRACT
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension [IIH] is associated with visual loss in 25% of patients. Some studies point to frequent visual evoked potentials abnormality and its value in management of patients with IIH. Due to the lack of adequate research in this area, in the present study we assessed visual evoked potentials and perimetry changes in patients with IIH at admission and one month later. This cross sectional study was conducted on 30 patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. The diagnosis was confirmed according to Friedman and Jacobson criteria. Perimetry and visual evoked potentials were performed at admission and one month later. Results were analyzed by Independent t-test and chi[2] tests. In this study, 27 [90%] of patients were female and the others were male. Perimetry abnormality was found in 24 [80%] patients at admission and 16 [53.3%] patients one month later. Also, visual evoked potential abnormality was seen in 7[23.3%] patients at admission and 5 [16.6%] patients one month later. There was no significant difference between mean waves' latency [P100, N75 and N135] with perimetry changes at admission and one month later [p
ABSTRACT
There are few quantitative documents about the seasonal incidence of tuberculosis [TB] among immigrant populations. Concerning the significant role of recognizing seasonal changes of TB in improving the TB control program, this study determines the trend and seasonal temporal changes of TB among immigrants entering Iran. In this longitudinal study, data from the Iranian TB register Program [from 2005 to 2011] was used. The aggregated number of monthly and seasonal TB cases was obtained by adding the daily counts. Data was analyzed by Chi-square, Independent T-test, ANOVA, and Poisson regression using Stata 11 and SPSS 20 software. Among 74,155 registered patients with TB, 14.3% [10,587] were non-Iranian who had immigrated to Iran from 29 different countries. The highest aggregated number of seasonal and monthly incidence of TB in immigrants was observed in spring [2824, P= 0.007] and in May [1037, P< 0.001]. The number of non-Iranian patients with TB increased significantly over the years [beta= 0.016, P= 0.001]. This study shows that immigrants constitute a significant portion of TB patients recorded in Iran and this trend is increasing. Also, the peak incidence of this disease is the second month of the spring
ABSTRACT
Background and Aims: noise is the third most dangerous pollutant in metropolises and is one of the most important risk factors in the transportation industry. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating truck drivers hearing loss and its effective factors
Methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted in 2011 in Kerman City on 150 professional truck drivers who had a dossier at the center of screening occupational diseases, and were chosen by stratified random sampling. Information was collected by a checklist including age, marital status, military services status, smoking status and audiometry done in the current year and were analyzed by using SPSS 18 using correlation, ANOVA, Paired t-test, McNemar's test and Adjusted Linear Regression
Results: the mean age of participants was 43.0+/-10.56 and in all frequencies a significant difference was found between the hearing threshold of drivers with different work experiences, and hearing loss increased with increase in work experience. Hearing loss increased significantly in all frequencies with age increase as well. Hearing loss in frequencies more than 2000 H was significantly more in the left ear than the right
Conclusion: although age increase is an important factor in hearing loss, but alone, it does not justify the asymmetric hearing loss at the quantities measured in the drivers in this study. It appears that driving due to constant exposure to noise can lead to hearing loss in drivers
ABSTRACT
Objective [s]: To estimate the rate of safety belt use and its related factors among the car drivers of Kerman, Iran
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Kerman, Iran. Data were collected by observation and were recorded by two researchers in terms of safety belt use
Results: In all 10,309 drivers were screened. Of these, 5483 derivers [53.19%] used their safety belt. Safety belts were significantly used by women more than men [P<0.001]. There was no significant difference between different age groups [p=0.138]. The use of safety belts was significantly higher in the city center [P<0.001] and higher in the morning hours compared to the afternoon [P<0.001]
Conclusion: Although safety belt use is compulsory by law, the rate of safety belt use is still low in Kerman, Iran. In order to increase the rate of safety belt use tougher regulations and intense public education is suggested
ABSTRACT
Environmental fungi, molds and yeasts, can infest the nasal cavity through inhaled air. There is some evidence that they could be the main cause of Chronic Rhinosinusitis [CRS] but little is known about the normal fungal flora in the human nose. The objective of this study was to assess the normal fungal flora of the nasal mucus in adults in Kerman. We conducted a cross sectional study. Nasal swabs were used to sample the nasal cavity of 100 adults, 46 men and 54 women between 17 and 60 years old, currently living in Kerman, Iran. Among 100 healthy people, one or more types of fungi were detected in 31 [31%] persons; Candida in 12 persons, Aspergillus in 8 persons, Streptomyces in 8 persons, and Penicillium, Nocardia and Mucor in a few persons. In only 4 persons, more than one type of fungi was detected. There was no significant relation between age, sex, education or smoking with the presence of fungi. Fungi have been considered one of the causative agents of CRS and differences in climatic conditions can influence the fungi flora