Seat-belt use among drivers and front passengers: an observational study from the Islamic Republic of Iran

Although seat-belts are the most effective means of preventing severe injuries and deaths from road accidents, drivers and passengers in many developing countries neglect to wear them. This study aimed to measure the rate of use of seat-belts and factors affecting their use in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. In direct observations of 7718 vehicles at randomly selected sites in Tehran, 77.9% of drivers and 43.7% of front passenger had seat-belts fastened. More women used seat-belts than did men while driving but fewer as front-seat passengers. Rates of seat-belt wearing among both drivers and front passengers of vans and pick-up vehicles was low. In a separate interview study of 666 citizens, 62.4% stated that they always wore seat-belts while driving. The most frequently reported reasons for using seat-belts were avoiding fines, fear of injuries and respecting the law. To improve seatbelt use, it is recommended that law enforcement accompanied by public education should be a priority

Effect of health promotion model [HPM] based education on physical activity in diabetic women

Diabetes is a serious problem. Although physical activity is very useful for control of diabetes, motivating change in physical activity is very difficult. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of education, based on Health Promotion Model [HPM] in physical activity among diabetic women. In this clinical trial study, 80 women [40 patients in each groups] evaluated. All patients in the case group were educated for 1 session of group education, and 3 sessions of individual counseling with the 5 A's method, based on HPM. Then patients in both groups, in the first, 3 and 6 months after education, were evaluated for changes and physical activity. Statistical tests included Repeated Measurement ANOVA, Mann-Whitney and Friedman with SPSS, version 16 were used for data analysis. The results of repeated measurement ANOVA showed that the effects of time-group interaction effects education were significant for physical activity in the case group, the difference between case and control groups in physical activity being significant. Three and six months after education, the case and control groups had progressive stages of change. Intervention with the Health Promotion Model increased physical activity and improved stages of change for physical activity behavior in diabetic women

Barriers to and factors facilitating breast cancer screening among Iranian women: a qualitative study

This study used qualitative methodology to understand Iranian women's views about barriers to and factors facilitating screening for early detection of breast cancer. Using grounded theory with in-depth interviews of 31 participants, themes emerged from the data in 2 main categories [internal and external] with 3 sub-categories: women's attitudes, feelings and beliefs; women's social network experiences; and accessibility. Facilitating factors for screening were self-care, fear, proactive coping, state of mind and advocacy. Barriers were negligence, cancer-related fear, low self-efficacy, fatalism, misinformation, ineffective health communication and competing priorities