[ study on heat stress and its risk assessment in a steel factory]

A glance at different occupations and production processes showed that one of the important and popular occupational health problems in the workplace is improper climate conditions such as hot environments .In this condition the core body temperature may increase and cause some diseases, occupational accidents and reduction of efficiency. The purpose of this study is determination of heat stress and its risk assessment in a steel factory. In order to survey heat stress, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a steel factory in Ahwaz in the autumn season and WBGT index was used as a standard method for heat stress measurement. After measurement of WBGT index, the results were compared to ACGIH_TLV. In the second stage, for the assessment of probable heat hazard, psychometric conditions of work place along with some other parameters like work load, kind of occupation, distance between workplace and rest areas, water consumption and uses of personal protective devices were taken into account In this area, it was tried to determine the existence of improper probable heat condition with regard to priority and necessity for modifications. After measurement in production process, other workshops and administrative office, the data were compared to ACGIH standards .The results showed that the workplace had acceptable climate conditions from heat stress with 81.1%and there were no acceptable climate conditions with 18.9%which is above TLV. The workplaces heat risk assessment showed that their conditions with 14.3%, 49.3% and 36.4% were in level one to three respectively. Although the fall season in regions such as Khuzestan is cooler than summer, but employment in industries such as steel due to its exothermic process, a threat to the health of these kinds of workers. The heat conservation planning should not only be limited to the summer season. More research in the spring and even winter are recommended.

[Work schedule-related health problems in petrochemical industries workers]

Shift work is programmed in various schedules, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The main purposes of this study were: a] to determine common shift schedules used in petrochemical industries, b] to compare shift work health-related problems among employees working in different shift schedules and c] to recommend appropriate shift schedule. This cross-sectional study was carried out at 14 petrochemical companies. Study population consisted of 987 shift workers. Data on demographic features, shift schedule and adverse effects of shift work were collected via anonymous questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, version 11.5. Among 987 studied shift employees, 27% worked in 3M-3E-3N-3Res, 61% in 4M-4E-4N-4Res and 12% in 12-hour schedules. Health problems such as gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders among 4M-4E-4N-4Res schedule shift workers were significantly less prevalent than other schedules [P<0.05]. Furthermore, the results showed that the prevalence rates of health problems among 12-hour schedule shift workers were higher than 3M-3E-3N-3Res schedule workers. Since 12-hour schedule caused higher rates of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders among shift workers as compared with 4M-4E-4N-4Res and 3M-3E-3N-3Res schedules, it should be avoided in shift system. Based on the results, 8-hour schedules with clockwise rapid rotation are recommended

[Evaluation the impact of family physician care program on family planning in Sari from 2003 to 2007]

Iranian family physician care program as a new program has begun since 2005 to deliver a better service particularly in primary health care. The objective this survey was to evaluate the impact of this program on family planning in Sari city between 2003-2007. This survey was conducted among all women 15-49 years who married. Required data were collected from health files. The pattern of time trend evaluated and relevant indices compared before and after the family physician program. The application of condom, hormone injection, vasectomy and total modern contraceptives increased but employing the methods of tubectomy, IUD, OCR, Norplant and traditional method were descending. This variability for condom, tubectomy and traditional methods were statistically significant [p<0.05]. However for other methods were not statistically significant [p>0.05]. Difference of contraceptive using rates in pre and post of the application of program for condom, hormone injection, tubectomy and OCR were statistically significant [p<0.05] and for others were not statistically significant [p>0.05]. It seems relatively success of family physician program on family planning in Mazandaran province however more human resource should be allocated to family planning

[Assessment of proportional hazard rate of cardiac disease in major beta thalassemia in Shiraz 2005-2006]

Thalassemia is the most common hereditary anemia in Iran and around the world that needs regular transfusion. Transfusion may lead iron overload in the body. Absence or irregular therapy chelation [Desferal usage] in these patients leads to various complications that the most important of them are cardiac diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hazard rate of cardiac disease and related factors using COX model. This descriptive analytical study carried out on eight-hundred and six thalassemic [406 males and 400 females] patients referring to Cooley's ward of dastgheib hospital of Shiraz were studied using a structured questionnaire through enumeration method. Age of occurrence, demographic information, age of onset and type of transfusion, and age of onset and method of chelation therapy were specified. Specialist physicians diagnosed the complications. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical [Proportional hazard rate and its confidence interval using COX model] statistics. In our subjects ages ranging were 1-43 years and means +/- SD was 15.34 +/- 6.82 years. The prevalence of cardiac diseases was 15.9% that it was estimate among female and male 17.8% and 14%, respectively [p>0.05]. the mean of age of onset of cardiac diseases was 16.93 +/- 5.43 years that it was estimate among female and male 16.41 +/- 4.8 and 17.58 +/- 6 years, respectively [p<0.05]. There was a significant association between proportional hazard rate of cardiac diseases of age of chelation therapy onset and educational level of parents [p<0.05]. Proportional hazard rate of this complication was not related to blood group, sex, chelating methods and type of transfused blood [p>0.05]. Early onset of blood transfusion with late onset of chelating increases the occurrence probability and early onset of cardiac disease complications. For prevention of these complications, it is recommended that onset of blood transfusion be according to onset of chelating. Educational level of parents and education to parents and patients very important. Progression of complications is prevented by regular survey and early diagnosis of complications and leads to high efficacy of patients

[Assessment of survival without cardiac disease of thalassemic patients of Shiraz, Iran, 2005]

Thalassemia is the most common hemolytic anemia in the world. Absence or irregular chelation therapy in these patients leads to cardiac complications such as heart failure, precarditis and arrhythmia. These complications are among the most common cause of death in thalassemic patients. The purpose of this study was investigation of survival without cardiac disease and effective factors in these patients. In a retrospective study [with enumeration method] the survival without cardiac disease was studied in 806 thalassemic patients [406 male and 400 female] referring to Cooley's ward of Dastgheib hospital in Shiraz using a data collection form. In addition to determination of age of cardiac disease incidence to survival analysis, demographic information and age at onset and type of transfusion and age at onset and method of chelation therapy also specified. Our data analyzed using descriptive and analytical [Kaplan-Meier and Log Rank test] statistic. The age range of the subjects was from 1 to 43 years [mean +/- SD: 15.34 years +/- 6.82]. The prevalence of cardiac disease was 15.9%. The mean age of onset of cardiac disease and mean age of patients with complications were 16.93 +/- 5.44 and 19.6 +/- 5.8 respectively and the estimated average years of survival with cardiac disease was 2.67 years. The median of survival without cardiac disease was 31.5 years and the estimated rates of survival without cardiac disease of 20 and 25 years were 75% and 69% respectively. There was a significant association between cumulative probability of occurrence of cardiac disease and age, education of parents and age of chelation therapy onset. Early onset of blood transfusion with late onset of chelating therapy increases the occurrence probability of cardiac disease. Educational level of parents and education of parents and patients about thalassemia and its complication would be very helpful in prevention of complications

Prevalence of helminth ova in soil samples from public places in Shiraz

To determine the prevalence of helminth eggs in public places and children's playgrounds, 112 soil samples were collected in 26 sites in Shiraz, southern Islamic Republic of Iran, during September 2002- September 2003. Toxocara cati ova were found in 7 [6.3%] samples, 2 had Ascaris ova, 3 had larvae morphologically similar to Strongyloides stercoralis. Coccidia oocysts were also observed in 4 samples. No contamination was observed during the dry season

Physical growth of 6-18 years old school children in relation to the national center for health statistics standard in Shiraz, Iran

Anthropometric indices were studied in 3534 [2.5% of the total population of school children in Shiraz, Iran] healthy 6-18 years old school children comprising 2037 boys and 1497 girls, in Shiraz, Iran. The school children were selected by proportional multi-stage cluster random sampling. National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS] reference population. The weight for age and height for age indices in the present study were less than those of NCHS. Median heights and weights of children in Shiraz lie approximately on the 25th centile of NCHS standard. These differences may reflect both nutritional and ethnic variations between children in the present study and NCHS data. Adolescent growth spurt occurred in girls around the age of 10 years. Peak Height Velocity [PHV] was 8.41 cm and 10 cm/year in boys and girls, respectively. The present study may be used as a source of reference for school children in Iran