Community mobilization for youth health promotion: a lesson learned from Iran

More than 36% of the total population of Iran consists of young people aged 15 to 25 yr. Recent studies show that this age group has the highest rate of serious health problems. Youth participatory studies on youth health priority have shown that mental health is one of the most important priorities in youth health. Aim to assessing the mental health needs of youth we conducted a peer group based multidisciplinary study. To conduct a multi disciplinary approach through involving youth for finding their mental health needs and their suggestion for solving them, we designed a qualitative approach based on grounded theory. To data collection, we used a semi-structured guide questionnaire. Sixteen focus group discussions were conducted by trained peers with youth aged 15-25 years. According to FGDs results, most of youth health needs concern with their interpersonal communications skills particularly with their parents'; they had some problems with their parental expectations meet; life skills; self-expression and problem solving process. They were extremely interested in participatory approach in which they involved in assessment and determination of their health problems also in designing health programs. Success of program shows empowering the community through capacity building and notice to peer group-based interventions to critical enhancing in various aspects of youth health is the most effective method to needs assessment and community mobilization for better health

Knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning HIV/AIDS among Iranian at-risk sub-populations

This study in 2003 looked at knowledge, attitudes and behaviours concerning HIV among 3 high-risk groups [201 cross-border truck drivers, 50 female sex workers and 754 youths] in 4 cities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The level of knowledge about HIV was low on average, especially among individuals with high-risk behaviours. Truck drivers and female sex workers had higher knowledge about sexually transmitted infections than youths but their knowledge came primarily from personal experience rather than public awareness programmes. Truck drivers had a more positive attitude to temporary marriage and pre- and extramarital sex than youths. Condom use was low in all groups. Better targeted education of high-risk groups is needed

[General practitioners knowledge about smoking cessation approaches]

Worldwide more than one sixth of total populations are smoker and it is estimated that cigarette smoking will be the most preventable lead cause of death in 2020. Anti smoking advice from general practitioners [GPs] is the most effective way for smoking cessation and recent evidence-based guidelines urge GPs to advice all patients against smoking at every opportunity. This study aimed to identify general practitioner's knowledge about smoking cessation approaches. This survey was carried out through a WHO standardized questionnaire. Based on to sample size calculation, 5140 general practitioners chose by quota sampling method from 25600 practicing general physicians in the country. 74% of subjects were male. About 16% were smoking and 4.6% had past history of it. Less than 30% of subjects have knowledge about smoking cessation approaches, but only 9% of subjects have been received any formal training about these approaches during medical school or post graduate programs. Lack of training about smoking cessation approaches was the most considerable pitfall that mentioned by about 80% of subjects. Improvement of knowledge and attitude of physicians about smoking cessation approaches may have an important role in smoking reduction in the community and public health improvement. So it is a priority to do major effort for providing appropriate training formal course during medical school and postgraduate programs

Medical ethics in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Recent trends in biomedical technologies have been associated with increasing discussion about ethical aspects of the new knowledge in many societies, including the Islamic Republic of Iran. Medical ethics has a long history in our country, and great Iranian physicians laid special emphasis on teaching and practising traditional ethics. In recent decades, great strides have been made in biomedical ethics, especially in the fields of education, research and legislation. We present a brief history of medical ethics in our country. Current activities and topics of future plans are also discussed

Birth and death indicators in the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1984 and 1986

Birth and death indicators were examined through retrospective surveys conducted in 1985 and 1987 in the Islamic Republic of Iran, reviewing 1984 and 1986 events, to obtain infant mortality rate [IMR] and other necessary indicators for health planning and evaluation. Comparison between 1985 and 1987 surveys revealed: 1. No major change in crude death rate [6.3 per 1000 in 1987 survey] had occurred. 2. IMR was 51 per 1000 live births in 1987 survey. 3. The proportion of death rate in children under 5 year to total death has dropped in rural areas from 55 per 100 to 48, and in towns from 32 to 29. 4. Still about 20 and 22 per 100 deaths in urban and rural areas respectively in under 5 children are due to diarrhea; the percentage of those due to infectious diseases in the same areas and age group is 30 and 32 per 100. 5. Birth rate has dropped from 40.4 to 37.7 per 1000; as a result, natural growth of population has decreased from 3.40 per 100 in the 1985 survey to 3.14 in 1987. 6. Maternal mortality rate has dropped considerably in rural areas, from 23 per 10,000 live births to 18