[Evaluation of mothers' practice regarding their childhood acute respiratory infections]

Acute respiratory infections [ARI] are a major public health problem in developing countries. Health education programs can only be effective when designed to take into account the prevailing practices of the community. The aim of our study was to evaluate practice of mothers towards ARI in their children. In this cross-sectional study, 255 mothers referred to health center of Saheb al zaman in Tehran were studied. The data were collected by a research-made questionnaire. After scoring the questions, the practice score of mothers was determined. Of 229 mothers who had children with ARI, 53 mothers [23.14%] did not perform certain actions before visit a doctor. The most common measure taken by mothers to children at risk of ARI was using the syrup and cold tablets [22.1%] and only about 5% of them used antibiotics for their kids. Most mothers [51.96%] had done these measures based on their personal experiences. 141 mothers [61.57%] had taken her child to the doctor. 92 [40.2%] children were suffering from colds were under breastfeeding that 92.4% of them used the same diet after disease. The mean practice score of mothers was at good level. Also, maternal performance score was significantly correlated with the source of information taken by the mother of a child with ARI [p<0.001]. This study showed that the practice score of understudy mothers toward ARI was good and access to information has an impact on their performance

[Effectiveness of an educational program on mothers' knowledge about iron deficiency anemia]

Iron deficiency anemia[IDA] is the most common type of malnutrition in the world and more than 30 percent of Iranian women suffering from that. Increasing of knowledge with education of population can be an effective program to preventing this problem. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of education on mother's knowledge about preventive methods of iron deficiency anemia. In this quasi-experimental study as before and after study, 336 students' mothers from 8 schools of Tehran participated in 2011 year. The knowledge about IDA before and after education was gathered by a researcher made questionnaire. The educational contents were presented as a lecture in 45 minutes. The knowledge score of participants increased after education in all of understudy subjects and the significant difference was seen between the mean knowledge score before and after study [p<0.0001]. There was significant and positive correlation between mothers' educational level and the program effect [r=0.169, P<0.002] and negative correlation between number of children with program effect [r= -0.140, P<0.007]. There weren't any significant association between educational program effectiveness with mother's age and her occupation, father's age and his occupation and children educational level. This study indicated that educational program even a short-term training is an effective knowledge strategy to promoting mothers' knowledge about IDA.

Physical and behavioral characteristics of physicians from the perspective of traditional I

Background and objective Great physicians of traditional Iranian medicine believed that it is essential for a physician to know medical ethics. They paid special attention to ethics not only in their manuscripts but also in their practice. They even specified many characteristics which are desirable and necessary for physicians. The purpose of this research was to study the apparent characteristics necessary for physicians, from the perspective of traditional Iranian. [medicine [Persian medicine: Methods This study is a review article, which has overviewed traditional Iranian medicine literature and textbooks, to find the suggestions about the physical characteristics that are essential for physicians: Results In Iranian civilization, both before and after Islam, special attention has been paid to physicians' characteristics as well as their knowledge and morality. Having desirable appearance, clothing and good manners have been recommended. Traditional Iranian physicians have expressed great advices with details about the condition of the patients' bedside, manner of speech, and the type and quality of clothing, appearance and personal hygiene, how to express feelings, how to interact with patients and their family and even personal habits such as sleep food and leisure: Conclusion According to the texts of traditional Iranian medicine it seems behavioral characteristics of physicians are as importance as their knowled

[Studying knowledge of medical students of Tehran universities toward avian influenza]

Avian influenza, a viral disease in poultry, is an important infectious disease among human beings, because of easy spreading, no immunity and antigenic shift of virus. It has been occurred outbreak of avian influenza in some neighbor countries of Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge of medical students toward avian influenza. In this cross- sectional study, the knowledge of 403 medical students was gathered using a questionnaire in 2008. A pilot study verified the validity and reliability of questionnaire. The students completed the questionnaire, and then data were analyzed by SPSS software. The mean age of the participants was 23.68 +/- 2.8 years. Male to female ratio was 208 to 194. Mean score of students knowledge was 39.33 +/- 7.4. There was significant relationship between educational level and knowledge score [p=0.001] However, no significant relationship was found between knowledge score and other variables [NS]. This study suggests that educational programs can positively influence the knowledge about infectious diseases, especially avian influenza

[Frequency of consanguineous marriage in Tehran and some related factors]

Consanguineous marriage is an important type of marriage in the world including Iran. Familial marriage mean's marriage between a man and woman who has at least one common grandfather. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of consanguineous marriage and some related factors in Tehran [2008]. This study was a cross-sectional with descriptive and analytic features. 180 couples who intend to marriage and come to health care centers of Tehran's [summer 2008] medical universities were randomly assessed with an author's built questionnaire. Means age of persons with consanguineous marriage and non-consanguineous marriage were 24.7 + 4.2 years and 25.6 +/- 4 years, respectively. The level of knowledge of majority of persons about the effects of consanguineous marriage was intermediate and lower. Most of people believed that genetic consult is very necessary. Frequency of consanguineous marriage was 17.7%. Incidence of familial marriage has no significant relationship with age, sex and education of persons [P>0.05], but there was significant relationship between occurrence of familial marriage and history of this type of marriage in their parent, family and friends [P<0.002]. Although the majority of persons in this study has not a proper level of knowledge about the effects of consanguineous marriage and thus need genetic consult, but their friends were the most important reference of their information about familial marriage and it's consequences. This reveals that communications and genetic consulters have a weak role in giving information to people