RESUMO
The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome [AIDS] epidemic is in its third decade and presently no single disease has attracted as much attention in the international community as AIDS. This Cross-Sectional study carried out in order to determine and evaluate the knowledge and attitude of high school students about AIDS in Yazd province at 2005. 2146 high school students in different grades from four cities of Yazd province were selected through cluster sampling and evaluated by Self-Administered questionnaires. Although most of the students had an accurate knowledge about modes of HIV/AIDS transmission, but there were significant misconceptions about the disease and modes of HIV/AIDS transmission, but totally, the majority of students [35.2%] had a good knowledge about HIVIAIDS. Most of the student [36.3%] had a positive attitude; however, regarding the proportion of 32.4%, negative attitude towards HIV/AIDS was common also. The knowledge and attitude regarding the academic grade of students was significantly different [p<0.001]. Additionally, attitude of girls was significantly more positive than boys [p<0.001]. Radio and Television [63.9%] were the main sources of information and 21.2% of student named Internet as one of information sources. The Majority of students [56.1%] spoke with their friends about HIV/AIDS. According to the results, it can be recommended that schools have to be regarded as one of the main foci of activities in the strategies of AIDS risk reduction, and education of high school students [as one of the most important risk groups] about all aspects of HIV/AIDS, have to be seriously considered by the education policy makers
RESUMO
Hypertension is the most important risk factor for coronary heart diseases. Statistics indicates the high rate of hypertension in Iran [11.5%] and in yazd the highest [19.3%]. Regarding the role that inappropriate diet plays in causing hypertension as well as mothers' role in nutritional management of family and in adopting and administrating health instructions, this study was carried out to determine the knowledge and attitude of mothers in villages of Yazd. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Information was collected by a standard questionnaire. 363 mothers, their health being controlled by Health Service Centers, were selected by simple sampling and the data was analyzed by SPSS. 92.4% of the mothers knew that salt overuse can act as a factor affecting hypertension. According to most of the mothers [76.1% and 73.8%] hypertension has a good effect on stroke and heart attack respectively. Mothers' knowledge mean score on hypertension was 16.4 +/- 3. 68.3% of mothers had an average knowledge on hypertension and merely 23.1% enjoyed a good knowledge in this regard. In this study, there was no significant relationship between disparity of the average knowledge score among various academic and business groups [P>0.05]. However the relationship between mothers' knowledge score and informed threat score was significant. Media was the most important source of information for mothers [47.5%]. Mothers regarded daily chores as the most effective factor on lack of hypertension control. 32% of the patients were on a diet and 60% used medicine prescribed by their physicians. No one believed that drugs are of no use on hypertension control. Generally, the results showed the good knowledge of mothers about effective factors on hypertension and their complications. But, mothers' attitude and practice on prevention and control of hypertension wasn't acceptable. It was suggested that an extensive educational program should be planned to promote knowledge, attitude and practice of the people especially mothers on the problem