Quality of life of Iranian beta-thalassaemia major patients living on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea

In the present study, the aim was to explore the quality of life of thalassaemia major [TM] patients according to age, sex, school performance, severity and complications of the disease. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Quality of life was evaluated by 4 questionnaires; demographic characteristics, the short form 36 health survey [SF-36], Persian version of symptoms checklist-90-revised [SCL-90-R] and life satisfaction index [LSI]. 687 [41.08%] of the eligible patients with TM completed the questionnaires. With the SF-36 questionnaire, 329 [47.9%] participants had an excellent level of physical functioning. With the SCL-90-R questionnaire, 446 [64.9%] participants had a global severity index of > 0.7, considered psychiatric patients, 141 [20.5%] patients had GSI between 0.4 and 0.7, considered suspected psychiatric patients and 100 [14.6%] participants had GSI of < 0.4, considered non-psychiatric patients. The mean score of LSI questionnaire was 20.50 [SD 5.95], range 2-37. Beta-TM patients are at risk of psychiatric symptoms and need appropriate psychiatric counseling

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards HIV/AIDS among Iranian prisoners in Mazandaran province in the south-coast area of the Caspian Sea

HIV infection in the Islamic Republic of Iran is concentrated primarily among intravenous drug users. This study investigated the knowledge, attitudes and practices towards HIV/AIDS prevention of a random sample of prisoners in 5 prisons in Mazandaran province. Of 1760 individuals aged 18-65 years old completing the questionnaire, the mean age was 30.1 [SD 8.1] years [range 18 to 59 years]; 95.8% were male. Respondents had an average to fairly good knowledge about HIV/AIDS, with the percentages answering correctly ranging from 11.9%to 85.9%. However many had the misconception that [HIV/AIDS does not influence Iran] and [I will not be infected with HIV/AIDS under any conditions] and 63.6% agreed that lack of religious and moral commitment could spread AIDS infection. HIV/AIDS prevention efforts are needed for prisoners in Mazandaran province

Association between malnutrition and depression in elderly people in Razavi Khorasan: a population based-study in Iran

To determine the prevalence of malnutrition and depression in free-living elderly people and their relationships [If any] in Razavi Khorasan, Iran 2007. To evaluate nutritional status, we used Mini Nutritional Assessment [MNA] method in free-living elderly people [n=1565 using cluster sampling, 720 males and 845 females, aged>/= 60 yr] and their relationship to Socio Economic Conditions [SECs]. Based on the final scores, our patients were classified into three groups: score 17-23.5 [at risk for malnutrition], score less than 17 [with malnutrition], and score 24-30 [well nourished]. To determine the mood status [here depression], we used Geriatric Depression Score [GDS]. According to this score our participants turned out to be in two distinct groups: depressed [score >/=8] and non-depressed [score< 8]. From the total subjects entered the study [1495], 22.07% were depressed and 11.5% and 44% were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition respectively. In depressed group, the prevalence of malnutrition was 14.5% [48 out of 330] and the prevalence of "at risk of malnutrition" was 45.8%, whereas the prevalence of malnutrition and at risk of malnutrition in non-depressed population were 10.6% and 43.3% respectively. From the aforementioned information we have concluded that there is a significant statistical difference between the prevalence of malnutrition in depressed and non-depressed individuals [P= 0.047]. With respect to the high rate of vegetative symptoms in elderly depressed individuals, malnutrition would have a higher prevalence in the depressed people

[Mental health status of beta-thalassemia major in Mazandaran Province in 2006]

Beta-thalassemia major [TM], a chronic, genetically determined hematological disorder, has received little investigation on the psychological aspects of the disease and the psychosocial adjustment of patients with this anemia. In the present study, the aim was to explore the nature of psychopathology according to age, sex, school performance, severity and complications of the disease in TM patients. A Cross-section descriptive study was conducted at the 14-Thalassemia Unit of different hospitals of Mazandaran province Iran in 2006,. Psychological aspects were evaluated by the Persian version of symptoms checklist-90-revised questionnaire. Information on relevant demographic characteristics, school performance, severity and complications of the disease was collected by one of the investigators who created the questionnaire. Analysis of data was done by Chi square method, t test and one way ANOVA. 687 [41.08%] of the 1672 eligible patients with TM completed the questionnaires. The mean age of the participations was 21.93 +/- 5.90 years and with a range of 15-45 years. 363 [52.8%] were female, 602 [6.87%] were single, 465 [67.7%] had not higher educational level. In our study, 446 [64.9%] of TM patients had GSI > 0.7 as psychiatric patients, 141 [20.5%] had GSI between 0.4 to 0.7 as suspected psychiatric patients, and 100 [14.6%] had GSI < 0.4 as non-psychiatric patients. These findings show that beta-thalassemia major patients are at risk for psychiatric symptomatology and need appropriated psychiatric consults

[Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in health center of Mashad, 2007]

Exclusive breast-feeding during the first 6 months of life is the best type of nutrition for the infants in terms of fulfilling their its physical and emotional needs. The incidence of many kinds of infection decreases with breast-feeding. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of exclusive breast-feeding infants aged less than 6 months in Mash'had and to look at some factors that affect breastfeeding. This population-based survey used a stratified cluster sampling method to draw 30 clusters containing a total of 1450 infants aged 7-12 months. Data collection was performed using both questionnaires and interviews with mothers. Exclusive breast-feeding was defined as nursing through the first 6 months of life without any other food intake except drugs and vitamin supplements. The study achieved a response rate of 87.4% in mothers; 51.2% of the infants were male and the remaining 48.8% [618] were female. The overall prevalence of exclusive breast-feeding during the first 6 months was 56.4% with [95% CI: 49.7%-63.2%]. The figure was 57.2% [95% CI: 49.9%-64.4%] for boys and 55.7% [95% CI: 48.7%-62.6%] for girls. In this survey, 91.7% of the infants [95% CI: 88.7%-94.7%] had received breast-feeding immediately after birth. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the mother's age, her awareness of the adequacy of her milk, and advice from others to use formulas were the factors that had a significant relationship with breast-feeding in the first 6 months. Almost 43% of infants had received alternative nutrition such as family food or formula. Considering the important effect of breast-feeding, provision of educational programs by the Health Ministry to raise the mothers' awareness of breast feeding can be a priority in children's health