Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among Iranian pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a great public health concern due to its capacity for prenatal transmission. Serologic studies have reported various estimates for seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among Iranian pregnant women. Estimation of the pooled prevalence of this infection is necessary for policy-making.

Aims: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Iranian pregnant women using systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched national and international databases to identify relevant studies. To enhance the search sensitivity, we evaluated all references and interviewed relevant researchers and research centres. The final studies for meta-analysis were selected according to the quality assessment as well as inclusion/exclusion criteria. Because of the heterogeneity of the primary results, random effects models were used to estimate the pooled prevalence of T. gondii. We included 43 studies with a total sample size of 22 644 in the meta-analysis.

Results: The pooled seroprevalence of overall toxoplasma infection, IgG antibody and IgM antibody was estimated at 41.3% [95% CI: 35.8–46.8], 39.2% [95% CI: 33.3–45.1] and 4.0% [95% CI: 3.1–4.9] respectively.

Conclusions: Our study showed that a considerable proportion of Iranian pregnant women are at high risk for toxoplasmosis.

prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 infection in Iran: a meta-analysis

Background: Seroepidemiologic studies indicate a high prevalence of herpes simplex virus [HSV] infection. This infection leads to ophthalmic, dermatologic, oral, neurologic, vaginal and cervical problems. Different studies have been carried out to estimate the HSV seroprevalence in Iran. Combining the results of these studies would be useful for health policy-making

Objective: This study aims to estimate the pooled prevalence of HSV infection using meta-analysis

Materials and Methods: Using relevant keywords, national and international data banks were searched. Restricting the search strategy, excluding duplicates and investigating the titles and abstracts, relevant articles were identified

To increase the search sensitivity, the lists of references were investigated. To find un-published studies, specialized experts as well as research centers were interviewed

The heterogeneity between the results was assessed using Cochrane test and I-squared indicator

The pooled prevalence of HSV infection was estimated using random effects model

Results: We recruited 33 eligible papers investigated 7762 individuals

The total prevalences [95% confidence intervals] of HSV1, HSV2 and HSV infections were estimated as of 42.04% [20.9-63.1], 6.5% [4.7-8.2] and 25.7% [8.8-42.5] respectively

Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed that the HSV2 seroprevalence among Iranian people is considerably lower than HSV1 infection

Exploring midwifery students' experiences and perceptions of preceptorship project

Special attention has been paid to instructor and preceptor in nursing and midwifery education. This study aims to explore the experiences and Perceptions of midwifery students about implementing Preceptorship Program in delivery setting. The current study is a qualitative research. The focus groups and in-depth interviews were used as data collection tools. Targetful sampling was employed to choose 10 midwifery students from Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in order for them to participate in two discussion groups and in-depth interviews. The content analysis method was used for data analysis. 10 categories, 5 themes and 238 codes were conducted. The themes were: the characteristics of a good preceptor, relationship, motivation and self-esteem, the expectations of a preceptor, and preceptorship experience. The study showed that solving communication problems in educational environment, improving student-preceptor interaction, boosting motivation level and self-esteem among midwifery students, and coordinating procedures conduction are among the important principles of teaching and learning in clinical setting. The present study results can convey the essential knowledge to midwifery education planers on this aspect of educational process and benefit from the advantage of peer preceptors via the instructor's supervision

Personal and family factors affecting life time cigarette smoking among adolescents in Tehran [Iran]: a community based study

The prevalence of smoking among adolescents varies in different parts of the world. The current study aims to survey the socio-demographic and family characteristics related to adolescent lifetime cigarette smoking among 1201 Iranian adolescents aged 15- 18 years old. This study is a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted using the multistage random cluster sampling method in Tehran, Iran in the summer of 2010. The prevalence of lifetime cigarette use amongst boys [30.2%] was about 1.5 times that of girls [22.2%], [p=0.002]. Older age, low parental control, very little parental supervision in the adolescent's selection of friends, and having a friend or family member who smokes were associated with lifetime cigarette use among male adolescents. Moreover, the use of verbal punishment by the parents was a protective factor for female lifetime cigarette use. Smoking has become one of the great health threats among Iranian adolescents. As a result, health promotion programs should be gender based whilst educational and interventional programs for preventing tobacco use should begin before adolescence

Efficacy of group obstetric consultation in mild to moderate anxiety of pregnancy

Anxiety is a common mental disorder of pregnancy leading to adverse maternal and fetal pregnancy outcomes. Hence, preparation of effective approaches for reduction of anxiety is an issue of importance. Accordingly, this study was performed to determine the efficacy of group obstetric consultation on anxiety control in pregnant women in non-severe cases. In this randomized clinical trial, 90 pregnant women attending to a Health Care Center in Tehran, Iran from April 2010 to March 2012 with first pregnancy aging from 18 to 35 years and gestational age of eight to eighteen weeks were evaluated. They were randomly assigned into consultation and control groups. The consultation group was designed according to the different needs of pregnancy for five sessions in five weeks [each session 60 to 90 minutes] and the control group only received routine perinatal care. There was statistically significant difference between after-intervention scores in anxiety state [P=0.014]; but the anxiety trait showed no difference [P=0.19]. Also the changes in trait anxiety scores was more in consultation group compared with control group [P=0.002] that was also seen for anxiety state scores [P=0.0001]. Totally, it may be concluded that group consultation is effective in reduction of state and trait anxiety in pregnant women with non-severe non-pathological cases of anxiety