survey of the safety conditions of student housings: a case study in a type one university in Shiraz, Iran

Background: This study aimed to investigate the extent of implementation of safety measures in 14 student housings in one of the largest universities in Fars province, Shiraz, Iran

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 14 student housings of one of the largest universities, located in Shiraz, Iran. Audit checklists were completed and rated thought field inspection and interview. Safety Requirement Index [SRI] was then used to evaluate the safety of student housings. SRI was graded on five scales [0-19%: very poor [unsafe]; 20-39%: poor [relatively unsafe]; 40-59%: moderate; 60-79%: good [relatively safe]: and 80-100%: excellent [safe]]

Results: The mean SRI score was 71.01 +/- 15.46%. The highest and lowest level of SRI was 94.11 +/- 6.60% for dimensions of public health and 47.70 +/- 18.42% for elevator safety

Conclusion: None of the studied housings was completely safe in all dimensions. Most of the studied housings were categorized as safe in the dimensions of public health and ventilation and air-conditioning systems; relatively safe in the dimensions of electrical, building, fire and kitchen safety; and moderate in the elevator safety and emergency response. Establishment of safety management system is necessary to promote safety in the studied housings. The results of this study indicated the need to inform the authorities about the safety priorities in housings, to promote the safety conditions. The results could also be used to raise awareness regarding their role and responsibilities about the safety of housings

Attitudes about sex selection and sex preference in Iranian couples referred for sex selection technology

Gender preference is prevalent in some communities and using medical techniques to choose the baby's sex may cause the gender discrimination and gender imbalance in communities. Therefore, evaluating the gender preferences and attitudes towards using sex selection technologies seems to be necessary. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Avicenna Fertility Center. Participants were 100 women with one child who were referred for sex selection. Data were collected through self-developed questionnaires. The questions were designed by the researchers at the experts' panel. To determine the validity of the questionnaire, the viewpoints of professors specialized in these issues were obtained. The statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS software [Version 11.5], and p<0.05 was considered significant. Tendency toward the male was more than female sex [55.5% male, 15.5% female and 28.5% no tendency]. Majority of participants agreed with sex selection with medical reason and sex selection in order to balance the family. Women's level of education had positive effect on agreements to fetal sex selection with medical and non-medical reasons [p<0.001]. Although gender preferences were toward the male sex but this preference was not very strong. Most participants agreed with non-medical sex selection for balancing the sex composition of their children. It doesn't seem that non-medical sex selection for family balancing causes severe sex imbalance in Iran