ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Due to the young population of Iran, a significant number of teenagers in our country and the importance of the health of adolescents, especially teenage girls who are the mothers and the future-makers of the society, we designed this study to determine the health needs of adolescent girls living in the city of Qom. METHODOLOGY: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the research population included 853 student girls in the middle and high secondary grades in the city of Qom selected and participated in the study through a randomized multistage cluster sampling method. Data were collected by completing the demographic information questionnaire, and the adolescent girls' health needs questionnaire. Data gathered were analyzed using SPSS software version 19 using the descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The study results showed that the scores of the adolescent girls' needs in health-related areas are as follows: health: 65.33 ± 22.08, nutrition: 52.81 ± 25.40, exercise and physical activity: 50.10 ± 30.55, social justice: 53.95 ± 23.82, counseling: 49.55 ± 34.97, school status: 52.69 ± 28.01, relationship with parents: 55.10 ± 27.44, social support: 50.64 ± 30.52, education: 51.88 ± 29.61, religious beliefs, and spirituality: 66.88 ± 20.87. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, the adolescent girls have a lot of perceived needs in various areas of health, including psychological-emotional, social, physical, educational, and beliefs areas, which have not been met. Therefore, it is recommended to plan and carry out the necessary measures to meet the needs of adolescents with their participation and relevant authorities.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Despite persuasive theories about the beneficial effects of music and singing in developmental care for premature infants, few small studies are available in this regard. We conducted this study to investigate the physiological and behavioral responses of premature infants to recorded lullaby music and silence. METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial, 90 premature infants in the neonatal care unit of a hospital in Qom (Iran) were randomly allocated to intervention (lullaby and silence) or control groups. Lullaby music was played via headphones at a volume of 50-60 dB. In the silence group, headphones were placed on the infants' ears while no music was played. The three groups were surveyed for physiological responses including oxygen saturation, respiratory and heart rates, and behavioral states every five minutes before, during, and after the intervention. RESULTS: The three groups were not significantly different in terms of mean values of respiratory and heart rates, oxygen saturation, and behavioral states of infants. Similarly, no significant within group differences in respiratory and heart rates, oxygen saturation, and behavioral states were observed at different times. CONCLUSION: Our findings did not support the beneficial effects of music for premature infants. However, music is a noninvasive, non-pharmaceutical, and relatively low-cost intervention that can be implemented at infants' bedside. Thus further research is warranted to determine whether the effects noted in previous studies can be consistently replicated in diverse settings and with diverse groups of preterm infants.
