ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Prevalence of sexual dysfunction varies from 20% to 40% in men and women in different studies in Iran. Despite its high prevalence, it seems that this issue has been neglected, particularly in Islamic countries. The aim of this study was to assess sexual health in Iran. This was a mixed method study. METHODS: Data were collected through evaluating country's sexual health programs and literature review. Sexual health status was drafted and formed following a sound analysis by stakeholders. After conducting interviews and focus group discussions, the main points of the meetings, influencing factors of the present status and oncoming strategies were obtained upon experts' opinions. RESULTS: Review of general policies and the literature showed that although there is adequate support for improving sexual health status in the country, sexual health status has been decreased in the last decade. Based on Iranian sexual health indicators and experts' opinions, the focus points could be divided into the following groups: Structural and functional -political, legal-behavior, and cultural. CONCLUSION: Breaking the taboo of sexual health issues would require attention from the policy makers especially in Islamic nations to facilitate the steps on the road to sexual health. In this regard, clarified vision, strategic goals and interventional policies are proposed. An inter-sectional cooperation is needed to implement interventions to promote sexual health status.
ABSTRACT
Although the error in health care has received attention recently, patient safety culture in health centers has been relatively neglected. To measure the patient safety culture in primary health centers. A cross-sectional study, utilizing the modified version of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and a demographic questionnaire. Healthcare staffs from health centers were participated in the survey. The patient safety culture score including subscores on 11 dimensions and 39 items; patient safety grade and number of events reported. The overall positive response rate of patient safety culture was 57 ± 16.8 (CI (95)55%-59%). The dimensions that received higher positive response rate were "Teamwork across units of health center", "Teamwork within units", "Head of center support for patient safety". The lowest percentage of positive responses was "Non punitive response to error". There were no relationship between working years and patients safely culture score. Similarly, no relationship was found between professional, gender and total patients safely culture score. Statistical analysis showed discrepancies between Iranian health centers and the US hospitals in three dimensions. For improving patient safety culture in health centers, it is necessary to have enough staff and establish an environment to be open and fair with staff which helps report errors spontaneously and without any fear. The findings of this study could be used to measure changes in patient safety culture over the time.
