Knowledge and behaviors of prevention of COVID-19 and the related factors in the rural population referred to the health centers: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Observance of preventive behaviors is one of the main ways to break the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) chain of transmission. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the knowledge and behaviors of prevention of COVID-19 and the related factors in the rural population of Rasht city. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 344 people of the population referred to health centers in Rasht city were included through multi-stage cluster random sampling. The data were collected using a three-part researcher-made questionnaire including individual-social factors, knowledge about the prevention of COVID-19, and the preventive behaviors against COVID-19. Data analysis was performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests, Spearman's correlation coefficient, and multiple logistic regression analysis, by SPSS software version 16 at a significance level < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean total score of knowledge about COVID-19 was at a moderate level, and the preventive behaviors of COVID-19 were at a good level. There was no significant relationship between the scores of awareness and preventive behaviors of COVID-19 (rs=0.001, P = 0.998). Awareness of COVID-19 was higher in university-educated individuals and women. Also, women, individuals who had access to the Internet, those trained by health centers, and those who were visited by health workers at home had more preventive behaviors. CONCLUSION: Despite the lack of connection between knowledge and preventive behaviors, the villagers living in the suburbs of Rasht had a moderate level of knowledge and a good level of preventive behaviors of COVID-19. Appropriate educational interventions should be carried out to increase the awareness and performance of the rural residents.

The correlation between perceived social support and childbirth experience in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, the role of social support on different aspects of health especially pregnancy and childbirth has been emphasized. Social support facilitates individual access to necessary resources during stressful periods of life like pregnancy and childbirth. Present evidence of effects of social support on birth experience is inconsistent, Therefore, this study aimed to determine the correlation between perceived social support in pregnant women and their childbirth experience. DESIGN: Analytic-cross sectional survey. SETTING: Al-Zahra maternity hospital in Rasht, Iran. PARTICIPANTS: 185 pregnant women who were in latent phase of labor entered the study and finally, 89.18% (n = 165) completed the study. MEASUREMENTS: To measure perceived social support, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support was used at latent phase of labor and to measure childbirth experience, the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire was used within 2 h after childbirth until the mother was discharged. RESULTS: Mean score of perceived social support by significant others (4.18 ± 0.79) was higher than other dimensions of social support. Total mean score of childbirth experience was 58.13 ± 10.72 (score range: 22-88). Logistic regression results showed that support by significant others (P = 0.042, OR = 1.56), gestational age (P = 0.003, OR = 1.56) and mode of delivery (P = 0.004, OR = 0.33) are predictor variables of childbirth experience. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Perceived social support by significant others (spouse) during pregnancy has an important effect on woman`s childbirth experience. Therefore, providing training programs for family especially for spouse in order to increase maternal support during pregnancy is recommended, which can lead to a positive childbirth experience.

Survey of Sleep Status and its Related Factors among Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders among heart failure (HF) patients negatively influence the quality of life. Awareness of sleep disturbances, as one of the disturbing factors of the quality of life among HF patients, and its related factors would help health care staff to provide more comprehensive care. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the quality of sleep and its related factors in hospitalized patients with HF. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey study was conducted on 240 patients with HF hospitalized in one of the health centers of Guilan University of Medical Sciences between July and December 2013. Samples were selected by convenience sampling. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and a researcher-designed questionnaire on sleep disturbing factors were the instruments of this study. The correlation and relationship between sleep quality and variables related to personal, environmental, and disease factors were assessed. RESULTS: The majority of the samples (91.2%) had a poor sleep quality. A significant positive correlation was found between sleep quality and age (r = 0.322; p value < 0.001), body mass index (r = 0.212; p value < 0.001), number of comorbidities (r = 0.205; p value = 0.001), number of hospitalizations (r = 0.202; p value < 0.001), number of drugs consumed (r = 0.178; p value = 0.003), and length of stay in hospital (r = 0.149; p value = 0.011). Also, significant differences were seen between sleep quality and sex (p value = 0.014), smoking (p value = 0.038), educational level (p value = 0. 047), and hospital noise (p value = 0. 004). CONCLUSION: Age, sex, educational level, smoking, and obesity were the most significant factors affecting the sleep quality in our HF patients.