Educational inequalities in self-reported health in a general Iranian population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between educational level and self-reported health in an Iranian population, in order to provide evidence on social inequalities in health from a country in which such data need to be collected.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This population-based study was carried out in Tehran, Iran. Individuals aged 15 years and over were interviewed. Self-reported health was measured by asking each individual to respond to the question: "In general how would you describe your health at present?" We used years of formal education as a measure of socioeconomic status and categorized the answers in five levels. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals indicating the contribution of educational level to self-reported health, adjusting for age, gender, marital status, and chronic diseases.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In all, 4163 individuals were interviewed. The mean age of the respondents was 35.1 years (SD = 16.0); 52% were female; the mean duration of formal education was 10.0 years (SD = 4.5); and 31% rated their health 'less than good'. Overall, women rated their health more poorly than men (P < 0.0001), and the findings showed that those with higher education rated their health significantly better than those with lower educational levels after adjusting for the age, gender, marital status and chronic diseases. The odds ratio for having 'less than good' self-rated health in those at the lowest educational level compared with those at the highest was 2.65 (95% CI = 1.88–3.73).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings indicated an inverse relationship between educational level and self-rated health, and that age, gender, and chronic conditions had independent effects on self-reported health status. The findings of this first study from Iran suggest that health inequalities in developing countries such as Iran need to be addressed and policies for tackling the problem should be considered. In this respect, less well-educated people and women should be seen as the first target populations. It seems that although expanding the educational system might help the state to provide people with more educational options, it is also necessary to ensure that equal opportunities and access to quality education are provided for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds; otherwise the current situation might cost the government more in the long term because of poor health among disadvantaged groups.</p

The short form endometriosis health profile (EHP-5): translation and validation study of the Iranian version

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Endometriosis Health Profile (EHP-5) is a valid instrument to measure health-related quality of life in endometriosis. This study was conducted to culturally adapt and validate the EHP-5 in Iran.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using a standard "forward-backward' translation procedure, the English language version of the questionnaire was translated into Persian (Iranian language). Then a sample of 199 women aged 18-50 years completed the questionnaire. To test reliability the internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Validity was evaluated using known groups comparison.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean age of respondents was 31.4 (SD = 5.4) years. Reliability analysis showed satisfactory result (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.71). The questionnaire discriminated well between sub-groups of women differing in infertility and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in the expected direction.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This preliminary validation study of the Iranian version of the EHP-5 proved that it is an acceptable, reliable and valid measure of quality of life in endometriosis patients.</p

Association between Maternal Anaemia and Postpartum Depression in an Urban Sample of Pregnant Women in Iran

The aim of this prospective study was to determine the relationship between anaemia during pregnancy and postpartum depression. Two hundred eighty-one non-anaemic mothers with singleton and low-risk pregnancy and no history of antidepressant-use were studied. Demographic and reproductive data at week 20 were obtained. Mothers were followed up and haemoglobin (Hb) was checked at delivery. Iranian version of Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was completed 4-6 weeks after delivery. Mean age of the mothers was 26.6\ub14 years. The prevalence of postpartum depression according to EPDS was 5.5%. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that Hb &lt;11 g/dL at delivery would increase the chance of postpartum depression (OR 4.64; 95% CI 1.33-16.08). The results show that diagnosis and treatment of physiologic factors, especially anaemia, would reduce the risk of postpartum depression

Help-seeking behaviors for female sexual dysfunction: a cross sectional study from Iran

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Female sexual dysfunctions (FSD) are prevalent multifactor problems that in general remain misdiagnosed in primary health care. This population-based study investigated help-seeking behaviors among women with FSD in Iran.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a cross sectional study carried out in Kohgilouyeh-Boyer-Ahmad province in Iran. Using quota sampling all sexually active women aged 15 and over registered in primary health care delivery centers were studied. Experience of sexual problems was assessed using an ad-hoc questionnaire (Female sexual dysfunction: help-seeking behaviors survey) containing 14 items. Trained female nurses interviewed all participants after a verbal informed consent. Data were analyzed in a descriptive manner.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In all 1540 women were studied. Of these, 786 (51%) cases had experienced at least one of the FSD problems. Results showed that 35.8% of women with FSD had sought no professional help and the most reasons for not seeking help were identified as: 'time constraints' and believing that it 'did not occur to me' (39.1 and 28.5% respectively). Sixty one percent of women who sought help for FSD reported that 'doctor gave me a definite diagnosis' and 'a definite treatment plan was given' in 57% of cases.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study findings indicated that FSD problems were prevalent and many women did not seek help for their problem. Finding 'time constraints' and believing that the problem 'did not occur to me' as the most cited reasons for not seeking help might facilitate to understand potential barriers that exist in recognition and treatment of the female sexual dysfunctions. Since FSD might have a negative impact on interpersonal relationships and women's quality of life, it seems that there is need to address the problem both at local and national primary health care services.</p

Peak Perimenopause BMD and CaMos Menopausal Women’s Incident Fracture Risk

Medicine, Faculty ofOther UBCNon UBCEndocrinology, Division ofMedicine, Department ofPopulation and Public Health (SPPH), School ofUnreviewedFacultyResearche

Association between Maternal Anaemia and Postpartum Depression in an Urban Sample of Pregnant Women in Iran

The aim of this prospective study was to determine the relationship between anaemia during pregnancy and postpartum depression. Two hundred eighty-one non-anaemic mothers with singleton and low-risk pregnancy and no history of antidepressant-use were studied. Demographic and reproductive data at week 20 were obtained. Mothers were followed up and haemoglobin (Hb) was checked at delivery. Iranian version of Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was completed 4-6 weeks after delivery. Mean age of the mothers was 26.6±4 years. The prevalence of postpartum depression according to EPDS was 5.5%. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that Hb <11 g/dL at delivery would increase the chance of postpartum depression (OR 4.64; 95% CI 1.33-16.08). The results show that diagnosis and treatment of physiologic factors, especially anaemia, would reduce the risk of postpartum depression

Zinc in pregnancy, associated with prolonged labor

Introduction: It is plausible that pregnancy may result in a decrease in the serum zinc concentration. The concentration of serum zinc is an important determinant of maternal complications. The aim of the current study was to identify serum zinc concentration and evaluate the possible correlation of this concentration with the length of first and second stage of labor in the pregnancy. Methods: In an observational prospective study, 432 pregnant women, 18 to 35 years of age, from urban primary health care centers in Tehran (Iran) were selected through a multi-stage sampling method and sampling proportionate to size. The blood samples were obtained for the measurement of maternal serum of iron and zinc in healthy singleton pregnancy between 14 to 20 weeks of gestational age, which was accomplished through electro-thermal atomic absorption spectrometry and zinc the standard procedure, respectively. Meanwhile, the length of the stages of labor was also recorded. Serum zinc and serum iron concentrations during early pregnancy, which are associated with prolonged labor, were also analyzed. Results: Maternal zinc and iron deficiency during pregnancy were found to be around 28.7% and 16.0%, respectively. The overall proportion of prolonged labor was 13.5%. The women with prolonged labor significantly had lower zinc concentration (p=0.03), However, there was no association between prolonged labor and zinc/ iron deficiency after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion: The findings of the current study indicated that a high prevalence of zinc deficiency was identified among the pregnant women in the second stage of pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the need for further research for the evaluation of potential risk factors for maternal complications