Exploration of Factors Promoting and Inhibiting Fast Food Consumption among Adolescents

Introduction: In recent years, fast food consumption has increased among adolescents and it has become a concern, a health threat, and a major health problem. There are few studies and evidences about factors promoting and inhibiting the consumption of fast food. This study aimed to identify factors promoting or inhibiting the consumption of fast food among adolescents. Method: This qualitative study was conducted in Tehran. Using purposive sampling method, a total of 42 adolescents were enrolled in the study. Data were collected using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Results: According to the findings of this study, all factors inhibiting the consumption of fast food were classified into three main themes: personal views, social and family inhibiting factors. And promoting factors include: personal views, social and family promoting factors. Conclusion: This study identified the factors promoting and inhibiting the consumption of fast food among adolescents. According to the results, the factors promoting fast food consumption were stronger than the inhibiting factors. In other words, there are many factors promoting adolescents to consume fast foods. The findings of this study can be a valuable groundwork for designing interventions for reducing the consumption of fast food; however, more research is needed to investigate and understand effective strategies to reduce fast food consumption in adolescents

Perceived norms of premarital heterosexual relationships and sexuality among female college students in Tehran.

This paper describes perceptions of the societal acceptability and acceptability among peers of different types of premarital heterosexual relationships in Iran. Sources of variation in subjective norms are assessed. Results derive from a survey conducted in 2005 of a representative sample of 1743 female college students from four multidisciplinary universities in Tehran using two-stage random cluster sampling. An anonymous pilot-tested questionnaire was used. Respondents displayed remarkable heterogeneity and ambiguity concerning the social acceptability of premarital heterosexual friendship, dating and physical contact, but expressed greater certainty about the unacceptability of premarital sex. The majority (77.5%) reported that premarital sex was socially prohibited, while about one third (33.1%) were unsure about the social acceptability of having a boyfriend and dating before marriage. Peer norms were perceived to be more liberal but, nevertheless, very few peers were thought to be in favour of premarital intercourse. Older students, those with educated fathers and those studying in a mixed-sex university perceived norms to be more liberal than their counterparts. Access to satellite television, a major source of exposure to new information and values about sexuality, was a major predictor of liberal peer norms. It appears that a significant proportion of young people in Tehran have broken with tradition with regard to premarital social interaction and romantic friendships, but the majority still conforms to traditional cultural and religious values regarding abstinence before marriage

Factors associated with contraceptive use in Tehran, Iran.

OBJECTIVES: In spite of the government's efforts, the prevalence of contraceptive use in Iran is only 55.4%. Health concerns, side effects, failure of the methods and some demographic issues, among which education, age, and number of daughters, have a great influence on the enforcement of contraceptive measures. The aim of the present study was to identify factors affecting contraceptive use in Iran. METHODS: Data from the project 'The study of contraceptive practice in Tehran, 1999-2000' were analyzed with regard to the factors associated with contraceptive use by Iranian couples. A total of 4042 women at reproductive ages who had delivered in one of the 12 teaching hospitals of Tehran and had at least one child that lived for at least 24 hours after birth, were interviewed using a questionnaire that gathered information about their socio-demographic status, fertility history, and other characteristics. RESULTS: Using a multinomial logistic regression, it was found that the woman's age, her own or her husband's level of education, previous awareness about contraceptive methods, number of abortions, and number of sons and daughters were factors that were significantly associated with contraceptive use. CONCLUSIONS: A number of factors affect the application of contraceptive measures. It is essential that health policy makers be aware of these to promote contraception and population control

Exploration of Factors Promoting and Inhibiting Fast Food Consumption among Adolescents

Introduction: In recent years, fast food consumption has increased among adolescents and it has become a concern, a health threat, and a major health problem. There are few studies and evidences about factors promoting and inhibiting the consumption of fast food. This study aimed to identify factors promoting or inhibiting the consumption of fast food among adolescents. Method: This qualitative study was conducted in Tehran. Using purposive sampling method, a total of 42 adolescents were enrolled in the study. Data were collected using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Results: According to the findings of this study, all factors inhibiting the consumption of fast food were classified into three main themes: personal views, social and family inhibiting factors. And promoting factors include: personal views, social and family promoting factors. Conclusion: This study identified the factors promoting and inhibiting the consumption of fast food among adolescents. According to the results, the factors promoting fast food consumption were stronger than the inhibiting factors. In other words, there are many factors promoting adolescents to consume fast foods. The findings of this study can be a valuable groundwork for designing interventions for reducing the consumption of fast food; however, more research is needed to investigate and understand effective strategies to reduce fast food consumption in adolescents

Exploring the Consequences of Early Marriage: A Conventional Content Analysis

Early marriage is one of the most important social issues for young women and can have many consequences. The present study aimed to explore the consequences of early marriage among Kurdish women in western Iran who were married under the age of 18. This qualitative study was conducted with the approach of conventional content analysis. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 30 women selected by purposeful sampling. Data analysis was performed using Graneheim and Lundman’s method. A total of 389 codes, 12 subcategories, 4 sub-categories, and 2 main categories were extracted from the data analysis. Negative consequences of early marriage include: 1—physical and psychological problems (high-risk pregnancy and childbirth, physical illnesses, depression, and emotional distress); 2—family problems (dissatisfaction with married life, experience of having lots of responsibility, lack of independence in family life); 3—social problems (risky social behaviors, lack of access to social and health services, social isolation, lack of access to a job, and educational opportunities); and 4—positive consequences, including receiving intra-family support, improving living conditions, and opportunities for progress and empowerment. It is possible to reduce problems and challenges after early marriage by increasing the awareness and knowledge of young women about contraceptives and providing appropriate social and health facilities, and services during pregnancy. Providing the necessary training and psychological counseling for them and their husbands on how to deal with personal problems and marital life will be effective to a great extent