Public Awareness, Attitudes, and First-Aid Measures on Epilepsy in Tehran

Background: People with epilepsy generally encounter misconceptions and negative attitudes about different aspects of the disease. They are also prone to physical injuries during seizures. Lack of awareness about first-aid measures results in taking inappropriate first-aid measures. The objective of this survey was to determine public awareness, attitudes, and first-aid measures about epilepsy in Tehran.Methods: This population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted during December 2016 to May 2017 throughout Tehran. Random stratified cluster sampling was used. Data were collected through interviews using a questionnaire. The awareness section included general awareness, causes, symptoms, seizure triggers, first-aid measures, and recommended treatments. The Likert scale was used for the attitudes section which included 20 statements. The answers about first-aid measures were categorized as helpful, or harmful.Results: A total of 833 adults participated in the survey. The level of total awareness score of 41 (4.9%) participants was very good, 194 (23.3%) good, 255 (30.6%) fair, 210 (25.2%) low, and 133(16.0%) very low. The mean (SD) score about general awareness was 4.6 (3.0), range=0 to 11; causes 5.8 (3.4), range=0 to 13; symptoms of seizures 7.0 (4.0), range=0 to 13; first-aid measures 7.5 (3.4), range=0 to 14. Among all participants, 260 (31.2%),  named at least one superstitious cause for epilepsy. Attitudes were generally positive except for marriage and having kids. The level of first-aid measures score of 74(42.5) was very good, 79(45.4) good, and 21(12.1) low.Conclusion: The awareness of people of Tehran about epilepsy was insufficient, attitudes were generally positive but rather conservative, and first-aid measures at the last witnessed seizure were fairly helpful

Research Network of Tehran Defined Population: Methodology and Establishment

Background: We need a defined population for determining prevalence and incidence of diseases, as well as conducting interventional, cohort and longitudinal studies, calculating correct and timely public health indicators, assessing actual health needs of community, performing educational programs and interventions to promote healthy lifestyle, and enhancing quality of primary health services.The objective of this project was to determine a defined population which is representative of Tehran, the Capital of Iran. This article reports the methodology and establishment of the research network of Tehran defined population.Methods: This project started by selecting two urban health centers from each of the five district health centers affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2012. Inside each selected urban health center, one defined population research station was established. Two new centers have been added during 2013 and 2014. For the time being, the number of the covered population of the network has reached 40000 individuals. The most important criterion for the defined population has been to be representative of the population of Tehran. For this, we selected two urban health centers from 12 of 22 municipality districts and from each of the five different socioeconomic of Greater Tehran. Merely 80000 individuals in neighborhoods of each defined population research station were considered as control group of the project.Results: Totally we selected 12 defined population research stations and their under-covered population developed a defined population which is representative of Tehran population.Conclusion: a population lab is ready now in metropolitan of Tehran

Epidemiological features of children mortality in the area covered by Shahid Beheshti university of medical sciences in 2012

Background and Aim: Under 5-years mortality year is one of the most important indicators of development and health in the countries. Therefore, generating accurate picture of child mortality in order to evaluate the death causes and identifying the avoidable factors for designing the interventions and preventing similar death is necessary. The present study aimed to investigate the causes of deaths in 1 to 59 months children in the area covered by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2012. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study that conducted from March 2012 to March 2013, all of 1 to 59 months children deaths in the area covered by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were investigated. Required data was extracted from registration forms of the child health office of ministry of health and medical education. Results: The total number of deaths in 1 to 59 months children was 383. The highest frequency of death was observed in the children who aged between 1 to 12 months (57.8%). More than half of the children who died were boy (52.5%). Totally, the most common causes of death were congenital and chromosomal abnormalities (17.5%), injuries (15.4%) and cancers (11.2%). Conclusion: Based on the results, designing interventions such as genetic counseling in high risk couples, training of the parent and children for prevention of injuries and public awareness about the warning symptom of the cancers and respiratory system disease in order to reduce the children deaths is essential

The Intersectoral Collaboration Document for Cancer Risk Factors Reduction: Method and Stakeholder Analysis

Background and Objective: Cancers are one of the most important public health issues and the third leading cause of mortality after cardiovascular diseases and injuries in Iran. The most common cancers reported in the recent years have been included skin, stomach, breast, colon, bladder, leukemia, and esophagus respectively. Control of cancer as one of the three main health system priorities of Iran, needs a specific roadmap and clear task definition for involved organizations. This study provides stakeholder analysis include determining the roles of Ministry of Health and Medical Education as the custodian of the national health and the duties of other beneficiary organizations to reduce the risk of cancer for cooperation with a scientific approach and systematic methodology.Materials and Methods: This health system research project was performed by participation of Social Determinants of Health Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Office of the Non-Communicable Diseases of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and other stakeholders in 2013. At first, the strategic committee was established and the stakeholders were identified and analyzed. Then the quantitative data were collected by searching in national database concern incidence, prevalence, and burden of all types of cancers. At the last with the qualitative approach, a systematic review of the studies, documents and reports was conducted as well as conversing for the national strategic plans of Iran and other countries and the experts’ views regarding management of the cancer risk factors. In practice, role and responsibilities of each stakeholder were practically analyzed. Then the risk factors identified and the effective evidence-based interventions were determined for each cancer and finally the role of the Ministry of Health were set as the responsible or co-worker and also the role of the other organizations separately clarified in each case.  </p

Comparison of the Performance of Health Volunteers in the Health Centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objective: Health volunteers are the women who do charity work to prevent, protect and promote the health status of the covered neighbors and hereby cooperate with the health centers. The aim of this study was to compare the health volunteer's performance in the covered health centers by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.Materials and Methods: This descriptive- analytical study was performed by the participation of 2060 Health volunteers, who were cooperating with 90 covered health centers by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. These include Shomal, Shargh, Shemiranat, Pakdasht, Damavand and Firoozkooh. We used census sampling method. Demographic data was gathered through interviews with the health volunteers and their performance evaluated by the supervisor of the volunteers; through the evaluation forms and these data gathered together.Results: The mean (SD) of the health volunteers performance was 30.9 (16.4) in all centers. They were 35.1 (22) in Shargh, 34 (14.5) in Shomal, 32 (11.3) in Firoozkooh, 28.3 (14) in Shemiranat, 7.9 (9.2) in Damavand and 23.6 (8.5) in Pakdasht respectively. The mean (SD) of the efficacy of health volunteers was 8.6 (9.9) in all centers. They were 11.7 (5.6) in Firoozkooh, 10.7 (15.7) in Shargh, 9.4 (6.8) in Shomal, 7.9 (4.9) in Damavand, 7.9 (6.1) in Shemiranat and 4.6 (4.3) in Pakdasht respectively. Older and married volunteers with more experience performed better. There was no significant relationship between the efficacy of health volunteers with their literacy level, employment status and absorber of them.              Conclusion: The health volunteers of Shomal, Shargh and Firoozkooh had the best performances respectively. The performances of those in Shemiranat, Damavand and Pakdasht were less than the overall health centers’ mean score. The efficacy score of Firoozkooh, Shomal and Shargh health centers were above the overall health centers’ mean score respectively. Considering all factors, it seems that the efficacy of the health volunteers of Shomal and Pakdasht were the most and least suitable respectively.Keywords: Performance, Efficacy, Health volunteers, Responsibility, Empowerment programs, Healt

The Impact of Education on Nutritional Behavior Change among Clients of Sardar- Jangal Health Center in 2012

Background and Objective: Nutrition is one of the effective factors in the protection of health and the prevention of disease. Therefore, determination of the relationship between nutrition choices and health of people is emphasized. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of education and nutrition consultation on changing the unhealthy nutritional habits, and improving healthy nutrition behavior among the clients of Sardar-Jangal health center in 2012.    Materials and Methods: This interventional study was performed with the participation clients of Sardar Jangal health center in 2012. The sample size was 1500 and the sampling method was census. Data was gathered through a questionnaire and interview.The questionnaire included information regarding age, sex, education, employment and nutritional status. The scores between 9-11, 5-8 and less than 5, respectively, were considered as favorable, relatively favorable and unfavorable nutritional status. The participants with relatively favorable and unfavorable status were referred to nutrition education and consultation classes. At the end of the consultation classes, their nutritional status were assessed again. The data was analyzed through SPSS 21, using T-Test.Results: In the study, 1500 clients of Sardar Jangal health center participated. The sample included 383 (25.6%) male and 1117 (74.4%) female. The mean age of male and female was 38.3±21.1 and 36.9±17.4 respectively. Before participating in the nutrition education and consultation classes, the nutrition status of 343(30.7%) of females was favorable whilst for 775 (69.3%), the nutritional status was unfavorable. Among 114 (29.8%) of males it was favorable and amongst 268 (70.2%) it was unfavorable. Between the mentioned clients, the nutrition status of 144 (20.1%) females and 28 (12.7%) males improved after nutritional consultation (P &lt; 0.001).Conclusion: The results showed nutritional education and consultation are effective in improving the nutritional behavior and modifying the incorrect nutritional behavior.Keywords: Nutrition, Education, Behavior change, Nutrition consultation, Nutritional status </p

Review of Injuries Leading to Death in Children Aged 1to59 Months in the Area Covered by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences from March 2011- March 2013

  Background and Objective: Injuries have been identified as one of the most important causes of disability and death in humans, and children are more vulnerable to injuries than adults because of limitations in the detection of risk. The present study aimed to investigate the children aged 1 to 59 months death due to injuries cases in the area covered by the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Methods and materials: This survey was a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted during the years 2011 to 2013. In this study all of the children aged 1 to 59 months deaths due to injuries cases that have occurred in the area covered by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were studied. Required data was extracted from registration forms of the child health office of Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Results: The total number of deaths due to injuries recorded for children aged 1 to 59 month was 103. The most common causes of death were transport accidents, falls, drowning and respiratory obstruction. The highest frequency of death was observed in the children aged 1 to12months (24.3%).More than half of the children who died were boys (54.4%). Conclusion: Approximately 70% of deaths due to injuries in children aged1to 59 months were due to the four following causes: transport accidents, falls, drowning and respiratory obstruction. All of these causes are preventable, thus, designing interventions in order to reduce children’s deaths is essential and should be considered as a priority by the national health planners. REFERENCES1- Ramazani A, Izadkhah M, Gholeenejad B, Amirabadizadeh H. Epidemiologic study and relationship factors of home injuries in clients to Birjand hospital in 2004. J Rostamineh. 2010;2(3):71-9.2- Mahram M, Derakhshandeh J, Jamshidi M, Yektaparast M. Study of home injuries in clients of health centers and hospitals of Zanjan: 1999. 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