Tuberculosis-related awareness among people living in rural areas of

    Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (TB). Despite the implementation of free treatment, detection rate of TB remains low. Lake of awareness is a main reason for not expressing symptoms in patients. The study aimed to determine the level ofawareness about TB among rural areas of Gorgan. This study was cross-sectional research which was conducted in 2014-2015 in Gorgan villagers (age 12≥15, '> non-TB). These individuals were selected by two-staged cluster sampling. The total sample size was 672. The data collection instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire. Face& content validity and also test-retest method were used for validity and reliability, respectively. Participation of individuals in this study was voluntary and with informed consent. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 16 software. Findings analysis by independent Sample T-Test and Anova test. The mean age of respondents was 12 33±1.17'> . The mean score of villagers' awareness was 1230.95±6.16'> . The awareness level of 330 participants (49.1%) was high. There was a significant difference between awareness and some variables such as literacy level and age (p<0.05). There wasn't a significant difference between awareness and gender, family size, history of morbidity, and ethnicity. According to results of this study, Level of villagers'awareness about TB was high, but they lacked awareness on some aspects like the ways of transmission and virulence of disease. It seems that increasing awareness and surveying of influent factors on awareness in people who have TB symptoms is necessary.

Mother’s Behavior Regarding Preparation of Healthy Breakfast and Snacks for Children: A School-based Intervention Research

Healthy breakfast and snacks play an important role in students’ physical and mental health and education is one of the most effective strategies for improving the nutritional status of children. The aim of this study was to survey the effect of school-based educational intervention on mothers’ behavior with respect to healthy breakfast and snacks for children. In this experimental study, random sampling was conducted and 120 students were selected and divided into two experimental and control groups and their mothers were invited to participate in the study. Samples were examined in two stages through pre-test, and a delayed post-test with a questionnaire that consists of demographic information questions related to knowledge, attitude, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and behavior. Training, lectures and group discussion methods and question and answer with educational aids such as pamphlets were used. Data were analyzed by using SPSS16 and paired t-test, t-test and chi-square analyses were employed. The mean scores of knowledge (6.20±88.30), attitude (1.65±25.95) and perceived benefits (0.29 ±17.95), perceived barriers (2.71±34.70), and behavior of mothers (8.38± 115) in the experimental group significantly increased after intervention (

Survey of knowledge and attitude of mothers about consuming healthy breakfast and snacks in children

Background and Aims: The consumption of healthy breakfast and snack have an important role in the physical and mental health of students, so that a perfect and appropriate breakfast will enhance the learning power and happiness of the children. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness and attitude of mothers in Islamshahr city regarding the consumption of healthy breakfast and snack by children.Materials and Methods: Throughout the present descriptive and analytical study, 315 boys and girls were selected by cluster random sampling and their mothers were invited to participate in the study. Data were collected using appropriate questionnaires that included demographic characteristics, questions related to the knowledge and attitude. The validity of questionnaires were assessed in view of the apparent face and content. Test-retest method and internal consistency were used for questionnaires reliability. Correlation coefficient and Cronbach alpha coefficient were 0.73 and 0.83, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software considering t-tests and variance analysis (ANOVA). All stages of this research were conducted ethically.Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the status of mothers› employment as well as their education level with the average score of knowledge and attitude (p<0.001). The mothers› knowledge about consuming healthy breakfast and snack was also poor (p<0.05), but their attitude was evaluated at a good level (p>0.05).Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it is better to emphasize on awareness raising strategies in designing nutritional interventions for consuming breakfast and snack in mothers of students.Keywords: Healthy Breakfast, Healthy Snack, Mothers, Knowledge, Attitud

Assessment of safety in drinking water supply system of Birjand city using World Health Organization’s water safety plan

Background: The conventional method for managing drinking water quality is not a suitable preventive strategy for protecting public health. A water safety plan (WSP) presents a systematic approach to ensuring the health and quality of drinking water. This study assessed the drinking water supply system safety of Birjand city using the WHO’s WSP. Methods: This investigation employed the WSP-QA Tool and the WSP manual of the WHO and the AWI. For this purpose, software checklists were prepared and, after confirmation of content and face validity, completed based on Birjand’s water and wastewater company records and interview with company’s experts. Data was analyzed using WSP-QA Tool. Results: From total possible 440 points for full use of the program and 328 points of the studied phases, a score of 190 was acquired, indicating a 43.18% coordinated implementation with WSP. System description and management procedures showed the maximum and minimum percentages of congruency with the WSP of 87.5% and 25%, respectively. Among the components of the water supply system, water resource had the most attention. Conclusion: As regards the percentage of overall WSP-phase implementation and the low attention given to some key parameters of the water supply system, such as risk assessment and management procedures, the system currently enjoys a relatively medium level of safety. However, the high points of some phases such as system description, operational monitoring and verification enhance the system’s flexibility for changing the current approach of qualitative management to the WSP. Keywords: Drinking water, Safety, Water supply, Risk assessment, Softwar

The Relationship between Spirituality and Demographic Factors among Students Living in Dormitory of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.Background and Objective: Spirituality is a global phenomenon which recognizes human as a whole and his connection to a Supreme Being as a reason to live and to find meaning and purpose. Students of medical sciences are a large part of health care providers all over the world, and the quality of their services is directly associated with the effectiveness of the health system. Having said that, this study was conducted to determine the level of spirituality and its related factors among students of Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences.Method: The present study is a descriptive-analytical one conducted on 540 female and male students residing in dormitories of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Multistage random sampling was used. The inclusion criterion was students’ consent to participate in the study. The data were gathered through two questionnaires, namely Demographic Factors Questionnaire and Spirituality Assessment Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by T-test and one-way analysis of variance. In this study, the ethical issues were all considered and the authors declared no conflict of interest.Results: The results indicate that there is a significant relationship between some demographic variables (economic status and academic year of students) and spiritualty as well as spiritual attitude. Besides, variables of marital status, faculty, economic status, and academic year significantly correlate with spiritual ability.Conclusion: To promote spirituality of university students, cultural values should be designed and implemented more effectively. Moreover, faculty members need to be selected more carefully because spiritual professors have the ability to revolutionize their students.For downloading the full-text of this article please click here

Prioritizing pre-hospital and hospital emergency staff’s training needs regarding traffic accidents: Comparing the viewpoints of experts and target group

Background and Aims: It is essential to recognize the current situation and training needs for staff in the field of traffic accident prevention in order to organize suitable training programs. This study was conducted to assess the educational needs of pre-hospital and hospital personnel with respect to traffic accidents in 2015.Materials and methods: This combined study was conducted in three phases-collection of qualitative data, design and validation of the needs assessment questionnaire, and a cross-sectional study. In the first stage, the assessment questionnaire was prepared using semi-structured interviews. The content validityof the questionnaire was then conducted by an expert panel. Finally, educational needs of the target group were assessed in a cross-sectional study using the questionnaire. All stages of this research were conducted ethically. Results: Results showed that the most important educational needs of pre-hospital centers were CPR training, opening up airways, checking the status of victim awareness, and ABC training courses. The three priorities of hospital emergency centers included ways to deal with special cases (such as amputation), advanced burn life support, and advanced trauma life support (ATLS) with the same degree of importance and self-care as in a road accident course.Conclusion: The identified priorities point out that it is necessary to formulate and implement educational programs to enhance the skills of pre-hospital and hospital staff

Effect of educational program on HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitude, and behavioral intentions of male high school’s students in Bavanat (Fars province): An interventional research

Introduction: Sexually transmitted diseases were acquired through avoidable and changeable behaviors, so education should be considered as an effective strategy to prevent new HIV infections. This study aims to determine the effect of educational intervention on knowledge, attitudes and behavioral intentions of the second grade students in male high schools of Bavanat about HIV/AIDS in the year 2011.Materials & Methods: In this semi-experimental (before & after) study, after selection of schools that have study condition from 5 high schools, all 99 students of two high schools were selected. The data gathering tool was a valid and reliable researcher designed questionnaire. After pre-test, educational intervention was conducted immediately and 45 days after educating, respectively. Primary and secondary post-tests were performed. Participation in the plan was voluntary and informed. In this study, the collected data have been analyzed using the SPSS version 14 software.Results: The findings showed that the mean scores of knowledge have significant difference after intervention (p<0.001). In addition, the difference between pre and post intervention about mean scores of attitude and behavioral intentions was statistically significant (p<0.001).Discussion & Conclusion: Regarding promotion of students’ awareness and attitudes, continuing and new educations in curricula of students is suggested.Key words: Education, HIV/AIDS, Knowledge, Attitude, Behavioral Intentio

Using the Extended Parallel Process Model in World Studies:On Health Behaviors A Systematic Review

زمینه و اهداف: اثر بخشی برنامه‌های آموزش بهداشت به میزان زیادی بستگی به استفاده صحیح از نظریه‌ها و الگوهای موجود دارد، با توجه به این که یکی از الگوهاي مؤثر در آموزش بهداشت، الگوی فرایند موازي گسترده می‌باشد و این که این الگو دارای سازه‌های تاثیرگذاری در مطالعات مربوط به رفتارهای بهداشتی بوده است، از این رو، مطالعه حاضر با رویکردی نظام‌مند به بررسی کاربرد الگوی فرایند موازی گسترده در مطالعات مرتبط با رفتارهای بهداشتی می‌پردازد. مواد و روش‌ها: در این بررسی از پایگاه‌های خارجی Scoups، Springer، Google Scholar، Science Direct و پایگاه‌های ایرانی شامل ایران مدکس، SID، Magiran استفاده شد. کلمات کلیدی مورد استفاده در جستجوها، الگوی فرآیند موازی گسترده و الگوی فرآیند موازی توسعه یافته بود. همچنین در کلیه مراحل پژوهش موازین اخلاقی رعایت شد و هیچگونه سوگیری و دخل و تصرفی از جانب محقق در مراحل انجام پژوهش صورت نگرفت. یافته‌ها: تعداد 25 مقاله انگلیسی و فارسی یافت شد که 22 مطالعه، مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. طبق یافته‌ها در مطالعات مداخله‌ای انجام شده، با بکارگیری تمام سازه‌های الگوی فرآیند موازی گسترده، به خصوص سازه خودکارآمدی درک شده، اثربخشی آموزش افزایش یافته و در مطالعات مقطعی، تمام سازه‌ها بویژه خودکارآمدی درک شده و حساسیت درک شده و شدت درک شده، پیش‌ بینی کننده‌های مهمی برای رفتار و قصد رفتار بوده‌اند. نتیجه‌ گیری: نتایج نشان داد که کاربرد الگوی فرایند موازی گسترده در پیشگیری و کنترل بسیاری از رفتارهای پرخطر، پیش از آنکه فرد با عامل خطر مواجهه شود، موثر می‌باشد.Background and Aims: The effectiveness of health education programs depends to a large extent on the correct use of existing theories and models. Extended Parallel Process Model is considered as one of the effective models in health education having influential structures in studies on health behaviours.Therefore, the present study set out to study the use of Extended Parallel Process Model in health related behaviours through a systematic approach.Materials and methods: Scoups, Springer, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Iranian databases including Iran Medes, SID, Magiran, etc were all considered in this study. Extended parallel process and Developed parallel process were used as two keywords in the searches. There were 25 papers in English and Persian,22 of which were studied. Ethical issues were considered in all stages of the research, and there was no bias and confinement on the part of the researcher.Results: The findings of this study showed that through the use of all the structures of the parallel process model, especially the perceived self-efficacy construct, the effectiveness of training has been increased in conducted interventional studies. In cross-sectional studies, on the other hand, all structures, especiallyperceived self-efficacy and sensitivity of perception as well as perceived severity have been important predictors for intention and behaviour.Conclusion: Our results revealed that Extended parallel process model can be used to prevent and controlmany risky behaviours before the subject exposed to risk factors

Availability and Accessibility of Fruit and Vegetable in Home and School for Iranian Students: A Cross-sectional Research in Schools of Tehran, Iran

Background: Availability and accessibilityarereported as the main determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption among children. The present study was conducted to assess the status of availability and accessibilityto fruit and vegetable at school and home among Iranian adolescents in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess status of fruit and vegetable availability and accessibilityamong Iranian adolescents. In this study, 500 adolescents aged 11 to 14 years old were investigated in Tehran, Iran. Subjects were chosen by multi-stage random sampling method. The data collection tool was a valid researcher-made questionnaire consist of 21 questions. The data was analyzed using SPSS software version 16.0. Results 68% (n=344) and 27.2% (n=136) of students reported that fruit and vegetables is available in their home always, respectively. Also, 19.6% (n=98), and 58.4% (n=292) of students reported that most of the times and always unhealthy foods were sold in schools’ buffets, respectively; 88% (n=440) of students declared that they are allowed to take fruit and vegetable from the refrigerator and eat any time they want to. Results showed no significant difference between boys and girls in terms of availability and accessibility(P=0.268). In addition, there was a significant relationship between variables of residential area, family and home size, birth order and the parents’ education level and availability and accessibility (

بررسی آگاهی و نگرش مادران در خصوص مصرف صبحانه و میان وعده سالم در کودکان

Background and Aims: The consumption of healthy breakfast and snack have an important role in the physical and mental health of students, so that a perfect and appropriate breakfast will enhance the learning power and happiness of the children. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness and attitude of mothers in Islamshahr city regarding the consumption of healthy breakfast and snack by children.Materials and Methods: Throughout the present descriptive and analytical study, 315 boys and girls were selected by cluster random sampling and their mothers were invited to participate in the study. Data were collected using appropriate questionnaires that included demographic characteristics, questions related to the knowledge and attitude. The validity of questionnaires were assessed in view of the apparent face and content. Test-retest method and internal consistency were used for questionnaires reliability. Correlation coefficient and Cronbach alpha coefficient were 0.73 and 0.83, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software considering t-tests and variance analysis (ANOVA). All stages of this research were conducted ethically.Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the status of mothers› employment as well as their education level with the average score of knowledge and attitude (p<0.001). The mothers› knowledge about consuming healthy breakfast and snack was also poor (p<0.05), but their attitude was evaluated at a good level (p>0.05).Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it is better to emphasize on awareness raising strategies in designing nutritional interventions for consuming breakfast and snack in mothers of students.زمینه و اهداف: مصرف صبحانه و میان وعده سالم نقش مهمي در سلامت جسمي و فكري کودکان دارد، به طوري که باعث افزاش قدرت یادگيري و شادابي کودکان مي گردد. هدف از این مطالعه تعیین آگاهی و نگرش مادران شهر اسلامشهر در خصوص مصرف صبحانه و میان وعده سالم در کودکان می باشد. مواد و روش ها: این مطالعه از نوع توصیفی تحلیلی می باشد. 315 دانش آموز پسر و دختر به روش نمونه گیری تصادفی خوشه ای انتخاب و از مادران آنها برای شرکت در مطالعه دعوت به عمل آمد. داده ها با استفاده از پرسشنامه ای که شامل مشخصات جمعیت شناختی و سؤالات مربوط به آگاهی و نگرش بود، گردآوری شد. روایی پرسشنامه به دو روش روایی صوری و محتوایی سنجیده شد. برای تعیین پایایی پرسشنامه مذکور نیز از روش های آزمون–باز آزمون و همسانی درونی استفاده شد. براي تحلیل داده ها از نرم افزار SPSS16 و آزمون هاي t مستقل و ANOVA استفاده شد. تمامی مراحل مطالعه حاضر طبق موازین اخلاقی اجرا گردید. یافته ها: نتایج نشان داد که ببین وضعیت اشتغال و سطح تحصیلات مادران با میانگین آگاهی و نگرش مادران تفاوت معنی داری وجود دارد (P<0/05) و وضعیت آگاهی مادران در خصوص مصرف صبحانه و میان وعده سالم در سطح ضعف  (P>0/05)، ولی نگرش آنها در سطح خوب ارزیابی شد (P<0/05). نتیجه گیری: با توجه به نتا یج این تحقیق، در طراحي مداخلات تغذیه اي جهت مصرف صبحانه و میان وعده سالم در مادران دانش آموزان بهتراست بر استراتژي هاي افزاش آگاهی تاکيد شود