An explanatory model of depression among female patients in Fars, Kurds, Turks ethnic groups of Iran

Background: Depressive disorder is globally estimated to be as many as one in five visits to primary health care. Approximately more than 50 of depressed women in primary care are not diagnosed. As a part of a major investigation into perceptions of women's depression, this study explored how female patients and their relatives conceptualize patients' conditions in three ethnic groups in Iran (Fars, Kurds and Turks). Methods: Qualitative methods were used for data collection. Depressed women and their relatives were purposively selected from the public psychiatric clinics affiliated to university of medical sciences in the three study cities. Twentyfive depressed women and 14 relatives were interviewed in three ethnic groups. Results: One theme "illness meaning", including three categories: perceived symptoms, label of the illness, and effects of the illness was found through the content analysis. The participants perceived symptoms of illness as somatic and psychological depending on the participant's assumed reason for the onset of the illness. There were most similarities in term used for of the illness in the three ethnic groups. Most of the study participants described the illness in terms of nerve problems/illness, and depression "afsordehgi". The most important effects that depressed women had experienced because of their illness were marital conflict or a guilt feeling originating from their inability to support family. Conclusion: These findings suggest the need to recognize and choose appropriate diagnostic approach for depressed women in the context of Iran

What they fill in today, may not be useful tomorrow: Lessons learned from studying Medical Records at the Women hospital in Tabriz, Iran

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The medical record is used to document patient's medical history, illnesses and treatment procedures. The information inside is useful when all needed information is documented properly. Medical care providers in Iran have complained of low quality of Medical Records. This study was designed to evaluate the quality of the Medical Records at the university hospital in Tabriz, Iran.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In order to get a background of the quality of documentation, 300 Medical Records were randomly selected among all hospitalized patient during September 23, 2003 and September 22, 2004. Documentation of all records was evaluated using checklists. Then, in order to combine objective data with subjective, 10 physicians and 10 nurses who were involved in documentation of Medical Records were randomly selected and interviewed using two semi structured guidelines.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Almost all 300 Medical Records had problems in terms of quality of documentation. There was no record in which all information was documented correctly and compatible with the official format in Medical Records provided by Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Interviewees believed that poor handwriting, missing of sheets and imperfect documentation are major problems of the Paper-based Medical Records, and the main reason was believed to be high workload of both physicians and nurses.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The Medical Records are expected to be complete and accurate. Our study has unveiled that the Medical Records are not documented properly in the university hospital where the Medical Records are also used for educational purposes. Such incomplete Medical Records are not reliable resources for medical care too. Some influencing factors external to the structure of the Medical Records (i.e. human factors and work conditions) are involved.</p

Neglected diseases of neglected populations: Thinking to reshape the determinants of health in Latin America and the Caribbean

BACKGROUND: People living in poverty throughout the developing world are heavily burdened with neglected communicable diseases and often marginalized by the health sector. These diseases are currently referred to as Neglected Diseases of Neglected Populations. The neglected diseases create social and financial burdens to the individual, the family, the community, and the nation. DISCUSSION: Numerous studies of successful individual interventions to manage communicable disease determinants in various types of communities have been published, but few have applied multiple interventions in an integrated, coordinated manner. We have identified a series of successful interventions and developed three hypothetical scenarios where such interventions could be applied in an integrated, multi-disease, inter-programmatic, and/or inter-sectoral approach for prevention and control of neglected diseases in three different populations: a slum, an indigenous community, and a city with a mix of populations. SUMMARY: The objective of this paper is to identify new opportunities to address neglected diseases, improve community health and promote sustainable development in neglected populations by highlighting examples of key risk and protective factors for neglected diseases which can be managed and implemented through multi-disease-based, integrated, inter-programmatic, and/or inter-sectoral approaches. Based on a literature review, analysis and development of scenarios we visualize how multiple interventions could manage multiple disease problems and propose these as possible strategies to be tested. We seek to stimulate intra- and inter-sectoral dialogue which will help in the construction of new strategies for neglected diseases (particularly for the parasitic diseases) which could benefit the poor and marginalized based on the principle of sustainability and understanding of key determinants of health, and lead to the establishment of pilot projects and activities which can contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals

Primary Health Care in the Rural Area of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Primary health care in the Islamic Republic of Iran was conceived and nurtured on the strength of scientific research, politi&amp;shy;cal commitment, and well thought out planning. Due to expansion of PHC network in rural areas of Iran health Indicators have significantly improved.&amp;nbsp;The health care and network in this country is, however, in need of serious repair if all this endeav&amp;shy;ors hither to be wasted.&amp;nbsp

Age of onset of menopause and effective factors on it in the women of Reye town during the year 1371

History and Objectives: Due to the increase in life expectancy in the society and the enhancing numbers of the menopausal individuals and also the broad range of changes in the body metabolism after menopause and in order to define the age of menopause and the effective factors on it, this research was performed in women of Reye town during the year 1371. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was performed on 400 women aged 49-60 years and they were asked whether they are menopausal or not? And also the role of hereditary factors menstruation status individual and environmental characteristics on menopausal phenomenon were evaluated and presented with descriptive statistics and using the calculation method of life table the probability of menopause for different ages were calculated and in a multi regression the role of the main factor and or factors in the development of menopause was determined. Results: In the individuals under study 88% were menopausal and the average age at menopause was 47.3% years. The probability of menopause is zero at the age of 28 years and one at the age of 60 years. Half of the total population of the evaluated women aged 48-49 years. The most important effective factors on menopausal age were hereditary factors in this study (P<0.0001) and other factors such as family and the menopausal age of the sisters had significant roles (P<0.01). There was no correlation between the appearance of body mass number of childbirths and pregnancies number of abortions method of birth control, cigarette, ethnicity, socioeconomic, status, … and age at menopause. Conclusion: Age at menopause is low and considering the sample volume and lack of diversity of socioeconomic status in this population, further studies are recommended

An Experience of Peer Education Model among Medical Science University Students in Iran

&quot;nBackground: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of peer education among university students for reproductive health promotion based on researchers&apos; experiences.&quot;nMethods: This interventional study was conducted in Qazvin University of Medical Science during 2002 to 2004 through stakeholders&apos; partnership and selection of 24 volunteer students according to their knowledge, interest, com&amp;shy;munication skills. Capacity building was performed through holding an interactive reproductive health coarse contained marital health, illegal abortion, family planning, STI/AIDS, communication and counseling skills. Trained peer educators have introduced to other student and present education and counseling formally and informally. A post interventional study was conducted after 9 months in order to find its effectiveness.&quot;nResults: In our experience Stakeholders&apos; partnership in community interventional programs led to the best expected availability of better health through ownership and adopting policies. In present study, the proper determined criteria for selection of peer educators and clear understood expectations of the peer educators&apos; role were very important in health promotional program. Although peer education was acceptable program for university students, more support and supervising for peer groups are needed. The students believed that the power point of peer education and counseling related to same age groups sympathy, confident, well behaved, cheerful, and kind-hearted and peer educators awareness.&quot;nConclusion: Universities are appropriate real world for experience a friendly youth program and then disseminate it to other young communities. There seems peer education is effective strategy for reproductive health promotion and reinforce positive behaviors in youth. &amp;nbsp

Factors Affecting Unwanted Pregnancies in Urban Areas of Kohgiloyeh and Boyer Ahmad Province in 2008

Introduction & Objective: Unwanted pregnancies and its complications are one of the most important global problems related to mothers. The aim of the present study was to determine the factors affecting unwanted pregnancies in urban areas of the Kohgiloyeh and Boyer Ahmad province. Materials & Methods: In this case – control study conducted at Yasuj University of Medical Sciences in 2008 ,350 women were chosen as the case group, and 700 women as the control group. During the study, data collection forms were completed by each group. Subsequently, the collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 by using the logistic regression, univariate, and multivariate analysis. Results: According to the results of univariate analysis, the variables husband’s education in primary school , age of the last child under one, uncertain prevention methods and receiving means of prevention from the private sector revealed that significant differences existed between the two groups (P Value<0/05). Finally, the multivariate analysis beetwen husband education variables, age of the last child , prevention methods, and receiving a contraceptive device, a significant correlation was observed with unwanted pregnancy(P Value<0/05). Conclusion: Results of this study determined that three variables (contraceptive method, the place of obtaining means, and level of her husband education) are the most important variables which affect the chance of increasing of unwanted pregnancy in users of contraceptive methods