School Bag Weight and the Occurrence of Shoulder, Hand/Wrist and Low Back Symptoms among Iranian Elementary Schoolchildren

Background: Schoolchildren usually use school bags to carry their school materials. Carryingheavy school bags can cause several problems such as musculoskeletal problems amongschoolchildren. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the weightof school bags and the occurrence of low back, shoulder and hand/wrist symptoms amongprimary school children.Method: This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted among a sample of307 elementary school children in Tabriz, Iran. Data were collected using a questionnaire andfrom measurement of the school bag weight, body weight and height of each participant.Data were analysed using SPSS software.Results: The average load carried by schoolchildren was 2.9 kg, representing approximately10% of the children's body weight. Girls and lower grade children carried a greater percentageof their body weights. Approximately 86% of the children reported some kind of musculoskeletalsymptoms. The occurrence of shoulder, wrists/hands, and low back pain amongschoolchildren was 70%, 18.5% and 8.7%, respectively. The results of binary logistic regressionindicated that the school bag weight (expressed as a percentage of body weight) wasonly significantly associated with hand/wrist symptoms (P<0.05). Girls were more likely tocomplaint from low back pain than boys were. Age was significantly negatively associatedwith hand/wrist symptoms. Body mass index was also significantly associated with shouldersymptoms.Conclusion: The results indicate a high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms amongelementary schoolchildren. Preventive measures and appropriate guidelines with regard tosafe load carriage in schoolchildren are therefore needed to protect this age group

Sexual motivations during the menopausal transition among Iranian women: a qualitative inquiry

Abstract Background Women’s sexuality may be adversely affected during the menopausal transition. This exploratory qualitative study was conducted to explore how women assign meaning to and process sexual motivation during the menopausal transition. Methods We purposefully approached 22 married women ages 44–59 (52.81 ± 3.6 years) in urban health care centers and workplaces in Tabriz city, located in northwest Iran. Individual face-to-face interviews were performed at a place and time convenient to the women. All interviews were audio recorded and then transcribed to create verbatim written accounts. Inspiring Graneheim and Lundman approach, we employed conventional content analysis to derive coding categories directly from our row data. Findings Four main themes emerged from data analysis: “Diminished sexual capacity” (effect of menopause, Illnesses associated with mid-life, desire discrepancy); “intimate coupling” (lack of physical and/or emotional intimacy, couple communication and romance); “sociocultural scripts” (sexual script, parental responsibilities); and “sense of youthfulness” (having an active and happy life, maintaining physically attractiveness). Conclusion The qualitative findings suggest that providing sexual health education and counseling, to encourage critical discussions regarding current sociocultural scripts and to create an environment that would enable men and women alike to adopt a healthy and happy lifestyle for eliminating barriers and preserving and enhancing motivational factors associated with sexuality

Improved couple satisfaction and communication with marriage and relationship programs: are there gender differences?—a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background The aspects of marriage and relationship and their effect on couples’ satisfaction are essential and critical aspects to be explored in this globalized and contemporary world. Since there are no reported meta-analysis and systematic reviews conducted in the last two decades in this area, we aimed to investigate the effect of marriage and relationship programs (MRP) on couples’ relationship satisfaction (CRS) and couples’ relationship communication (CRC) and also to determine the gender differences if any. Method In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published between 2000 and July 26, 2019, were retrieved from several online electronic databases such as Medline, Embase, ProQuest, and Cochrane Library. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed using the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) framework of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). The mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The reported summary statistics were calculated as random effects models based on the heterogeneity between the studies model. Funnel plots and the Egger regression test was used to confirm the presence of any publication bias. Results Of the total 12 intervention studies included, five (5) are education/communication skills programs, three (3) enrichment programs, and four (4) therapy programs. The impact of these programs was investigated on CRS and CRC. Therapy programs had a larger effect than other programs (pooled MD: 0.53 (95% CI = 0.35 to 0.71, I2 = 71.5% p = 0.0001) and had a larger effect size on wives (pooled MD: 0.53 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.80, I2 = 74.1% p = 0.0001) than husbands RS (pooled MD: 0.26 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.76, I2 = 72.4% p = 0.0001). In RC (relationship communication) area, the Enhancement programs showed the small to large effect on CRC (pooled MD: 1.31 (95% CI = 0.13 to 2.50, I2 = 94.7% p = 0.0001)) and educational programs showed small to medium effect (pooled MD: 0.32 (95% CI = 0.13 to 0.50, I2 = 74.5% p = 0.0001) on women and no effect on men. Conclusion Due to the high effect of the therapy programs on CRS and enhancement program on CRC in the current meta-analysis, the priority of their utilizations in interventions, especially by psychologists and mental health professionals, should be emphasized. Therefore, mental health planning in communities to develop MRP and care for couples’ health should be given special attention to men’s health. Due to the high heterogeneity of the results and with scanty literature in this specific domain, we are uncertain about their actual effect. However, well-designed RCTs with a larger sample size would be beneficial in closely examining the effect of MRPs on CRS and CRC

To exercise, or, not to exercise, during menopause and beyond

Menopausal symptoms in women can be severe and disruptive to overall quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy, is known to be effective in ameliorating symptoms, however, reporting of side effects has resulted in alternative treatment options. Exercise has been assessed as an alternative treatment option for alleviating menopausal symptoms, including, psychological, vasomotor, somatic and sexual symptoms. Here we report the effects of physical activity and exercise on menopause symptoms in menopausal women