The effect of targeted subsidies on healthcare costs in rural areas

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of targeted subsidies on health costs in the Khur and Biabank districts. Methods: This was descriptive-analytical research. The statistical population included 1326 heads of households in Khor and Biabank cities. Using the Krejcie and Morgan table, the statistical sample size was 300 people, who were selected by a random sampling method. The tool was a questionnaire. Experts confirmed its validity and its reliability were confirmed using a preliminary test and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Structural equation modeling was used in Lisrel and SPSS software. Results: Targeted subsidies with a factor load of 0.99 on the price of household appliances, with a factor load of 0.97 on the cost structure of education and cultural services, with a factor load of 0.96 on the cost structure of tourism, has a factor loading of 0.90 on the structure of transportation costs ,has a factor loading of 0.89 on the structure of housing and fuel costs, has a factor loading of 0.89 on the cost of agricultural products, has a factor load of 0.70 on the cost structure of food and tobacco, has a factor load of 0.69 on the cost structure of health and treatment. Conclusion: Due to the importance of the targeted subsidies effect on costs, the attention of policymakers in macro-planning is necessary

Iranian Adolescent Girls\u27 Perceptions of Premarital Sexual Relationships: A Qualitative Study

Sexual perception refers to the attitudes, expectations, beliefs, and values associated with sexual behaviors. Adolescents’ sexual behaviors is affected by the knowledge, attitudes, values, beliefs, and social norms in their society. In this respect, the sexual perception of adolescents can be studied from a cultural perspective. The present study was designed to identify factors affecting Iranian adolescent girls’ perceptions of premarital sexual relationships. A qualitative study was conducted using a conventional content analysis approach. Data was collected using in-depth unstructured interviews with 18 adolescents recruited through purposive sampling. Data analysis resulted in the development of a primary main theme, meaning and value of sexual self-care, and three main categories: significant others, sexual norms, and attitudes, and perceived risks. Overall, findings of the present study revealed that the sexual perceptions of Iranian adolescent girls motivated them to abstain from premarital sexual relationships. However, apart from the perceived double standards involved in social norms and attitudes identified in the study, the presence of a conflict caused by their families, schools, and peers necessitated the importance of establishing and consolidating parent-adolescent communication about sexual issues. Findings of this study point to the need for appropriate sexual education for adolescents and parents to promote adolescent sexual literacy and health

Mothers’ Perception of Quality of Services from Health Centers after Perinatal Loss

Abstract Introduction: Perinatal loss is one of the most stressful life events that parents and caregivers experience. Providing an empathetic, caring environment to support mothers who experience perinatal loss is necessary. The aim of this study was to assess mothers’ perception of the quality of services received from health centers after perinatal loss. Methods: This study was conducted in 2014-2015 using qualitative content analysis. Participants in the study were 40 women with a history of miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death who live in Tehran and Shahrekord, Iran. Data were collected from the participants through semi-structured, in-depth interviews, and they were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: One theme and six main categories were developed, and they indicated the mothers’ experiences and understandings of the quality of service received after perinatal loss. The major theme was ‘dissatisfaction with the quality of care received.’ The main categories included: 1) effective communication, 2) expecting responsiveness, 3) expecting to respect the patient’s dignity, 4) expecting better care, 5) tension of medical expenses, and 6) insufficient facilities. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlighted the weaknesses, inadequacies, strengths, and opportunities in providing health services. They can help reproductive health policy-makers reduce the pain and suffering of the affected families with appropriate measure

Urinary arsenic, cadmium, manganese, nickel, and vanadium levels of schoolchildren in the vicinity of the industrialised area of Asaluyeh, Iran

Asaluyeh is one of the most heavily industrialised areas in the world where gas, petrochemical, and many downstream industries are located. This study aims to survey the biomonitoring of four metals and one metalloid in children living in the vicinity of Asaluyeh area. To do this, we analysed the creatinine-adjusted urinary levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), vanadium (V), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni) in 184 elementary schoolchildren (99 boys and 85 girls) living in Asaluyeh and compared them with a reference population. The comparisons were done for two seasons (spring and fall). The results showed that in the case area (Asaluyeh), the levels of As, V, Mn, and Ni were significantly higher and that of Cd was not significantly higher than the reference city for both seasons. The mean concentration of metal(loid)s in Asaluyeh (case) and Sadabad (reference) area as μg g−1 creatinine was As 2.90 and 2.24, V 0.06 and 0.03, Mn 0.28 and 0.25, Ni 0.54 and 0.29, and Cd 0.31 and 0.28 in spring and As 3.08 and 2.28, V 0.07 and 0.03, Mn 0.30 and 0.26, Ni 0.91 and 0.30, and Cd 0.36 and 0.31 in the fall. Seasonal variations played a key role in determining urinary metal(loid) concentration, as we saw the significant level of As, Cd, V, and Ni in fall than in spring. With regard to the impact of gender on the absorption and accumulation of urinary metal(loid)s, boys showed higher levels of the studied elements, especially for As, than girls as outdoor activities are more popular among boys. Due to the values being lower than those reported in literature, more research is needed on various population groups and other exposure sources in order to judge whether living in the vicinity of the gas and petrochemical industries in Asaluyeh is a threat to nearby residents

Spiritual beliefs and quality of life: A qualitative research about diabetic adolescent girls' perception

Introduction: Spirituality is an important aspect of health of people with chronic health conditions such as diabetes. Awareness from adolescents’ perception about life quality and its effective factors is useful for controlling blood glucose in adolescents and causes motivation in adolescents for self care. The aim of this study was to explore spirituality effects on life quality in diabetic adolescent girls. Materials and Methods: A qualitative design using content analysis was applied in order to seek the purpose. Data were collected using in-depth semistructured interviews and focus groups with participation of 28 adolescent girls with type 1diabetes. The participants were recruited by purposeful sampling of "West Azerbaijan Diabetes Association" members as well as some patients' referral to Urmia city hospitals diabetes clinics. Results: Following data analysis, participants in this study were categorized in four general groups people with religious attitude and satisfied from their life, people who perform religious etiquettes and satisfied from their life, people with spiritual beliefs and adaptation with diabetes, and finally people with spiritual beliefs and self care. Conclusion: Spirituality is an important factor that influences on the life quality of diabetic adolescent girls. In addition, spirituality helps adolescent girls with diabetes to cope with stressful situations and needs to be considered in management and care from these patients

Sexual Experience of Iranian Women in Their Middle Life: A Qualitative Approach

Background: Sexual problems are common among the middle-aged women; however, there is no deep understanding of sexuality in midlife. The current study aimed to investigate Iranian women’s attitudes and experiences about sexual life changes in midlife. Methods: This is a descriptive qualitative study. Seventeen women aged 40 -65 years old were purposively selected from urban health centers in Gorgan, Iran, in 2015. Face-to-face, semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted for data collection until data saturation was attained. The resulting data were analyzed based on Graneheim and Lundman’s approach. MAXQDA 10 was used for organization of data. Results: Data analysis demonstrated seventh sub-themes and three themes. The emerged themes were entitled (1) “Continuous paradox over being a sexual agent” with three subthemes of beliefs on asexuality as socially accepted view for women in midlife, changing in motivation for sex and changing in sexual performance, (2) “Considering menopause; opportunities and threats for sexual life” with two subthemes of menopause related cons for sexual life and menopause related pros in sexual life, and (3) “Coping strategies for changes in sexuality in midlife” with two subthemes of different psychological reactions to changes that have influenced the sex and take practical steps for restoration of sexual attraction. Conclusion: The findings demonstrated that middle-aged women in a male-dominant culture encounter paradox over being a sexual agent. In a bio-psycho-social approach, they perceived menopause as an opportunity or threat for their own sexuality. Following the conflicts, threats and changes of sexuality in midlife, they adopt diverse coping strategies to improve their sexual relationships and preserve their family

Effect of Accelerated Aging on Color Change of Direct and Indirect Fiber-Reinforced Composite Restorations

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of artificial accelerated aging (AAA) on color change of direct and indirect fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) restorations. Materials and Methods: Direct (Z250) and indirect (Gradia) composite resins were reinforced with glass (GF) and polyethylene fibers (PF) based on the manufacturers’ instructions. Forty samples were fabricated and divided into eight groups (n=5). Four groups served as experimental groups and the remaining four served as controls. Color change (∆E) and color parameters (∆L*, ∆a*, ∆b*) were read at baseline and after AAA based on the CIELAB system. Three-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Significant differences were found in ΔE, ΔL*, Δa* and Δb* among the groups after AAA (P<0.05). Most of the studied samples demonstrated an increase in lightness and a red-yellow shift after AAA. Conclusions: The obtained ∆E values were unacceptable after AAA (∆E≥ 3.3). All indirect samples showed a green-blue shift with a reduction in lightness except for Gradia/PF+ NuliteF.

A Study of Students’ and Teachers’ Preferences and Attitudes towards Correction of Classroom Written Errors in Iranian EFL Context

Written error correction may be the most widely used method for responding to student writing. Although there are various studies investigating error correction, there are little researches considering teachers’ and students’ preferences towards written error correction. The present study investigates students’ and teachers’ preferences and attitudes towards correction of classroom written errors in Iranian EFL context by using questionnaire. In this study, 80 students and 12 teachers were asked to answer the questionnaire. Then data were collected and analyzed by descriptive method. The findings from teachers and students show positive attitudes towards written error correction. Although the results of this study demonstrate teachers and students have some common preferences related to written error correction, there are some important discrepancies. For example; students prefer all error be corrected, but teachers prefer selecting some. However, students prefer teachers’ correction rather than peer or self-correction. This study considers a number of difficulties regarding students and teachers in written error correction processes with some suggestions. This study shows many teachers might believe written error correction takes a lot of time and effort to give comments. This study indicates many students does not have any problems in rewriting their paper after getting feedback. It might be one main positive point to improve their writing and it might give them self-confidence.

Iranian Women’s Experiences with Intimate Partner Violence: A Qualitative Study

Background: Violence against women has been identified as a public health problem, which has fundamental consequences on women's physical, mental, and reproductive health. To understand abused women and provide support for them, it is necessary to enter the world in which the victims of intimate partner violence live. This study was designed to investigate experiences of abused Iranian women of intimate partner violence. Methods: Content analysis approach was used to design this qualitative study. Participants were 11 married women, selected from two health centers and one park located in the south of Tehran, Iran. Purposive sampling method was applied to recruit the study participants and continued until data saturation was reached. Semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data. Results: During the data analysis, 650 initial codes were clustered in six subcategories and two categories. “Neglect or covert violence” and “overt violence” were two categories emerged through data analysis, both having physical, sexual, and emotional dimensions. Emotional violence was the most prevalent in both cases and had more significance for the women. Neglect was much more common than overt violence. It was the precursor for overt violence. Conclusion: Although participants had experienced both neglect and overt violence, the major part of experienced violence was neglect. This type of violence usually is not addressed or recognized and is difficult to identify, but it is damaging to women. Knowledge of women‟s experiences of intimate partner violence makes the health staff provide better care for abused women

Evaluating the reliability and validity of phonetic information test in normal 3-6 year-old children of Isfahan city

Introduction: Speech sound disorder is one of the most prevalent developmental communication disorders affecting approximately 8.7 percent of school-age children. Speech sound disorders require precise diagnosis and assessment which can be reached via formal and informal evaluations. Speech-language pathologists generally use the Phonetic Information Test to detect the disordered pronunciation of sounds. Unfortunately, the reliability and validity of this test have not been determined yet. The purpose of the present study was to test the reliability and validity of Phonetic Information Test as the first stage of its standardizing. Materials and Methods: At the first phase of this descriptive and methodological study, the content validity of the test was determined through quantifying the comments of 20 speech-language pathologists. Then, 150 children with the age range of 3 to 6 years were evaluated using the test and their scores were statistically analyzed by the two methods of Kuder-Richardson 20 and test-retest correlation to determine the reliability of the test. Data analysis was performedviaSPSS13. Results: The CVR value for words was higher than 42percent except for /kæʧæ/. Kuder-Richardson20 and correlation coefficient results in the three age groups demonstrated that the test has appropriate reliability. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the phonetic test meets validity and reliability requirements and, therefore, is sufficiently accurate to be used in the diagnosis and assessment of articulation impairments. Keywords: Reliability, Validity, Phonetic information tes