Gender-Age Disparity of Cancers' Incidence in Iran

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and among Iranian population; cancer is the third important causes of death. It is a critical issue to identify sex and age group difference of cancer pattern for planning and management of cancer patients, therefore the aim of present study was to examine sex and age difference in cancer incidence during 2003-2008 in Iran. The National Cancer Registry (NCR) reports from 2003 to 2008 have been applied to test trend of cancer incidence and illustrating sex-age disparity of most common cancers in Iran. Direct adjustment method was used for computing the age-specific rates (ASRs) and Cochran-Armitage tests for trends were used to test statistical significance of cancer incidence rate in both genders during 2003-2008. Our findings indicated that male and female incidence rate is increased from 64.2 to 117.5 and from 50.1 to 105.8, respectively during 2003-2008 (P for trend <0.001). Highest Age-Specific Rate of cancer in male was for stomach cancer (ASR=12.8), beside of skin cancer and in female was for breast cancer (ASR=33.2). Highest incidence rate of cancers was found in people aged 80-84 years in both genders. In elderly people, incidence rate of cancer was higher in male than female. The observed sex-age disparity of common cancers in this study indicated that male cancer of stomach and bladder and female cancer of breast and colorectal can be targeted in cancer control and prevention programs are required to reach remarkable reduction of cancer burden in Iran

Incidence Rate and Distribution of Common Cancers among Iranian Children

Background: Geographic differences in the incidence of cancers may suggest unique genetic or environmental exposures that impact the risk of acquiring cancer. This research aims to determine the incidence rate and geographical distribution of common cancers among Iranian children. Methods: In this ecological study, we extracted data that pertained to the incidence rate of common cancers among children from reports by the National Registry of Cancer and Disease Control and Prevention in 2008. A map of the cancer incidence rates was designed by using geographic information system. Results:The most common cancer sites among children were the hematology system, brain and central nervous system, and lymph nodes. The central provinces had the lowest cancer incidences. Conclusion: The considerable variation in incidence of childhood cancers in Iran suggests a possible potential environmental risk factor or genetic background related to this increased risk among children

Effect of an Educational Program Based on the Health Belief Model to Reduce Cell Phone Usage During Driving in Taxi drivers

Introduction: Cell phone usage during driving has become a threat to traffic safety. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of an educational program based on the health belief model to reduce cell phone usage during driving in taxi drivers of Tuyserkan. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 110 taxi drivers younger than 35 years were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups in Tuyserkan, Iran. Data was collected using a questionnaire including the health belief model constructs, knowledge, behaviors of using cell phone and demographic variables. The questionnaires were self-reported. Intervention was three sessions applied in the experimental group. Both groups were followed for two months after the intervention. Finally, data analysis was performed using SPSS- 19 by Chi-square, Independent T-test, Paired T-test and McNemar. Results: The mean scores for the constructs of health belief model (perceived susceptibility, severity, barriers, perceived benefits, self-efficacy and cues to action), knowledge and desired behaviors about the use of cell phone during driving showed no significant differences between the two groups before the intervention. After the educational intervention, significant differences were observed in experimental group compared to control group. After educational intervention, cell phone usage reduced by 35.14% in the experimental group. Conclusion: An educational intervention based on the health belief model could reduce cell phone usage during driving in taxi drivers

Geographic distribution of the incidence of colorectal cancer in Iran: a population-based study

OBJECTIVES Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the provincial distribution of the incidence of CRC across Iran. METHODS This epidemiologic study used data from the National Cancer Registry of Iran and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran. The average annual age-standardized rate (ASR) for the incidence of CRC was calculated for each province. RESULTS We found that adenocarcinoma (not otherwise specified) was the most common histological subtype of CRC in males and females, accounting for 81.91 and 81.95% of CRC cases, respectively. Signet ring cell carcinoma was the least prevalent subtype of CRC in males and females and accounted for 1.5 and 0.94% of CRC cases, respectively. In patients aged 45 years or older, there was a steady upward trend in the incidence of CRC, and the highest ASR of CRC incidence among both males and females was in the age group of 80-84 years, with an ASR of 144.69 per 100,000 person-years for males and 119.18 per 100,000 person-years for females. The highest incidence rates of CRC in Iran were found in the central, northern, and western provinces. Provinces in the southeast of Iran had the lowest incidence rates of CRC. CONCLUSIONS Wide geographical variation was found in the incidence of CRC across the 31 provinces of Iran. These variations must be considered for prevention and control programs for CRC, as well as for resource allocation purposes

National distribution of stomach cancer incidence in Iran: A population-based study

Backgrounds and Aims: Stomach cancer (SC) is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of death due to cancer in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the provincial distribution as well as age-specific incidence of SC in both genders across Iran. Materials and Methods: This ecological study was conducted according to re-analysis of medical records aggregated to provinces from National Registry of Cancer and Disease Control and Prevention report of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education for SC in 2008. For each province, the average annual age-standardised rate (ASR) for the incidence of SC was calculated. Results: Our findings showed that in Iran, adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified, was the most common histological type of SC in both genders (59% in males and 56% in females), while intestinal type of adenocarcinoma had the lowest prevalence (14% in males and 12% in females). In age groups above 45 years, there was a steady upward trend, and the highest ASR in both genders was related to 80–84 years of age with 292.14 and 112/100,000 in males and females, respectively. Conclusion: The assessment of geographical distribution showed that there is a wide geographical variation in the incidence of SC across the 31 provinces of Iran, and the ASR of SC in South-East and North-West parts of Iran was higher than any other areas. Thus, development access to screening services and carryout of prevention programs should be considered for high-risk groups in these areas

Human Development and related Components with Malnutrition in Children: a Global Ecological Study

Background: It is necessary to get information on nutrition situation in children and epidemiology of the malnutrition to use for planning and health policy making, therefore this study aimed to identify the role of human development on nutrition situation in children under-five years of old worldwide.Methods: This ecological study was performed on the relation of the nutrition situation of children under 5 years of old and HDI. Data about the HDI and other indices were obtained from the UNDP database and Data about prevalence of wasting, stunting and overweight in children under 5 (%) were obtained from WHO. Correlation bivariate method were used to assessment of the correlation between the prevalence of nutrition status and the HDI.Results: Globally mean prevalence of stunting, wasting and overweight were 23.4, 6.2 and 7.1 percent respectively. There was a negative significant correlation between prevalence of stunting and wasting with HDI, Life expectancy at birth, Mean year of schooling, Physician per population, maternal mortality rate (MMR) and Gross national income (