The frequency of using different types of pacifier and bottle nipple among 1-24 months old children

structures and malocclusion. This study assessed the prevalence of using of different types of pacifier and bottle nipple among 1-24 months old children in Kerman, Iran. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 300 mothers interviewed at 20 specialized private pediatric offices in Kerman. The mothers had 1-24 months old children. A checklist includes items about pacifier sucking, bottle feeding habits, as well as mothers’ ability to recognize different kinds of available pacifier and bottle nipple was used. RESULTS: The rate of pacifier-sucking was 37.3%, and use of bottle feeding was 42.3%, and among of the users, 24.0 and 35.7% were used orthodontic (functional) types of pacifier and bottle nipple respectively. However, only 28.7% of mothers had adequate ability to recognize orthodontic pacifier and bottle nipple. CONCLUSION: The rates of using orthodontic kind of pacifier and bottle nipple were low, and a few mothers had adequate ability to recognize their differences. KEYWORDS: Pacifier, Bottle Feeding, Bottle Nipple, Breast Feeding, Sucking Habit

Content Analysis of Iran Primary School Books in 2014-2015 in Relation to Oral Health Topics

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate oral health issues in primary school textbooks in Iran. Methods: The contents of Iran primary school textbooks in the academic year 2014-2015 were assessed in accordance to oral health-related teachings. Oral health topics of 39 textbooks (pictures and texts) were retrieved and analyzed using content analysis method and presented by figures and tables. Results: In whole, 25 oral health-related lessons were found .The textbooks of the first grade contained the highest (10) and those of the fourth grade had the lowest (0) number of oral health lessons. Among Oral health-related issues, the largest number (12) of lessons was about tooth brushing, while prevention of gingival disease comprised the least number (1). Some important oral health issues such as the role of healthy teeth and gums in health of other parts of the body were not discussed in the textbooks. Conclusion: According to this study, the potential of primary school textbooks in delivering oral health messages has been neglected in Iran. Taking the critical importance of school ages into account, incorporating health issues in textbooks should be more strongly emphasized

Evaluation of application of fix and removable habit breakers among a group of preschool children with thumb sucking habit in Kerman, Iran

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Thumb sucking has been reported as one of the etiologic factors for malocclusion. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of thumb sucking and use of different kinds of habit breaker (HB) appliances in children attending private kindergartens in Kerman, Iran. METHODS: The census method was used in the present cross-sectional study, and the study population consisted of all the children attending private kindergartens. A checklist was completed for each subject, and clinical examinations were done. Fisher’s exact test was used to evaluate the relationship between thumb sucking and the variables under study. Stata 13 was used for the analysis of data. RESULTS: Of 503 4 to 6-year-old children, 14 (2.8%) had thumb sucking habits at the time of the study. Among these 14 children, only 6 children used HBs fixed (4 persons) or removable (2 persons). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of finger sucking, its side effects, as well as using the HBs of this habit in children of Kerman kindergartens were not high. Furthermore, it has same rate like other cities. In this situation, it’s necessary for the personnel of kindergartens to notify their parents about the hygiene of the problems. KEYWORDS: Finger Sucking; Malocclusion; Pacifie

Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior of Adolescent Girls in Suburban Districts of Tehran About Dysmenorrhea and Menstrual Hygiene

The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and health-taking behavior of female students ages 15-18 years old in regard to dysmenorrhea and menstrual hygiene in suburban districts of Tehran, the capital of Iran. The study applied a descriptive, cross-sectional method, in which 250 students were selected at random, using a cluster random sampling method. The data was collected by applying a 44-item questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was checked by the Chronbach-Alpha method, showing a correlation of 90 percent. Seventy-seven percent of the subjects claimed that they had enough knowledge about dysmenorrhea, from which only 32% practiced the personal health taking behavior, such as taking a bath and using hygienic materials. About 33% of the students avoided any physical activity or even mild exercise during menstrual period. Over 67% of the girls reported to take palliative medicine for their menstrual pain without prescription by a doctor. Fifteen percent of them stated that dysmenorrhea has interfered with their daily life activities and caused them to be absent from school between one to seven days, similar to other relevant studies. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea in this study was 71%. The main point achieved in this study was the necessity of educating female students about the menstrual period health-taking behaviors, including: appropriate nutrition, exercise and physical activity, personal hygiene, and appropriate use of medication based on physician’s prescription

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Bruxism in a Selected Population of Iranian Children

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of bruxism in Iranian children aged 6 to 12 years. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 600 schoolchildren aged 6-12 years. The questionnaire consisted of two sections: the first section included demographic information, while the second evaluated the occurrence of bruxism. Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-Square, Fisher and Multinomial logistic regression were used. A level of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 698 questionnaires were distributed, of which 600 participants were returned. According to Multinomial logistic regression, awake bruxism was associated significantly with the following variables: age, sequence of birth, recurrent headache, gastrointestinal disease, nasal obstruction, neurological disorder, easy child crying, sleep disorders, talking in a dream and snoring and jaw disorder. Sleep bruxism was associated significantly with age, premature birth, allergy, gastrointestinal disease, drooling, mouth breathing, nasal obstruction, oral habit, nail biting, sleep disorder, jaw disorders, and family history. Conclusion: Pre-birth and post-birth factors play an important role in the prevalence of bruxism in society. It is possible to prevent complications of bruxism by informing parents and making a timely diagnosis. Parents should be aware of this occurrence to reduce possible related factors to teeth and the masticatory system

The association between growth factors and blood factors with early childhood caries

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a specific form of rampant dental caries affecting infants and young children. ECC is still a problem that threatens the health of the community and its management is important. It is believed that the majorities of children with ECC also suffer from malnutrition, anemia, low weight and altered physical growth patterns. This study was undertaken to compare blood indices [mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin and serum ferritin] in a population of children in Kerman, Iran, and the association between growth factors, blood parameters, and ECC. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 240 children were selected from Afzalipour Hospital of Kerman. The subjects consisted of 2 to 6-year children, who needed blood sampling for different diagnostic reasons. Data were collected through clinical oral examinations, anthropometric measures, blood indices measurement (MCV, hemoglobin and serum ferritin) and structured questionnaire in order to assess demographic characteristics, nutritional habits and the presence or absence of systemic conditions. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 50.79 months. Of 240 children included in this study, 124 (52.1%) were girls and the rest (47.9%) were boys. Statistical test revealed that there were statically significant differences in weight as well as the height of children in experimental and control groups (P 0.050). CONCLUSION: No significant association was observed between ECC and blood indices (MCV, hemoglobin and serum ferritin), but the mean height and weight in the caries-free group were significantly higher. KEYWORDS: Dental Caries; Iron Deficiency; Anemia; Preschool Child; Growth Factors; Blood Factors; Early Childhood Carie

Evaluation of health status of first permanent molar teeth among 12-year-old students in rural areas of south of Kerman, Iran, 2016

BACKGROUND AND AIM: First permanent molar (FPM) has an important role in occlusion and biting. FPM is susceptible to dental caries due to early growth. The objective of this study was an evaluation of oral health status of FPM in terms of decayed/missing/filled teeth 6 (DMFT6) among 12-year-old children in rural areas of southern cities in Kerman, Iran. METHODS: This analytical/cross-sectional study was performed in 2016 on 564, 12-year-old students (281 girls and 283 boys). Students were randomly selected from 32 different villages of southern cities of Kerman. The DMFT index was determined using the standard method suggested by World Health Organization (WHO). The trained dentist recorded data of DMFT index and oral health status in checklist form. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. P < 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: The frequency of FPM dental caries of students was 53.12-66.04%. There was no significant difference in mean of DMFT6 among students in rural areas of 7 cities in the south of Kerman, but it was greatest in Ghaleganj (2.60) and lowest in Jiroft (1.97), respectively. Girls had more carries than boys (DMFT6 2.43 vs. 2.13) but it was not significant (P = 0.08). There was a little amount of sealant or filled FPM (0.58%). 26.24% of students had a toothbrush. 19.14% of them brushed their teeth equal or more than once daily and 37.41% of them knew that the first molar is a permanent tooth. CONCLUSION: Study showed a high rate of caries in FPMs in 12-year-old children and poor knowledge and performance in relation to these teeth. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to provide health, educational and dental treatment services for villages in the south of Kerman province, Iran. KEYWORDS: Students; Oral Health; Decayed/Missing/Filled Teeth Index; Molar; Permanen

Socio-cultural, environmental and health challenges facing women and children living near the borders between Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan (AIP region)

For hundreds of years, people in the AIP region (the Afghanistan-Iran-Pakistan borders) have been challenged by conflict and political and civil instability, mass displacement, human rights abuses, drought and famine. Given this sad history, it not surprising that in this region health and quality of life of vulnerable groups are among the worst in the world. In spite of national and international efforts to improve health status of vulnerable populations in this region, the key underlying socio-cultural determinants of health and disparities, i.e. gender, language, ethnicity, residential status, and socio-economic status (SES), have not been addressed or even systematically studied, nor have their relationship to environmental challenges. Overall, the health problems faced by this under-developed region can be categorized into those resulting from lack of essential supplies and services, as well as those stemming from the existing cultural practices in the area

A systematic review of interventions addressing limited health literacy to improve asthma self-management

Background: Supported asthma self-management improves health outcomes. However, people with limited health literacy, especially in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), may need tailored interventions to enable them to realise the benefits. We aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness of asthma self-management interventions targeted at people with limited health literacy and to identify strategies associated with effective programmes. Methods: Following Cochrane methodology, we searched ten databases (January 1990 – June 2018; updated October 2019), without language restriction. We included controlled experimental studies whose interventions targeted health literacy to improve asthma self-management. Selection of papers, extraction of data and quality assessment were done independently by two reviewers. The primary outcomes were clinical (asthma control) and implementation (adoption/adherence to intervention). Analysis was narrative. Results: We screened 4318 titles and abstracts, reviewed 52 full-texts and included five trials. One trial was conducted in a LMIC. Risk of bias was low in one trial and high in the other four studies. Clinical outcomes were reported in two trials, both at high risk of bias: one of which reported a reduction in unscheduled care (number of visits in 6-month (SD); Intervention:0.9 (1.2) vs Control:1.8 (2.4), P = 0.001); the other showed no effect. None reported uptake or adherence to the intervention. Behavioural change strategies typically focused on improving an individual’s psychological and physical capacity to enact behaviour (eg, targeting asthma-related knowledge or comprehension). Only two interventions also targeted motivation; none sought to improve opportunity. Less than half of the interventions used specific self-management strategies (eg, written asthma action plan) with tailoring to limited health literacy status. Different approaches (eg, video-based and pictorial action plans) were used to provide education. Conclusions: The paucity of studies and diversity of the interventions to support people with limited health literacy to self-manage their asthma meant that the impact on health outcomes remains unclear. Given the proportion of the global population who have limited health literacy skills, this is a research priority