A study on factors that drive variation in the levels of social capital among people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran

INTRODUCTION: Social capital is increasingly used in relation to health issues, particularly in sexually transmitted diseases/infections and health behaviors. Experiences indicated that social capital can contribute in changing HIV related risk behaviors and a decline of HIV infection through social groups and networking and make more effective use of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment services. We aimed to assess social capital in these persons through a quantitative study. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was performed with a convenience sample of 300 people living HIV/AIDS referred to a counseling center of behavioral diseases, in Imam Khomeini Hospital, in Tehran, the capital of Iran, during September 2011 to May 2012. Data collection tools were a demographic questionnaire and World Bank Social Capital Questionnaire (SC-IQ). The analysis of data was performed by the SPSS statistic software version 18. To identify factors influencing social capital in participations, Pearson correlation coefficient, ANOVA, t-test, and a multiple regression were applied. The significant level was considered 0.05 in this study. RESULTS: 165 (55) were male and the rest female. The mean age of participants was 34.3 ± 7.5. The mean score of total social capital was 2.34 ± 0.5 in all participants. The domain of individual trust had the highest mean score (2.53 ± 0.66). The lowest mean score was related to the domain of social trust and associative relations (2.23 ± 0.62). Variables such as ethnicity, age, and middle economic status had a significant impact on the domain of individual trust so that the mean score of this component of social capital was lower among women (0.396) than men. Factors affecting total social capital were ethnicity and middle economic status. CONCLUSION: Finding emphasized on the role of economic status, ethnicity and gender in persons living with HIV/AIDS. Thus recommended that policy makers and program managers consider social groups and networks, especially in women in the design and delivery of intervention strategies to reduce HIV transmission

A Simple Three-component Synthesis of 3-Amino-5-arylpyridazine-4-carbonitriles

New 3-amino-5-arylpyridazine-4-carbonitriles have been synthesized by a one-pot three-component reaction of malononitrile with arylglyoxals in the presence of hydrazine hydrate at room temperature in water and ethanol.KEYWORDS Arylglyoxals, arylpyridazines, hydrazine hydrate, one-pot, malononitrile

Effect of Gabapentin on Morphine Consumption and Pain after Surgical Debridement of Burn Wounds:A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Background: Burn pain is recognized as being maximal during therapeutic procedures, and wound debridement can be more painful than the burn injury itself. Uncontrolled acute burn pain increases the stress response and the incidence of chronic pain and associated depression. Although opiates are excellent analgesics, they do not effectively prevent central sensitization to pain. The anticonvulsant gabapentin has been proven effective for treating neuropathic pain in large placebo-controlled clinical trials. Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated antihyperalgesic effects in models with central neuronal sensitization. It has been suggested that central neuronal sensitization may play an important role in postoperative pain. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gabapentin on morphine consumption and postoperative pain in burn patients undergoing resection of burn wounds. Patients and Methods: Results: All the enrolled patients were able to complete the study; therefore, data from 50 patients wereanalyzed. The VAS scores at rest andduring movement at 1,4,8,12,16,20, and 24 h after the operation were significantly lower in the gabapentin group than in the placebo group (P < 0.05). Morphine consumption was significantly lessr in the gabapentin group than in the placebo group (P < 0.05). Sedation scores were similar in the 2 groups at all measured times. There were no differences in adverse effects between the groups. Conclusions: A single oral dose of 1200mg gabapentin resulted in a substantial reduction in postoperative morphine consumption and pain scores after surgical debridement in burn patients

Investigation of relationship between social capital and quality of life in female headed families

Background: Although most studies on female-headed families focus on women's access to social support, the associations between social capital and quality of life in these families are unclear in many societies (such as Iran). This study aimed to determine the associations between social capital and quality of life in Iranian female headed families. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 152 female-headed households supported by Tehran Municipality, district 9 from April 2011 to July 2012. Convenience sampling was employed. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire, the Iranian version of World Health Organization Quality of Life, and the Word Bank Social Capital. Descriptive and multiple regression methods were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean±SD age of participants was 50.8±13.8 years. Findings revealed that in quality of life, the domains of environment health and social relation received the lowest (9.87 ± 2.41) and the highest (12.61 ±3.43) scores respectively; and with respect to social capital, membership in groups and social trust had the least (19.61 ± 17.11) and the most (51.04 ± 17.37) scores, respectively. The multiple regression model revealed a significant positive association between total score of the quality of life and the total score for the social capital (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Findings suggest that quality of life of female-headed families and social capital domains are strongly related. This means that by improving the social capital, women's life can also be improved

Intimate partner violence and risky sexual behaviors among Iranian women with substance use disorders

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and risky sexual behaviors are serious and overlapping public health problems that disproportionately affect drug-involved women. Despite the fact that drug-using women experience extensive IPV, to date, no studies have investigated the association of IPV and risky sexual behaviors among drug-using women in Iran. Methods: Drug-using women (N =120) were recruited from a rehabilitation center in Tehran from March to October, 2009. The Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2), a standardized questionnaire, was used to collect data regarding violence. We used t-test and logistic regression models to explore the relationship between IPV domains and specific sexual risk behavior outcomes using SPSS 21. Results: The means (sd) for CTS2 domains were as follows: negotiation 4.29 (1.55), psychological violence 2.55 (1.51), sexual violence 0.37 (1.00), physical abuse 1.17 (1.49), injury 2.18 (1.97), and the mean total score was 1.69 (0.96). We found significantly higher injury scores, but lower sexual abuse scores among women with sexually-transmitted infection (STI) compared to women without STI (p-values 0.030 and <0.0001, respectively). In addition, we found that psychological abuse was positively associated with STI (p-value 0.03) and increased condom use (p = 0.010), possibly mediated through an increased likelihood of having multiple partners. Conclusion: The findings revealed that in Iran drug-involved women experience high rates of IPV and that IPV is associated with increased risky sexual behavior. Implication: Preventive interventions for violence that are integrated within drug treatment programs, as well as harm reduction programs are highly recommended

Investigating the trend and severity of withdrawal symptoms in Methamphetamine users amongst homeless addicts

Background: Determining the trend and severity of withdrawal symptoms is considered as the first stage of addiction treatment. Objectives: Therefore, The purpose of this study was to investigate the trend and severity of withdrawal symptoms in methamphetamine (meth) addicts. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on all the clients admitted to quit methamphetamine abuse in a residential treatment center for homeless addicts in Alborz province. According to the average daily intake, the clients were divided into two groups: mild and severe. To collect the data for this study; methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms assessment scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and a demographic information questionnaire were used. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done for repeated measures through the SPSS software version 16 and at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The findings showed that methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, abuse craving, and fatigue in the first 24 hours and the first, the second, and the third weeks as well as the symptoms of depression within three weeks after the withdrawal began to decline significantly (P < 0.0001). Following the analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated data and taking addiction severity index into account, it was observed that the difference between the two groups of mild and severe addicts was significant in terms of the trend and severity of methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The hardest stage to quit methamphetamine addiction was the first 24 hours after withdrawal with a downward trend; however, abuse craving especially in severe addicted group persisted even after the third week of withdrawal which could be a risk factor for recurrence and re-abuse. Thus, it was suggested that therapists were required to pay more attention to this issue in the treatment of this group of addicted individuals. © 2018, International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction

Risk factors for transient and permanent congenital hypothyroidism: a population-based case-control study

Background: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most important cause of mental and physical retardation in newborns. The prevalence of CH has been reported high in East Azerbaijan province of Iran. However, the risk factors for CH are poorly understood. This study aimed to determine and compare risk factors for permanent and transient CH in East Azerbaijan, Iran. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in the Iranian national screening program for CH. This study included 680 neonates: 340 neonates with confirmed CH and 340 matched healthy controls born at the same period and from the same residential area as the cases. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95 confidence intervals for the association between different risk factors and transient and permanent CH. Results: Out of the 680 participants, 364 (53.53) were male. Family history of CH (OR = 5.09, 95 CI: 1.66�15.63), neonatal jaundice (OR = 3.89, 95 CI: 2.36�6.43) and parental consanguineous relation (OR = 2.19, 95 CI: 1.51�3.17) were associated with an increased risk of permanent CH. Likewise, the use of Betadine in pregnancy (OR = 4.87, 95 CI: 1.45�16.28), family history of CH (OR = 5.98, 95 CI: 2.04�17.48), neonatal jaundice (OR = 2.81, 95 CI: 1.75�4.52), parental consanguineous relation (OR = 3.86, 95 CI: 1.92�5.74), and gestational age at birth (OR = 3.2, 95 CI: 1.90�5.41) were identified as risk factors for transient CH. Conclusion: Family history, neonatal jaundice, gestational age at birth, and Betadine usage in pregnancy are associated with CH. © 2021, The Author(s)

Estimation of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases attributed to PM10 using AirQ model in Urmia during 2011-2017

Background: Quantification of the attributed effects of air pollution determines the impact of air pollutants on the community and shows the critical condition of air quality. This study aimed to quantify and estimate the cardiovascular and respiratory diseases attributed to PM10 in Urmia during 2011-2016. Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, at first, hourly data of pollutant PM10 concentrations were received from air pollutants station located in the Department of Environmental Protection. The data were evaluated using AirQ2.2.3 software after primary and secondary processes and filtering. Results: The results showed that the mean annual concentration of PM10 during 2011-2016 was 88.66, 92.45, 81.22, 78.38, 113.78, and 92.67 μg /m3, respectively. The number of hospitalized cases due to respiratory diseases attributed to PM10 in this period was 486, 525, 459, 453, 684, and 552, respectively, and the number of cases due to cardiovascular diseases was 188, 203, 177, 175, 263, and 213, respectively. Conclusion: Considering the attributed health effects of PM10, the necessary measures should be taken to identify the causative agents and to understand the mechanisms of these processes and correct them. © Iran University of Medical Sciences

Prevalence of cigarette smoking and its related factors among Iranian

Background: Smoking is considered as the second leading risk factor of early death and disability throughout the world. Smoking is the second leading risk factor of early death and disability in the world. The workplace is an important setting for the implementation of cigarette smoking prevention and control interventions. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking and related factors by focusing on ADHD and risk-taking behaviors among a sample of Iranian workers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 2434 male workers of Kaveh Industrial City in Saveh. Random cluster sampling was used in the selection of workers. All workers completed five sets of anonymous and validated questionnaires. ADHD was measured by Conner�s Adult ADHD Rating Scales. Data analysis was done using chi-square, independent t-test and logistic regression model in STATA 10. Also, P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the workers was 32.80±7.05 years. The prevalence of cigarette smoking in the lifetime, last year, last month, and daily or almost daily in the last month were 26.2, 20 6, 18.5, and 13.1 respectively. After adjustment, age (OR=1.08), sensation seeking (OR=1.57), hookah smoking (OR=4.21), alcohol use (OR=2.51), sexual risk behaviors (OR=2.25), religiosity (OR=0.95) and self-esteem (OR=2.02) were associated with cigarette smoking. Conclusion: Our results showed that 13.1 of workers were regular smokers (daily or almost daily). Specific programs in workplaces, including interventions to enhance self-steam and reduce anxiety, can be effective in lowering cigarette smoking prevalence. Also, comprehensive interventions to reduce or prevent different risk-taking behaviors can be considered as elements of preventive action plans. © 202

Barriers to health service utilization among iranian female sex workers: A qualitative study

Objectives: In most countries around the world, sex work is an illegal activity. Female sex workers (FSWs) in Iran hide their identities, and they are known to be a hard-to-reach population. Despite free access to HIV testing, fewer than half of FSWs receive HIV testing. The purpose of this study was to characterize the reasons for which FSWs do not seek testing at drop-in centers (DICs) and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) centers in Iran. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in 2016. The participants were 24 FSWs who received services at VCT centers and DICs for vulnerable females in the north of Iran and 9 males who were the clients of FSWs. In this study, we made use of purposive sampling and carried out a thematic analysis. Results: We found 4 major and 6 minor themes. The major themes were: fear of being infected (with HIV), stigma, indifference, and knowledge. Conclusions: Despite the significant efforts made by the government of Iran to establish and expand DICs for vulnerable females, the number of FSWs receiving services at these centers has not been very considerable. Consequently, by introducing and implementing training programs for peer groups, it may be possible to take steps toward establishing strategic programs for the control and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Copyright © 2018 The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine