Effect of the Islamic Self-care Nutrition Method on the Lipid Profile of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is one of the main risk factors of cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes. The principle of diabetes prevention and control is based on patient self-care and education. The Islamic self-care nutrition method is a common and successful way to modify behavior in Islamic ethics and mysticism. AIM: The study aimed to determine the effect of the Islamic self-care nutrition method on the lipid profile of patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present clinical trial was conducted in 2014 on 98 middle-aged patients with type 2 diabetes referred to the Diabetes Center of the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran, who were randomly allocated into two groups of experimental and control. Lipid indices were measured before intervention, and the same education about diabetic healthy diet was provided in both groups. In addition, in the experimental group, Islamic teachings and the Islamic self-care method of nutrition were taught with the intention of pleasing God. Data were analyzed with SPSS 22 software using independent and paired t-test, Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: After adjusting for the effect of confounding variables with ANCOVA, significant improvement was observed in triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein indices in the experimental group after intervention compared to the control group. Two-proportion z-test results showed a significant increase in the use of lipid-lowering drugs in the control group compared with the experimental group after intervention. CONCLUSION: The Islamic self-care nutrition method could be used to control chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes affected by behavioral factors

Status of HIV and hepatitis C virus infections among prisoners in the Middle East and North Africa: review and synthesis.

INTRODUCTION: The status of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among incarcerated populations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and the links between prisons and the HIV epidemic are poorly understood. This review synthesized available HIV and HCV data in prisons in MENA and highlighted opportunities for action. METHODS: The review was based on data generated through the systematic searches of the MENA HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Synthesis Project (2003 to December 15, 2015) and the MENA HCV Epidemiology Synthesis Project (2011 to December 15, 2015). Sources of data included peer-reviewed publications and country-level reports and databases. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We estimated a population of 496,000 prisoners in MENA, with drug-related offences being a major cause for incarceration. Twenty countries had data on HIV among incarcerated populations with a median prevalence of 0.6% in Afghanistan, 6.1% in Djibouti, 0.01% in Egypt, 2.5% in Iran, 0% in Iraq, 0.1% in Jordan, 0.05% in Kuwait, 0.7% in Lebanon, 18.0% in Libya, 0.7% in Morocco, 0.3% in Oman, 1.1% in Pakistan, 0% in Palestine, 1.2% in Saudi Arabia, 0% in Somalia, 5.3% in Sudan and South Sudan, 0.04% in Syria, 0.05% in Tunisia, and 3.5% in Yemen. Seven countries had data on HCV, with a median prevalence of 1.7% in Afghanistan, 23.6% in Egypt, 28.1% in Lebanon, 15.6% in Pakistan, and 37.8% in Iran. Syria and Libya had only one HCV prevalence measure each at 1.5% and 23.7%, respectively. There was strong evidence for injecting drug use and the use of non-sterile injecting-equipment in prisons. Incarceration and injecting drugs, use of non-sterile injecting-equipment, and tattooing in prisons were found to be independent risk factors for HIV or HCV infections. High levels of sexual risk behaviour, tattooing and use of non-sterile razors among prisoners were documented. CONCLUSIONS: Prisons play an important role in HIV and HCV dynamics in MENA and have facilitated the emergence of large HIV epidemics in at least two countries, Iran and Pakistan. There is evidence for substantial but variable HIV and HCV prevalence, as well as risk behaviour including injecting drug use and unprotected sex among prisoners across countries. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive harm-reduction strategies in prisons