Adolescent brushing and its association with parent's socio-economic status

Sir, Tooth brushing is an effective method of cleaning smooth surfaces of the teeth and disturbing plaque colonies where accessible.[1] Studies showed that children's oral health is associated with parents’ socio-economic status (SET).[2,3] Oral hygiene is considered one of the primary health care (PHC) components in Iran. In terms of the brushing practice and its importance in dental caries prevention, the current study was conducted to investigate brushing rate and its relation with parents’ EST among female high school students in Gorgan city, northern part of Iran, 2011. In a cross-sectional study, 300 eligible 11th-grade female students were selected through cluster sampling. We randomly selected 5 high schools and recruited all students in every high school. Data were collected through individual interviews using a valid and reliable questionnaire, which included family income, maternal education, father's education, mother's and father's occupation, weight, height, family size and the question toward brushing. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test in SPSS 18 software. Results of the study showed that 62% brushed on a regular basis, 27.7% brushed irregularly and 10.3% never brushed. The rate of brushing was influenced by income (χ2 = 21.37, P < 0.001), parents’ education (χ2 = 29.44, P < 0.001) and father's occupation (χ2 = 31.42, P < 0.001). Students who had a better economic status, having had higher-educated parents and employed fathers brushed significantly more than others. Students who had a low income, low-educated parents, and unemployed or collar workers as their fathers brushed significantly less than other students. A large percentage of students don’t regularly brush, which is consistent with other studies in this area.[4,5] Today's female students are tomorrow's mothers who have a great influence on their children's home care habits like brushing. Therefore, we recommended appropriate intervention especially educational intervention for increasing the rate of brushing among high school female students. In this regard, we should pay more attention to students whose fathers have poor economic status and are illiterate, less educated, unemployed and collar workers

The effect of individual counseling, line follow-up, and free nicotine replacement therapy on smoking cessation in the samples of Iranian smokers: Examination of transtheoretical model

Background: According to transtheoretical model(TTM), Stage matched interventions are more effective in quitting. The objective of current study was to investigate the effect of individual counseling, line follow-up, and free nicotine replacement therapy(NRT) on smoking cessation in smokers who are in preparation stage of smoking. Materials and Methods: In a randomized clinical trial design, through sending the short message system, potential participants in preparation stage of smoking were recruited and divided into control(n=60)and treatment(n=50) groups. The treatment group received an in-person counseling, line follow-up, and free NRT. TTM variables trend; pros and cons of smoking, behavioral and experiential processes, temptation, were assessed at baseline, 3 and 6months follow-up along with point prevalence and continuous abstinence. Results: Continuous abstinence at 6-month follow-up were 3.3%(n=2) in control group and 46%(n=23) in the treatment group(x 2 = 34.041, P &lt; 0.001). Time � group analyses indicated that except cons of smoking (P &gt; 0.05), all TTM constructs had significantly changed; temptation(F=36.864, P&lt;0.001), pros (F=12.172, P&lt;0.001), experiential processes(F=3.377, P&lt;0.001), and behavioral processes(F=11.131, P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Interventions based on TTM variables increased the quite rate in prepared and motivated people. Our findings suggest that interventions through individual counseling along with free NRT and line follow-up in people who prepare for quitting are beneficial for our country

Breastfeeding status during the first two years of infants’ life and its risk factors based on BASNEF model structures in Isfahan

Background: Breastfeeding depends on social and cultural conditions of societies. Behavior,Attitude, Subjective Norms, Enabling Factors (BASNEF) model is one of the comprehensive models of behavior study, especially in developing countries. This study was performed to investigate the status of breastfeeding during the first two years of infants’ life and its risk factors through BASNEF model structures. Materials and Methods: In this cross‑sectional descriptive‑analytical study, 406 mothers with 6-24‑month‑old babies were selected by multistage cluster sampling method. The data were collected using a questionnaire with five sections based on the BASNEF model structures. Demographic characteristics of the studied population were also recorded and analyzed using Chi‑square tests and analysis of variance in SPSS18 statistical software. Results: The prevalence of breastfeeding was 86.4% (351 mothers). Three hundred and thirty three mothers (82%) had good knowledge and there was a significant relationship between knowledge and breastfeeding behavior of mothers (P < 0.05). Two hundred and eighty five mothers (70.2%) had good and very good attitude in this regard. There was no significant relationship between attitude and breastfeeding behavior of mothers (P > 0.05). There was a significant relationship between breastfeeding behavior of mothers and subjective norms of husbands, mother and mother‑in‑law (P < 0.05); however, no significant relationship was found with regard to enabling factors (P > 0.05). Moreover, no significant relationship was observed between type of children nutrition and variables of delivery mode, maternal age and number of children (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In addition to knowledge of nursing mothers, supports and encouragement of husbands, mothers and mother‑in‑laws, as subjective norms of behavior, have a positive impact on the breastfeeding behavior of mothers. Thus, breastfeeding programs should pay more attention to the role of these mentioned factors. Key words: BASNEF model, breastfeeding, enabling factors, infant, subjective norm

Effect of educational intervention on perceived susceptibility self-efficacy and DMFT of pregnant women

Background: The World Health Organization identifies oral health as a necessity for public health through the entirety of life. This issue has been considerably addressed due to susceptibility to tooth decay during pregnancy and maternal and fetal health. Objectives: Investigate the effect of educational intervention on perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, and DMFT of pregnant women. Patients and Methods: A quasi-experimental survey (pretest, posttest, and control group) was implemented in 88 primiparous women in the first trimester of pregnancy who attended private clinics in Delfan city, Iran. It was conducted using random sampling and then assigned to intervention and control groups. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, a DMFT checklist, and some health belief model (HBM) constructs. After collecting baseline information, an educational intervention consisting of 4 training sessions for the intervention group was scheduled. In the sessions, lecture, focus-group discussion, video, and role-playing were used as the main educational strategies. Four months after the intervention, a post-test questionnaire and DMFT checklist were conducted. Data were analyzed using SPSS (ver20) software and Chi-square, independent t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA at the significant level of α 0.05), during the intervention, or after intervention. Repeated measure ANOVA explained that the aforementioned score was different in the three cases (pretest, 2 months after intervention, and 4 months after intervention) after intervention (P< 0.05). Paired t-test also showed that the DMFT mean increased 4 months after intervention in the control group (P < 0.001). It was not, however, augmented in the intervention group (P = 0.92). Conclusions: Results showed that education on some of the HBM constructs resulted in increased knowledge of oral health, perceived susceptibility, and self-efficacy of pregnant women. It is also possible to prevent increased DMFT during pregnancy. © 2016, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Load mitigation of a class of 5-MW wind turbine with RBF neural network based fractional-order PID controller

Copyright © 2019 ISA. All rights reserved.Peer reviewedPostprin

Perceptions of body size, obesity threat and the willingness to lose weight among black South African adults: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: The obesity epidemic is associated with rising rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among adults, particularly in countries undergoing rapid urbanisation and nutrition transition. This study explored the perceptions of body size, obesity risk awareness, and the willingness to lose weight among adults in a resource-limited urban community to inform appropriate community-based interventions for the prevention of obesity. METHOD: This is a descriptive qualitative study. Semi-structured focus group discussions were conducted with purposively selected black men and women aged 35–70 years living in an urban South African township. Weight and height measurements were taken, and the participants were classified into optimal weight, overweight and obese groups based on their body mass index (Kg/m2). Participants were asked to discuss on perceived obesity threat and risk of cardiovascular disease. Information on body image perceptions and the willingness to lose excess body weight were also discussed. Discussions were conducted in the local language (isiXhosa), transcribed and translated into English. Data was analysed using the thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: Participants generally believed that obesity could lead to health conditions such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and hypertension. However, severity of obesity was perceived differently in the groups. Men in all groups and women in the obese and optimal weight groups perceived obesity to be a serious threat to their health, whereas the overweight women did not. Obese participants who had experienced chronic disease conditions indicated strong perceptions of risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Obese participants, particularly men, expressed willingness to lose weight, compared to the men and women who were overweight. The belief that overweight is ‘normal’ and not a disease, subjective norms, and inaccessibility to physical activity facilities, negatively influenced participants’ readiness to lose weight. CONCLUSION: Low perception of threat of obesity to health particularly among overweight women in this community indicates a considerable challenge to obesity control. Community health education and promotion programmes that increase awareness about the risk associated with overweight, and improve the motivation for physical activity and maintenance of optimal body weight are needed.IS

Effects of companionship in training sessions on primiparous women's knowledge, attitude and performance toward breastfeeding

Background The present study aimed to explore effects of companionship in training sessions on primiparous women's knowledge, attitude and performance toward breastfeeding. Materials and Methods: In this case- control interventional study, 105 primiparous women in the 30th to 34th weeks of pregnancy were selected and assigned to three groups, namely the intervention group without a companion (n=35), the intervention group with a companion (n=35), and the comparison group (n=35). Data gathering tools was a questionnaire and breastfeeding observational checklist. The control group received routine training in the hospital, but the other groups were trained by the researcher in four 90-minute sessions. Data were collected before and after the education, immediately after childbirth, and four and eight weeks after childbirth and analyzed using SPSS(version 20.0) software and appropriate statistical tests. Results: No significant difference was observed in terms of demographic variables such as: maternal and paternal educational level and occupation status between control and intervention groups (P > 0.05). There was a significant difference between the mean scores of knowledge and attitude toward breastfeeding in the two intervention groups before and after the educational intervention, right after child birth, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after child birth (P < 0.001). There was also a significant difference between the three groups in the mean score of performance of breastfeeding right after, 4, and 8 weeks after childbirth (P < 0.001). Conclusion: According to results of this study, education during pregnancy and support from the accompanying person, before and after childbirth expand knowledge of breastfeeding, reinforce attitude toward it, and boost its performance