Journal of Research in Health Sciences
Volume:8 Issue: 1, Winter-Spring 2008

To compare the effectiveness of BASNEF and Classic educational models to improve the assertion skill level of high school boy students. The 60 high school male students from Shiraz City, Fars Province Iran, were participated in this study. They were randomly divided in two groups (groups A and B). The group A attended in de signed educational planning based on BASNEF model and group B attended in classic educational pro gram. The both groups had participated in six session educational activity (2 hours each session) dur ing the four weeks. The data collected using questionnaire before and after one-month intervention. The mean score of knowledge, attitude, enabling factors, social norms, and Rathus Assertion Test were not significant statistically between two groups before and after intervention. However, the mean scores of all mentioned variables in group A and only knowledge and assertion variables in group B changed significantly after intervention. In addition, the comparison of the mean scores and the means of scores difference of all variables changed significantly between two groups after in tervention. Performing BASNEF educational model, in accordance with its main parts (knowledge, atti tude, social norms, and enabling factors) is more effective than performing classic educational model to improve high school boy students’ assertion.

The traditional cyclone has been developed for the removal of airborne silica particles from local exhaust ventilation (LEV). The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of veloc ity and particles load on efficiency of cyclone in the Stone Crushing Units at Azendarian Area. After the designing and installing the traditional cyclone, downstream and upstream samples of the apparatus were obtained. The mass of all samples collected was determined gravimetrically us ing EPA method with cascade Impactor. The relation between inlet total and respirable dust concentration to cyclone and cyclone over all efficiency is statistically significant (P= 0.005) and the relation between inlet air velocity to cyclone and cyclone pressure loss is statistically significant (P= 0.002). There was a significant correla tion between the inlet concentration loaded to cyclone and the efficiency of cyclone. Increase of respirable dust concentration and also total concentration cause to increase effi ciency of cyclone.

Electrocoagulation is a technique involving the electrolytic addition of coagulating metal ions directly from sacrificial electrodes. These ions coagulate with turbidity agents in the water, in a similar manner to the addition of coagulating chemicals such as alum and ferric chloride, and al low the easier removal of the pollutants. Purpose of this study was to conduct experimental investiga tion of water turbidity removal using the electrocoagulation method. Removal of turbidity from raw water in batch system was investigated by different voltage (10, 15, 20, 25, 30V), electrodes (Al, Fe and St) and electrolyzes time (0 to 40 min.), electrodes dis tance 2 cm and pH=7.5. The experimental results showed that the removal efficiency depends on the electrolyze time, types of electrodes and the applied current. From the experiments carried out at 20V, it was found that in 20 minutes the removal efficiency for Al, Fe and St electrodes was 93, 91 and 51 percent respec tively. Based on turbidity removal efficiency, Al is prior to Fe and St as sacrificial electrode material. In an era when environmental phenomena attract a great attention, electrocoagulation meth ods can be said to be a promising cleaning and purifying method for water treatment.

To determine the risk factor for acute diarrhea disease in children. In the survey, 220 cases and 220 controls were involved. Cases were children with loose wa tery feces, pathologically diagnosed as acute diarrhea by the physician, and enrolled from the Emer gency Ward as the Incident Cases in Dr. Sheykh Hospital, Mashhad, northeast of Iran. Control group too, was enrolled from the same cases and the members were children whose risk factors dis ease were not the risk factor for acute diarrhea, and were enrolled from emergency ward of burn pa tients, accidents, acute respiratory diseases and eligible patients. By using univariate logistic regression models, variables consisting used milk up to 6 months age, antibiotic usage during the last 15 days, mother''s employment, mother''s acquaintance with ORS, oc cupancy, and water slack during the week before illness, were significantly related with acute diar rhea. In a multiple logistic regression, the relationship between the said factors as the independent vari ables and acute diarrhea was studied. Use of formulas before 6 month age with (95% CI 1.77-5.79) OR=3.21, and tenantry with (95% CI 1.24-2.71) OR=1.83, and mother’s employment with (95% CI 1.2-5.06) OR= 2.48 were factors affecting acute diarrhea which remained in the multiple logistic model and had significant relationship with the disease. During this study, important environmental risk factors were recognized. Endangered groups and mothers with children under 5 years old should be aware of these risk factors in order to pre vent their children''s diseases. Prevention of acute diarrhea in children can reduce massive detri ments to health system.

Total system design (TSD) factors are design factors, which have impact on overall performance of the power plants in context of total human engineering or macroergonomic. The evaluation of the impact of TSD factors was the main goal of this study. The main objective was human factors engineering on human performance in a power plant. The systems being studied are the control rooms and maintenance departments of a 2000 MW thermal power plant in IRAN. By non-parametric correlation analysis and Kruskal-Wallis test of means, we can achieve between TSD factors and human performance. The selected TSD factors are related to procedures, work assessment, teamwork, self-organization, information exchange and communication. In a way we can say that various factors influence on human performance in the power plant is TSD factors such as organizational and safety procedures, teamwork, self-organization, job design and information exchange. The best way to increase human performance is TSD factors must be considered, designed and tested concurrently with the engineering factors at the design phase of the system developmental cycle.

The world health organization estimates that 58% of pregnant women in developing coun tries are anemic. In spite of the fact that most ministries of health in developing countries have policies to provide pregnant women with iron supplementation, prevalence of maternal anemia has not declined sig nificantly. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to the current recommendation in the local popu lation and to describe factors associated with taking iron supplementation during pregnancy. A questionnaire assessing the use of prenatal iron supplementation was distributed among women recently having delivered in Urmia, west Azerbaijan Province, northwest Iran. The question naire consisted of two sections. The first included demographic information and the second part cov ered questions regarding duration of iron supplementation, awareness of per partum anemia and manage ment including benefits and side effects of iron supplementation. SPSS version 10 was used for sta tistical analysis; data were analyzed by Chi-Square and logistic regression. Eighty seven percent of participants took iron supplements for at least 4 months. Training dur ing pregnancy was associated with longer duration of iron use. In logistic regression analysis nulipar ity was the only variable, which remained in the model. Knowledge of participants on anemia, was obviously poor. Health care stuffs were the main source of information. The compliance was rather high but knowledge of subjects was low. Therefore, increas ing effort is required to mobilize health workers to distribute information on anemia prevention and us ing iron supplements properly.

Daylight availability data are essential for designing effectively day lighted buildings. In re spect to no available daylight availability data in Iran, illuminance data on the south facing vertical sur faces were estimated using a proper method. An illuminance measuring set was designed for measuring vertical illuminances for standard times over 15 days at one hour intervals from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at three measuring stations (Hamadan, Eshte hard and Kerman). Measuring data were used to confirm predicted by the IESNA method. Measurement of respective illuminances on the south vertical surfaces resulted in minimum val ues of 10.5 KLx, mean values of 33.59 KLx and maximum values of 79.6 KLx. In this study was developed a regression model between measured and calculated data of south facing vertical illuminance. This model, have a good linear correlation between measured and cal culated values (r= 0.892).

Low fruit and vegetable intake is a major risk factor for cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke. The recommended intake of five portions per day would reduce death rates from these causes by 20%. In order to have reach fruit and vegetables in daily diet among students, this study examines a brief preventive intervention as for embedding schools action and students role for keeping and promoting fruit and vegetables consumption. To promote increased fruit and vegetable consumption, this quasi-experimental study, was conducted among forth and fifth grade students (228 students: Intervention and control groups) in Hamadan, Iran from October 2007 to February 2008. The intervention consisted of behavioral curriculum in classrooms, serving fruit in the school, and parental support plus involvement. 24-hour and 1-week food recalls measured food consumption. Compared with controls, the intervention group significantly increased their knowledge of the 5-a-day optimum (P< 0.001) and also it was found visible improvement for consumption of fruit and vegetables but it was not significant based on adjusted by the Holmes- Bonfereroni procedure. School-based interventions can produce important changes in knowledge of and access to fruit and vegetables among students. However, educational programs need to advocacy for providing fruit and vegetables in each community.