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Research in Health Sciences - Volume:18 Issue: 1, Winter 2018

Journal of Research in Health Sciences
Volume:18 Issue: 1, Winter 2018

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1396/12/28
  • تعداد عناوین: 8
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  • Velusami Deepika, R. Vijayakumar * Page 1
    Background
    Obesity and hypertension pose a big threat to public health. Targeting the prehypertension stage to evaluate the vascular damage due to obesity can help us to plan early interventions.
    Study design: A cross-sectional study.
    Methods
    This study as a part of the medical heath checkup program was conducted by the Medical College in Puducherry, India on all medical students of age group 18-25 years. Blood pressure (BP) recordings and body mass index (BMI) were classified into following four groups: Group1: Normotensives with normal BMI (n=109); Group 2: Normotensives with higher BMI (n=89); Group 3: Prehypertensive subjects with normal BMI (n=50); and Group 4: Prehypertensive subjects with higher BMI (n=99). Arterial stiffness, body fat composition, and lipid profile were evaluated. Correlation of arterial stiffness indices with BMI, BP, body fat, visceral fat, lipid profile were done using Pearson’s correlation and the contribution of BMI to arterial stiffness was assessed using univariate regression analysis.
    Results
    BMI, arterial stiffness, body fat, visceral fat, total cholesterol and total triglyceride showed a significant increase in prehypertensive group with higher BMI as compared to other groups. BMI showed significant correlation with arterial stiffness (P
    Conclusions
    Vascular damage was seen in the prehypertensive stage itself and was more pronounced in individuals with higher BMI.
    Keywords: Body mass index, Prehypertension, Arterial stiffness
  • Menel Mellouli, Nawel Zammit, Manel Limam, Meriam Elghardallou, Ali Mtiraoui, Thouraya Ajmi, Chekib Zedini Page 2
    Background
    Internet represents a revolution in the world of technology and communication all over the world including Tunisia. However, this technology has also introduced problematic use, especially among students. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of Internet addiction among college students and its predictors in the region of Sousse, Tunisia.
    Study design: A cross-sectional study.
    Methods
    The current study was conducted in the colleges of Sousse, Tunisia in 2012-2013. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect data from 556 students in 5 randomly selected colleges from the region. Collected data concerned socio-demographic characteristics, substances use and internet addiction using the Young Internet Addiction Test.
    Results
    The response rate was 96%. The mean age of participants was 21.8±2.2 yr. Females represented 51.8% of them. Poor control of internet use was found among 280 (54.0%; CI95%: 49.7, 58.3%) participants. Low education levels among parents, the young age, lifetime tobacco use and lifetime illicit drugs use were significantly associated with poor control of internet use among students (P
    Conclusions
    Poor control of internet use is highly prevalent among the college students of Sousse especially those under graduate. A national intervention program is required to reduce this problem among youth. A national study among both in-school and out-of-school adolescents and young people would identify at-risk groups and determine the most efficient time to intervene and prevent internet addiction.
    Keywords: Internet, Behavior, addictive, Students, Tunisia
  • Satar Rezaei, Mohammad Hajizadeh, Masoud Khosravipour, Farid Khosravi, Shahab Rezaeian Page 3
    Background
    Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important determinant of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We aimed to quantify socioeconomic-related inequality in poor-HRQoL among adults in Kermanshah, western Iran.
    Study design: A cross-sectional study.
    Methods
    Overall, 1730 adults (18-65 yr) were selected using convenience sampling from Kermanshah, Iran. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, SES, lifestyle factors and HRQoL of participants over the period between May and Aug 2017. The concentration curve and concentration index (C) were used to illustrate and measure wealth-related inequality in poor-HRQoL. Additionally, we decomposed the C index to identify factors explaining wealth-related inequality in poor-HRQoL.
    Results
    The overall prevalence of poor-HRQoL was 35.3% (95% confidence interval[CI]: 33.1%, 37.6%). The poor-HRQoL was mainly concentrated among the poor adults (C=-0.256, 95% CI: -0.325, -0.187). Poor-HRQoL was concentrated among men (C=-0.256, 95% CI: -0.345, -0.177) and women (C=-0.261, 95% CI: -0.310, -0.204). Wealth, physical inactivity, the presence of chronic health condition(s), lack of health insurance coverage were the main factors contributing to the concentration of poor-HRQoL among socioeconomically disadvantaged adults.
    Conclusions
    Socioeconomic-related inequalities in poor-HRQoL among adult should warrant more attention. Policies should be designed to not only improve HRQoL among adults but also reduce the pro-rich distribution of HRQoL among adults in Kermanshah.
    Keywords: Inequalities, Socioeconomic status, Health, related quality of life, Iran
  • Satar Rezaei, Mohammad Hajizadeh, Yahya Pasdar, Behrooz Hamzeh, Mehdi Moradinazar, Farid Najafi Page 4
    Background
    This study aimed to examine the association between smoking and obesity among adults in Kermanshah Province, west of Iran.
    Study design: A cross-sectional study.
    Methods
    A total of 8822 participants, aged 35-65 yr, form Ravansar Non-communicable Disease (RaNCD) cohort study (2014-2016) were enrolled. Smoking habits were categorized in terms of smoking status (current, former and never smokers) and smoking intensity (light, moderate and heavy). General obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 and abdominal obesity were defined as a waist to hip ratio (WHR) ≥90 for men and ≥85 for women. Multiple logistic regressions were used to examine the association between general and abdominal obesity with smoking status and smoking intensity while controlling for age, sex, years of education and wealth index.
    Results
    Overall, 12% were current smokers, 8.4% former smokers and 79.6% never smokers. The prevalence of light, moderate and heavy smokers among current smokers was 30.8%, 18%, and 51.2%, respectively. The prevalence of general obesity was 27.6%, while the prevalence of abdominal obesity was 82.3%. The probabilities of general and abdominal obesity for current smokers were lower than never smokers by 34% and 36%, respectively. The probability of abdominal obesity for heavy smokers was 31% lower than light smokers. We did not observe significant associations between smoking intensity and general obesity.
    Conclusions
    Current smokers compared to never smokers were less likely to be obese. The reverse association between smoking and obesity; however, should not be interpreted as a causal relationship.
    Keywords: Smoking, Obesity, Abdominal obesity, Cross, sectional study, Iran
  • Hesam Ghiasvand, Alireza Olyaeemanesh, Reza Majdzadeh, Zhaleh Abdi, Mohammadreza Mobinizadeh Page 5
    Background
    The financial protection against catastrophic and impoverishing health expenditures is one of the main aspects of the universal health coverage. This study aimed to present a clear picture of the financial protection situation in Iran from 2003-2014.
    Study design: This is an analytical study on secondary data of Statistical Center of Iran (SCI). The study has some policy implications for policy makers; therefore, it is an applied one.
    Methods
    Data related to the Iranian rural and urban household payments on health expenditures was obtained from annual surveys of the SCI. WHO researchers’ approach was used to calculate the Fairness of Financial Contribution Indicator (FFCI), the headcount and overshoot ratios of catastrophic and impoverishing health expenditures. A logistic regression was conducted to identify the determinants of probability of occurrence of catastrophic health expenditure among Iranian households in 2014.
    Results
    The mean of FFCI for rural and urban households was 0.854 (0.41) and 0.867 (0.32), respectively. The average headcount ratios of catastrophic and impoverishing health expenditures were 1.32% (0.24) and 0.33% (P=0.006) for rural households and 1.4% (0.6) and 0.28% (P=0.001) for urban households. Concerning rural households, the overshoot of catastrophic and impoverishing health expenditures was 14.94% (P=0.001) and 7.22% (0.53); it was 15.59% (1.54) and 7.76% (0.52) for urban households.
    Conclusions
    No significant and considerable change was found in the headcount ratios of catastrophic and impoverishing health expenditure and in their overshoot or gap amounts. This suggested a lack of well-designed and effective schemes for materializing the financial protection in Iran.
    Keywords: Health Equality, Fairness in financial contribution, catastrophic health care payments, Financial protection
  • Mojgan Mamani, Mohammad Mehdi Majzoobi, Fariba Keramat, Nesa Varmaghani, Abbas Moghimbeigi Page 6
    Background
    Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella species via infected domestic animals. In endemic areas, certain occupations such as veterinarians, butchers, and slaughterhouse workers are considered high risk regarding brucellosis. We evaluated the seroprevalence of brucellosis in high-risk occupations in Hamadan, West of Iran.
    Study design: a cross-sectional study.
    Methods
    Overall, 218 participants from 2014 to 2015 were enrolled. A questionnaire including demographic data, length of employment, and using personal protective equipment was completed for each of them. Then, blood samples were taken and sent to Hamadan Health Center to be tested by Wright or standard tube agglutination (STA). In addition, samples with positive Wright test were examined by 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) test. Then, seropositive participants were evaluated for clinical manifestations of brucellosis. All collected data were analyzed by SPSS ver. 16.
    Results
    The mean age of the participants was 42.79±11.16 yr and all seropositive cases were male. Based on Wright ≥1/80 and 2ME ≥1/40, seroprevalence of brucellosis was 13.3% and 12.3%, respectively. The use of personal protective equipment was low among individuals with or without brucellosis. Myalgia, fatigue, back pain, joint pain, night sweats, fever, malaise, and headache were common symptoms in seropositive cases. Moreover, 20.6% of the seropositive participants were asymptomatic.
    Conclusions
    High prevalence of brucellosis in these occupational groups and symptomatic disease in significant numbers of them, so periodic clinical examinations in these groups seems to be essential for brucellosis surveillance system.
    Keywords: Slaughter houses, Veterinarians, Prevalence, Brucellosis, Iran
  • Fatemeh Kargar Shouroki, Seyed Jamaleddin Shahtaheri, Farideh Golbabaei, Abolfazle Barkhordari, Abbas Rahimi-Froushani Page 7
    Background
    Chromium exposure occurs in various industries such as ceramics industry. The main disadvantage of chromium is high toxicity when absorbed by the body. This study aimed to determine and compare urinary chromium values in the pre- and post-shift of ceramic glazers and the control group; investigate urinary chromium value according to the study variables; compare pulmonary function tests between ceramic glazers vs. the control group.
    Study design: A cross-sectional study.
    Methods
    This study was carried out in Yazd City, central Iran on 49 glazers and 55 office workers in the same workplace as the control group. The urine samples were collected at both start and end of the work shift, and the control group was examined only once. Preparation of samples were conducted by Solid Phase Extraction (SPE). The analyses were performed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). All the participants filled out a self-administered questionnaire comprising of questions about smoking habits, work shift, skin dermatitis, job title, using mask, ventilation system, duration of exposure, overtime working, age, weight, and height. The lung function tests were performed on study groups.
    Results
    The concentration of chromium after the glazer's shift was 2.73 times higher than the Biological Exposure Index (BEI) recommended by the occupational and environmental health center of Iran. Lung function tests were significantly lower in the glazers compared with the control group (P=0.001).
    Conclusions
    Skin dermatitis and overtime working are the main determinants of high chromium level in glazers.
    Keywords: Chromium, Exposure, Ceramics, Solid phase extraction
  • Younes Mohammadi, Rashid Heidarimoghadam, Bistoon Hosseini, Mohammad Babamiri, Azita Nikravesh, Masoumeh Javaheri, Babak Moeini Page 8
    Background
    Child mortality is one of the major health indices and the main targets in sustainable development goals. This study aimed to estimate child mortality rate and assess the progress toward sustainable development goals in Hamadan Province, western Iran and its districts from 1990 to 2016.
    Study design: A cross-sectional study.
    Methods
    We used two data sources including death registration system (DRS) and summary birth history data (SBH) of 2010 census for estimating child mortality rate. SBH data was analyzed by Maternal Age Cohort and Maternal age period methods. To obtain the final trend with 95% uncertainty, we used Bayesian Penalized B-Spline.
    Results
    At provincial level, child mortality rate reduced by 82% from 1990 (97 per 1000 live births) to 2016 (16 per 1000 live births). At district level, in 2016, the highest child mortality rate belonged to Toyserkan and Kaboodarahang districts with 18 per 1000 live births, and the lowest child mortality rate belonged to Hamadan and Razan districts with 12 per 1000 live births. The highest and the lowest reduction rate from 1990 to 2016 belonged to Razan and Kaboodarahang districts, respectively.
    Conclusions
    The rate of child mortality has declined massively at both provincial and district levels. However, disparity existed among districts of Hamadan Province. The level of maternal education and income level was associated with disparity.
    Keywords: Infant mortality, trend, Child mortality, trend, Conservation of natural resources, Iran