ahmad-reza farsar

People with epilepsy generally encounter misconceptions and negative attitudes about different aspects of the disease. They are also prone to physical injuries during seizures. Lack of awareness about first-aid measures results in taking inappropriate first-aid measures. The objective of this survey was to determine public awareness, attitudes, and first-aid measures about epilepsy in Tehran. This population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted during December 2016 to May 2017 throughout Tehran. Random stratified cluster sampling was used. Data were collected through interviews using a questionnaire. The awareness section included general awareness, causes, symptoms, seizure triggers, first-aid measures, and recommended treatments. The Likert scale was used for the attitudes section which included 20 statements. The answers about first-aid measures were categorized as helpful, or harmful. A total of 833 adults participated in the survey. The level of total awareness score of 41 (4.9%) participants was very good, 194 (23.3%) good, 255 (30.6%) fair, 210 (25.2%) low, and 133(16.0%) very low. The mean (SD) score about general awareness was 4.6 (3.0), range=0 to 11; causes 5.8 (3.4), range=0 to 13; symptoms of seizures 7.0 (4.0), range=0 to 13; first-aid measures 7.5 (3.4), range=0 to 14. Among all participants, 260 (31.2%), named at least one superstitious cause for epilepsy. Attitudes were generally positive except for marriage and having kids. The level of first-aid measures score of 74(42.5) was very good, 79(45.4) good, and 21(12.1) low. The awareness of people of Tehran about epilepsy was insufficient, attitudes were generally positive but rather conservative, and first-aid measures at the last witnessed seizure were fairly helpful.

Diarrhea outbreaks caused by contaminated water or food result in 1.8 million deaths worldwilde every year. This study aimed to identify factors associated with diarrhea outbreaks in Pardis city in 2014.
This case-control study was conducted with participation of residents of Phase One to Four of Pardis city in Tehran province in 2014. Of 5075 people with diarrhea, 250 were selected as cases. For each case, a control from the neighbors who was healthy and did not have diarrhea at the onset of the outbreak was selected. Data were collected by interviewing participants and using the standard questionnaire for water and food borne diseases outbreak designed by the Ministry of Health of Iran. Blood and stool samples were collected for laboratory tests. Data were analyzed using SPSS-21 software, and ChiSquare and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to analyze the data.
Among all participants, 144 (57.7%) were women, and 106 (42.3%) were men. The mean (SD) age in the case and control group was 25.8 (2.1) and 29.8 (1.8) years respectively. Most participants who were affected by the diarrhea outbreak lived in Phase Three of Pardis city. They reported that diarrhea symptoms appeared on December 26th 2016 between 18:00 and 24:00. Drinking tap water instead of bottled water, (OR=5.94, 95% CI=3.45-10.21) and drinking of tap water at home after water supply reconnection (OR=4.20, 95% CI=1.56-11.30) had an impact on the incidence of diarrhea outbreaks among cases compared with controls at the time of outbreak (P The diarrheal outbreak in Pardis city was due to bacterial and viral pollution of water following water pipe fractures in the water distribution system of the city.

Nutrition is one of the effective factors in the protection of health and the prevention of disease. Therefore، determination of the relationship between nutrition choices and health of people is emphasized. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of education and nutrition consultation on changing the unhealthy nutritional habits، and improving healthy nutrition behavior among the clients of Sardar-Jangal health center in 2012. This interventional study was performed with the participation clients of Sardar Jangal health center in 2012. The sample size was 1500 and the sampling method was census. Data was gathered through a questionnaire and interview. The questionnaire included information regarding age، sex، education، employment and nutritional status. The scores between 9-11، 5-8 and less than 5، respectively، were considered as favorable، relatively favorable and unfavorable nutritional status. The participants with relatively favorable and unfavorable status were referred to nutrition education and consultation classes. At the end of the consultation classes، their nutritional status were assessed again. The data was analyzed through SPSS 21، using T-Test. In the study، 1500 clients of Sardar Jangal health center participated. The sample included 383 (25. 6%) male and 1117 (74. 4%) female. The mean age of male and female was 38. 3±21. 1 and 36. 9±17. 4 respectively. Before participating in the nutrition education and consultation classes، the nutrition status of 343 (30. 7%) of females was favorable whilst for 775 (69. 3%)، the nutritional status was unfavorable. Among 114 (29. 8%) of males it was favorable and amongst 268 (70. 2%) it was unfavorable. Between the mentioned clients، the nutrition status of 144 (20. 1%) females and 28 (12. 7%) males improved after nutritional consultation (P < 0. 001). The results showed nutritional education and consultation are effective in improving the nutritional behavior and modifying the incorrect nutritional behavior.

This study was designed to assess the frequency of exclusive breastfeeding in two health centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences in Khak Sefid, Tehran, Iran. A total of 175 mothers, referred for the third dose of their infants’ DPT vaccination program participated in the study by completing a questionnaire regarding characteristics of their pregnancy, delivery and exclusive breastfeeding within the first six months of birth. Two-variable analysis and logistic regression test were applied to evaluate factors influencing exclusive breastfeeding. Results indicated that the frequency of exclusive breastfeeding, i.e., breastfeeding within the first six months of birth without the use of any other food with or without vitamin supplementation, was 31.17% (95% CI=23.77% - 38.57%), which means 48 infants of 154 >179 days old Among 154 infants (>179 days old) 48 did not have a history of being separated from their mothers. In logistic regression analysis, the variables which were directly associated with exclusive breastfeeding, with 0.05 significance level of alpha, included breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, eight times or more breastfeeding per day and receiving breastfeeding education during pregnancy. Variables with a negative association with breastfeeding included lack of breast milk, presence of a breast problem that could hinder breastfeeding, bottle feeding, physician or family’s advice not to breastfeed and infant’s refusal to breastfeed. Frequency of breastfeeding within the six months of birth is less than similar frequencies which are obtained by asking about breastfeeding on the day of the interview. It is recommended to apply real frequency for assessment, evaluation and programming of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of birth.

Under 5-years mortality year is one of the most important indicators of development and health in the countries. Therefore, generating accurate picture of child mortality in order to evaluate the death causes and identifying the avoidable factors for designing the interventions and preventing similar death is necessary. The present study aimed to investigate the causes of deaths in 1 to 59 months children in the area covered by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2012. In this descriptive cross-sectional study that conducted from March 2012 to March 2013, all of 1 to 59 months children deaths in the area covered by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were investigated. Required data was extracted from registration forms of the child health office of ministry of health and medical education. The total number of deaths in 1 to 59 months children was 383. The highest frequency of death was observed in the children who aged between 1 to 12 months (57.8%). More than half of the children who died were boy (52.5%). Totally, the most common causes of death were congenital and chromosomal abnormalities (17.5%), injuries (15.4%) and cancers (11.2%). Based on the results, designing interventions such as genetic counseling in high risk couples, training of the parent and children for prevention of injuries and public awareness about the warning symptom of the cancers and respiratory system disease in order to reduce the children deaths is essential.

Healthy People plan that is expressed by WHO stipulated that by 2000 at least 50% of the children and by 2010, 90% of 6-5 year-old children should be with no caries in their primary teeth. The present study investigated the prevalence of teeth decay of D, E and related factors in 6 and 7 years old children. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013 to assess the bases covered by student Shemiranat health center. Study population including 5000 students aged 6 and 7 and the sample size of 450 patients was available in sampling method. Data in a form that was designed for this study were collected and analyzed using Epi data and SPSS software. The index dmft (Decayed Missed Filled Teeth) in primary teeth D and E is equaled to 2.46 and prevalence of dental caries E and D were estimated 63.4%. There is significant relationship between decay of teeth D and E and father education (Pvalue<0.001) and mother education (Pvalue 0.001) children age (Pvalue<0.001) locality of children whether they live in rural or urban regions (Pvalue 0.001) economic condition of families (P value<0.001) and social status (Pvalue<0.001) with number of decay teeth. The results imply on high prevalence of teeth caries among the children molar covered by Shemiranat health center so that the number of teeth without caries is far from the global measures and WHO. Likewise there is a significant relationship between social and economical status with children decay teeth and there is a need to pay more attention to mouth health in poor regions from the social and economical point of views.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major worldwide public health problem. The incidence of tuberculosis has decreased in Iran in recent years. However, despite this dramatic decline, tuberculosis is still considered to be a major health problem in Iran.. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological situation and main characteristics of tuberculosis in Iran..Patients and The present study was designed as a retrospective study. All tuberculosis patients were included in this study during a seven year period. Patients were categorized into two groups: new and retreatment. The patients'' information was extracted using a tuberculosis surveillance system. Demographic (age, gender and place of birth) and clinical characteristics included type and site of the disease, treatment outcomes, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection and anti-TB drugs resistance.. A total of 6 489 tuberculosis cases were notified during the study period. Extra-pulmonary TB was diagnosed in 30% of the cases. From 4633 pulmonary patients, 3009 new cases were categorized as smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Outcome evaluations demonstrated that 72% of the smear positive pulmonary patients had been cured and 7.4% had completed the duration of treatment. Co-infection of HIV existed in 3% of the patients. A drug susceptibility test was performed only for high risk patients, 34% of whom were resistant to at least one drug.. Our findings suggest that neither a drug resistance phenomenon nor the HIV co-infection play a dominant role in the incidence of tuberculosis in Iran. Further investigation is needed to determine the cause of the relatively high incidence of tuberculosis and its risk factors in Iran and finally considering the gap between the observed success rate and World Health Organization objectives, more accurate follow-up of patients is recommended in order to achieve complete treatment..

It is obvious due to lack of resources،resources; we should devote our limited resources to priorities in order to reach an acceptable level of health. The objective of this study is research priority setting for Pediatric Surgery Research Center with the participation of all stakeholders. This is a Health System Research (HSR) project. In order to apply governance and leadership issues with the participation of 41 people including faculty members in Pediatric Surgery Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences، other pediatric specialists and health system stakeholders and the people associated with the health system inside and outside of the university. This study was performed with little change in 2010 using the Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) model. Based on the model، at first the stakeholders were identified and the field situation of pediatric surgery was analyzed. Then، research areas and titles were specified and research priorities were setup by giving scores according to the criteria. The seven obtained research areas in order of priority are pediatric trauma، pediatric cancers، pediatric urology diseases، undescended testicles in children، developmental genetics and congenital defects، emergency in children and application of laparoscopic surgery in children. SinceBecause each of the research areas are composed of multiple subareas. Finally we specified 43 research subareas as research priorities. These subareas include epidemiology، risk factors، prevention، screening، diagnosis، treatment، follow-up، complications، knowledge and attitudes of parents، quality of life، economy aspects and data bank for further research. ‍ In this project، research priorities were setup for Pediatric Surgery Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences with the participation of all the stakeholders based on the recommended model of WHO (COHRED). It seems that reliability of the priorities is in moderate level، but there is a certaincertain validity in obtaining the best content in terms of the study conditions.

The aim of this study was to report the epidemiological features of HBV & HCV infection in an Iranian high risk population. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections are worldwide serious public health problems. Iran has an intermediate prevalence of infection and a screening program was started in 2010 among high risk individuals.Patients and This cross-sectional study was conducted on 4455 new patients during two past years. Demographic information, age, gender, occupational status, medical history, history of vaccination against HBV, high risk exposure and laboratory findings were collected for each patient. Then distribution of demographic and risk factors was evaluated in each type of hepatitis. The mean age of patients was 45.6±17.3 years. More than two-thirds of the diagnosed cases were infected with HBV. 74% of patients were carriers of hepatitis virus. 60% of patients had no symptoms at diagnosis. Illicit intravenous drug use was most common high risk exposure in patients under study (n=366, 8.2%). High risk behaviors including illicit intravenous drug use and unprotected sex were relatively higher in patients infected with hepatitis C compared to patients with hepatitis B infection. Findings of this study suggest that illicit intravenous drug use, contact with an infected household member and unprotected sex are the most common high risk exposure in Iranian patients infected with viral hepatitis. Therefore, preventive strategies such as health education, vaccination and screening programs should be directed to these groups. The results also show that a majority of patients have no symptoms at the time of diagnosis, therefore periodic screening tests in high risk groups is required.

Allocation of limited resources to research proposals with high priority helps achievement of acceptable level of health. Therefore، priority setting in research centers is a necessary action. The objective of this study is to report the research priorities of the Cardiovascular Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2009.

This study involved 48 faculty members and other stakeholders in 2009. There were five basic principles including stakeholders’ participation and consensus، situation analysis، need assessment، defining research priority topics، and scoring the criteria. This is a modified version of the proposed model of “The Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED).

Twenty diseases were determined as research priorities of the cardiovascular research center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. These priorities included myocardial infarction، hypertension، unstable angina، atherosclerosis، dyslipidemia، heart failure، stable angina، metabolic syndrome، coronary bypass complications، pulmonary embolism، heart valve diseases، prevention of deep vein thrombosis، rheumatic fever، cardiogenic shock، cardiac arrhythmia، cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death، Peripheral vascular disease، syncope، angioplasty and valvuloplasty، cardiovascular diseases: epidemiology، etiology، risk factors، prevention، rehabilitation، socioeconomic factors، knowledge، attitude، and practice to risk factors and prevention. ‍

Providing researchers with a list of research priorities and commitment to it، conduct research topics toward priorities and consequently the most productivity is achieved from the limited resources.