مجله تصویر سلامت
سال دوم شماره 2 (تابستان 1390)

In 1975, Iran started the rural health workers (Behvarz) training project in West Azerbaijan province with World Health Organization (WHO) cooperation. In 1977, the government accepted primary health care (PHC) as a main policy to develop the health system. Health indicators in rural population are calculable using Vital Horoscope. This study was designed for assessment of health indicators in rural population of East Azerbaijan. In this retrospective-analytic study, the rural health indicators were extracted from vital horoscope during 1368-1388. Ten indicators about reproductive health, child mortality and environmental health were assessed. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. For assessment of dispersion of the indicators, we used standard deviation for neonatal death rate and unskilled attendance at delivery. In the study period, the crude birth rate was decreased from 35.7 per 1000 to 18.36 /1000. Total fertility rate was 5.76 in 1367 and was declined to 1.93 in 1388. The birth attended by unskilled personnel with a sharp decrease reached to 0.77% from 46.26%. The neonatal mortality decreased from 21.8 in 1000 live births in 1367 to 8.12 in 1388. The 1-12 months children death rate was 31.4 in 1000 and was declined to 4.6. The under 5 year old mortality rate was reached to 2.5 in 1388 from 9.8 in 1367. In 1388, 15.23 of under 5 year old children died in 1000 live births, 8.12 died during neonatal period, 4.6 and 2.45 during infantile and 1-5 year old period, respectively. This study showed that health indicators were improved which is the sign of effectiveness of Primary Health Care programs. Changes in health needs and epidemiological transitions make it necessary to review and reform the PHC content according to new challenges.

Evaluating academic members by students is carried out to determine their success rate in achieving educational goals. The purpose of this study was determining the students’ viewpoint about affecting factors on evaluating teachers at the health and nutrition faculty in the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. This analytic descriptive study was conducted by the participation of all the students who were studying at the second semester or higher at their education program in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in the academic year of 2011. A questionnaire, containing demographic data and some factors influencing on teacher evaluation including effective teaching skills (7 questions), faculty members’ personal characteristics (16 questions), student’s personal characteristics and attitudes towards the lessons (6 questions), was distributed among the students before the beginning of the lecture at the classroom. The questionnaires were collected and the data were analyzed using t-test, Leven and Friedman statistical methods. Results showed that from the viewpoints of the students, the proficiency of the teacher on the course (98.2%), teacher ability in conveying concept (91.3%), personality (89%), good manner (87.3%), the way of teaching and organizing (85%), have high and very high influence on evaluating teacher. Also, student’s other viewpoints have low and every low impact on assessing teacher. Additionally, there was a significant relationship between the gender and field of study with teacher evaluation score. There was no significant relationship between native and nonnative status, grade point average with teacher evaluation score.  The results of this study indicated that academic capabilities (such as academic proficiency and providing new and updated scientific information on the course subject) is one of the most important factors influencing teacher evaluation outcomes. Moreover, it seems that besides teaching methods, teacher personality could promote student enthusiasm and motivation for learning as well which ultimately improves the quality of education.

Providing and promoting children's health is a major task of family physicians in Iran’s health care system. This study was carried out to determine the impact of family physician program on health indicators of children in the rural area of Tabriz city. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on children born in rural region of Tabriz city from 2003 to 2008. A total number of 751 samples were selected (12% of total population) using stratified sampling. Data were collected using a valid checklist that was constructed and performed by the researcher in the last research. The data were extracted from family health file records (child care forms) for two periods of time: before and after implementing family physician plan. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software. The results showed that there was a significant difference in children's health indicators including the number of cares for child, micronutrient supplementation, child's age in the first time health care, the number of referrals and hospitalization case before and after implementing family physician plan. Meanwhile, the continuity of breastfeeding, anthropometric index of height and weight were not significantly different in the improvement of indicators after the implementation of family physician program. (p<0.05) The presence of doctors and midwives in health team had a significant effect on some components of child care. However, there was no reliable evidence to prove its impact on child health indicators. Therefore, revision of the family physician responsibilities, reform of the family health information system and further studies to determine the exact impact of the plan is recommended.

Adolescence is a proper time to make lifestyle changes to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases in the adulthood. This study aimed to describe the anthropometric indices and physical activities status and their relationship with musculoskeletal complaints in high school female students in Tabriz. Two hundred students were selected by cluster sampling method. Anthropometric indicators, physical activity level and musculoskeletal complaints were determined using standard protocols and questionnaires. Statistical analysis of data was performed according to age and body types. The mean age and BMI of the subjects were 17.12 years and 22/16 kg/m2, respectively. About 20% of the students were overweight or obese. The body type of the students was endomorph-mesomorph. Only 8% of the students exercised in gyms and 31% spent more than three hours a day watching television and 70% did the housework. Body type and Body Mass Index did not differ significantly between age groups. Logistic regression models showed no relationship between musculoskeletal complaints, physical activities and body types. This study showed reduction in the physical activities of female students, but there was no significant relationship between musculoskeletal complaints, physical activities and body types.

HIV has neither vaccine nor cure. Effective policies in changing high-risk behavior could be very effective in prevention management. Faculty members are important source in determining these policies. In this study, we aimed to choose high priority strategies about AIDS preventive policies from the perspective of faculty members. In this descriptive study, 180 participants were chosen based on Cochran’s sample size formula among all faculty members in Tabriz University and Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 1388. Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire which its reliability and validity were confirmed by experts. Data were collected randomly and analyzed using SPSS software. In this study, 61.1% and 35% of faculty members disagreed with educational intervention in order to provide information about AIDS prevention for elementary and guidance school students respectively, 88.3% and 83.9% agreed on educational intervention in order to provide information about prevention and sexual issues by healthcare centers along with family physicians respectively, 81.7%, 81.1% 73.9%, 75.6%, 72.2% agreed on providing counseling services and guiding patients that were referred to health centers, educating prevention skills to university students, promoting prevention skills for high school students, educating prevention skills by mass media to the public and adding HIV routine tests for vulnerable groups, respectively. With regard to the findings of this study and comparing with similar studies and the fact that young adults comprise the majority of Iran's population and are at risk of the emerging diseases, it is necessary that health system officials develop comprehensive educational intervention programs and strategies in order to provide trainings for children and teenagers especially for vulnerable people such as drug users.

This study reviews the literature to elaborate the concept of information literacy, its significance and application in academic and educational systems. Information literacy (IL) is known as a strategic tool for any citizen in knowledge-based societies and systems. Every member of a competitive and information-based system and society needs to be empowered with IL skills. It is not just a concern of a specific group or people. Therefore, this paper is aimed at elaborating the concept of IL in various levels of society, specially the academic systems.