zohreh ghorashi

Domestic violence during pregnancy poses a serious threat to the physical, mental, and emotional health of both the mother and the fetus. Ultimately, it also jeopardizes the overall health and structure of society. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of determining the relationship between domestic violence during pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women residing in Rafsanjan City.

In this case-control study, data collection was performed through a three-part questionnaire, which included demographic information, domestic violence experiences, and infant outcomes. The sample size for the case group (comprising individuals with at least one neonatal outcome) was determined to be 20 people. To achieve this number, interviews were conducted with 211 pregnant women who visited Niknafs Maternity Hospital in Rafsanjan during 2019 and 2020. For each case subject, three individuals without any neonatal outcomes matched in terms of age and number of children, were selected as controls (60 people in total). The obtained data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression.

Out of the control group, 13 individuals (21.7%) and out of the case group, 10 individuals (50%) experienced violence during pregnancy (p=0.015). The results of multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that after adjusting for the spouse's age, the odds of experiencing at least one neonatal outcome were 3.29 times higher in mothers who were subjected to violence during pregnancy compared to those who were not (p=0.036).

According to the current study, it can be concluded that domestic violence leads to an increase in pregnancy-related consequences and complications. Consequently, it is crucial to implement intervention programs and raise awareness to address this issue effectively.

In some societies, childbearing is a part of women’s identity and infertile women are under a great amount of pressure from others.

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between infertility factors and sexual functioning, perceived social support, and adherence to treatment in infertile women.

In this cross-sectional study, 230 infertile women who referred to the infertility center of Shahrekord, Iran in 2022 were enrolled. Data were collected using demographic characteristics checklist, female sexual function index, multidimensional scale of perceived social support, and general adherence scale.

No significant relation was observed between the infertility factor and the mean score of sexual function, the mean score of perceived social support, and the mean score of adherence to treatment (p > 0.05). Among the aspects of sexual functioning, only the mean score of lubrication in the group of male factors was significantly higher than the common factors for men and women (p = 0.07). A linear positive relation was observed between sexual functioning (r = 0.189), perceived social support (r = 0.200), and adherence to treatment (r = 0.146) in infertile women.

By providing proper training and counseling to infertile couples, we can improve their social support and sexual function so that they can complete their infertility treatment as a result.

Husband involvement in prenatal care is a relatively new concept in Iran. This studyaimed to determine the effects of husband involvement in prenatal care on couples’ intimacy andpostpartum blues in primiparous pregnant women. This quasi-experimental study was performed on 72 primiparous pregnant women witha gestational age of 20-36 weeks in Rafsanjan in 2021 (January to September). After conveniencesampling, the participants were assigned to control (N=36) and intervention groups (N=36). Participantsin the intervention group were accompanied by their husbands and received routine prenatal careand virtual training. Participants in the control group received routine prenatal care without husbandinvolvement. The Unidimensional Relationship Closeness Scale was completed before the interventionand two weeks after delivery, and the postpartum blues Stein questionnaire was completed one weekafter delivery. Data were analysed through SPSS V. 22 and using independent two-sample t-test, pairedt-test, chi-square, Fisher’s exact tests, and Pearson correlation coefficient with a significance level ofP<0.05. The results showed that 5 women (15.2%) in the intervention group and 26 (72.2%) in thecontrol group suffered from postpartum blues after intervention (P<0.001). There was no statisticallysignificant difference in the mean of couples’ intimacy between the two groups after the intervention(P=0.08), but the mean score of change in the couples’ intimacy was significantly different across thetwo groups (P=0.01). Husband involvement in prenatal care seems to be able to reduce the incidence ofpostpartum blues but may possibly increase the couples’ intimacy. Therefore, it can be suggested thatmidwives consider husband involvement in prenatal care.

Increasing access to various forms of pornography since the advent of the Internet has provided a new context for couples’ sexual experiences, but the possibility of adverse effects of pornography on couples’ romantic relationships is a concern.

The aim of this study was to compare sexual desire and marital satisfaction in two groups of married women with and without a history of pornography use in Rafsanjan, Iran.

This descriptive study was performed on 254 women with children covered by comprehensive health centers in Rafsanjan by convenience sampling in 2020. Data collection tools included demographic characteristics form, Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire, Hurlbert index of sexual desire and sexual pornography use questionnaire. Data were analyzed by chisquare, two independent samples, and multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS software version 21. the statistical significance level of p-values considered at 0.05.

There was a positive and significant relationship between sexual desire and the use of pornography (P = 0.043). The mean score of marital satisfaction in the group of pornography users women was lower than the nonusers group, but this relationship was not statistically significant. Of the nine components of marital satisfaction, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups only in the component of financial management (P = 0.037). There was no statistically significant relationship between demographic characteristics and use of pornography (P > 0.05).

It seems that the use of pornography in married women is related to sexual desire, but in the present study, no relationship was found between the use of pornography and marital satisfaction. More studies required to reveal the relationship between pornography use on sexual features of women and their partners.

Context:

 Decreasing the outpatients’ symptoms of COVID-19 is essential. For relieving symptoms, some complementary approaches are suggested.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of yoga-based breathing techniques and meditation on outpatients’ symptoms of COVID-19 and anxiety scores.

Setting and Design: 

This interventional study was conducted on 110 women with positive results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS-COV2 virus referred to PCR testing centers in Rafsanjan city, Iran, in 2021.

The participants were assigned into intervention (n = 53) and control (n = 57) groups by simple randomization according to a computer-generated assignment list. In this study, the intervention group practiced 20-min yoga-based breathing techniques and 20-min meditation daily for a 6-day period, control group did not receive any contact till 6th day. The symptoms’ severity and headache, myalgia, and anxiety scores were evaluated on the 1st and 6th days via call interview by demographic and disease symptoms’ checklist and the Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Statistical Analysis Used: The obtained data were then reported as descriptive statistics and were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test, Chi-square test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, t-test, McNemar’s test, Mann–Whitney U-test, and multivariate analysis of covariance.

At six days after intervention, the group that practiced yoga-based breathing techniques and meditation had lower scores of headache (P < 0.001), myalgia (P < 0.001), and anxiety (P < 0.001) and lower severity of cough (P < 0.001), dyspnea (P = 0.019), and weakness(P = 0.006) than the control group.

It appears that yoga-based breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation could be considered effective and easy complementary therapies in COVID-19 patients for reducing the symptom severity and anxiety level.

Mammography screening as the most sensitive diagnostic test, while reducing mortality, will improve the quality of life. Training that has the ability to change perceptions and acceptance can be used in designing effective interventions to perform and perpetuate this behavior. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of targeted education based on the transtheoretical Model on the acceptance and perception of mammography in women over 40.

In this experimental study, 128 eligible women over 40 years of age referring to comprehensive health centers in Amol were randomly assigned to two groups of intervention and control (n=62 in each group). For the intervention group, four online training sessions were held using WhatsApp over a period of four weeks. Leaflets and instructional videos were provided to participants, and their questions were answered online. The control group received the same educational content after sampling. The Rakowski Stages of Change Questionnaire and the Decision Balance Questionnaire for both groups were completed before, immediately, and one month after training. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software using paired t-test, chi-square, repeated measures RM, and independent t-test.

The frequency percentage of the stages of change model before the intervention was not significantly different between the control and intervention groups immediately after the intervention (P=0.022) and one month later (P=0.008). In the intervention group, the frequency of pre-thinking stages decreased, while the stages of thinking and acting increased. The mean score of negative perception based on the decision balance questionnaire was significantly different between the two groups of control and intervention before training, immediately after training, and one month after training (P<0.001). The mean score of positive perception based on the decision balance questionnaire demonstrated a significant difference between the control and intervention groups immediately after training and one month after training (P<0.001).

Based on the results of this study, the use of the transtheoretical model, while increasing positive perception, improves people's performance and can be used to improve screening programs.

The pain relief effect of Paracetamol, as a safe analgesic drug in labor, compared to Pethidine, as a well-known analgesic drug, need to be more evaluated.

This study aims to compare the effects of Paracetamol and Pethidine on the first-stage labor pain relief and neonatal and maternal complications.

This single-blind, parallel group, randomized clinical trial conducted on 100 nulliparous pregnant women referred to a maternity hospital in Rafsanjan Iran in 2018 who were selected using a convenience sampling method and by assigned into two groups Paracetamol (n=49, receiving 100 mg intravenous Paracetamol) and Pethidine (n= 51, receiving 50 mg intravenous Pethidine) using the minimization method. The drugs were administered when there was at least a 4-cm cervical dilation. Maternal complications and infant's 1 and 5-min the Apgar scores and ability to breastfeed were evaluated. Pain intensity measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and compared using two-way repeated measures ANOVA before and 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours after drug administration.

There were no significant differences between the two groups in term of age, body mass index, and gestational age, and no significant difference in pain intensity in any groups among the time points. Maternal complications were significantly lower in the Paracetamol group than in the Pethidine group; however, the difference was statistically significant only in terms of nausea (P=0.04). Infants’ breastfeeding ability was significantly better in Paracetamol group than in the Pethidine group (P=0.04). The results of two-way ANOVA showed that the mean VAS score was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.67).

Paracetamol can alleviate the first-stage labor pain similar to Pethidine, but with fewer maternal and neonatal complications.

Low Back Pain (LBP) is one of the most common complaints during pregnancy, which could cause performance disability. Kinesio tape is a drug‑free elastic therapeutic cotton tape used in treating musculoskeletal problems. This study aims to determine the effects of Kinesio tape on LBP and disability in pregnant women.

A total of 80 pregnant women with LBP who were referred to the comprehensive health service centers were randomly assigned into the two groups of Kinesio tape and adhesive tape. Pain intensity was determined by the visual analog scale before and on the 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 14th day after the intervention and the disability by Roland‑Morris disability questionnaire before and on the 7th and 14th day after the intervention. Data analysis was performed by, Two‑way repeated‑measures ANOVA, Friedman, and Wilcoxon tests.

The intensity of pain decreased in both groups compared to the pre‑intervention period; Kinesio (χ2 = 48.94, df = 4, p </em>< 0.001) control (χ2 = 22.94, df = 4, p </em>< 0.001); however, the comparison results of pain intensity were not different in the two groups at different times (p </em>≥ 0.05). The effects of time was significant (Two‑way repeated‑measures ANOVA, F1,83 = 10.63, p </em>< 0.001), but the effects of time and group were not significant (F1,83 = 0.31, p </em>= 0.722) and indicated a decreasing trend of functional disability in two groups.

The Kinesio tape reduced the disability caused by LBP during pregnancy and had a lasting effect after the tape was removed.

Remaining in aghd period during the past years has become more common among young couples, but less attention has been paid to couples' problems during this period. This article explores the sexuality of young couples during aghd period in couples referred to the marriage counseling center in Kerman in 2017.

This two-stage cross-sectional study was performed on 712 couples referred to the Kerman Marriage Counseling Center by easy sampling from July 2017 to Marth 2018. In the first phase, demographic and contact information of couples attending counseling classes were obtained. At least two months after the first phase, the researchers interviewed with brides to get data regarding their sexual life. Data were entered into the SPSS16 software and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Of the total sample, 31.8% remained in aghd and did not start their independent lives. 87% of the couples experienced sleeping together, while 45% of women insisted on maintaining their virginity during marriage. This group had replaced various types of sexual interactions including oral and anal sex.

Inconsistency related to the permissibility of close and long-term marital relations and at the same time the prohibition of the couple's vaginal intercourse exposes them to psychological trauma, interpersonal problems and unwanted pregnancies, and requires more attention.

Young people’s attitudes toward marriage have been undergone changes in recent years and it seems to be contradicting in the struggle between conservative and modern liberal attitudes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitude of new grooms toward intact hymen in Kerman.

This cross‑sectional study has been conducted on 790 new grooms in Kerman, Iran. In this study, we examined the attitudes in two aspects of sexual norm and personal attitude toward premarital relationships in new grooms. The sampling method was purposive sampling and the data were analyzed using t‑test and analysis of variance.

The results of this study have showed a more conservative sexual attitude toward the sexual norms of premarital sex. The average score of the participants in the sexual norm and personal attitude was, respectively 15.86 and 48.15, indicating that their conservative views have been overcome. Most of the samples (90%) have believed in required preserving virginity before marriage, and 82% believed in virginity as the most valuable asset of the girls. In this study, the conservative attitudes of men were inversely related with their age and were directly related with perceived sexual norm and the level of affinity to religious affairs.

According to the results of this study, conservative attitudes toward premarital relationships are predominating in new grooms, but this is not generalized. The conservative attitude of new grooms may have harmful effects on their interpersonal behaviors after marriage, which requires purposeful training.

Objectives Advances in the electronic communication technologies, despite a lot of benefits, have exposed the youth to some threats such as sexting. This study aimed to determine the youth access to mobile phone and the prevalence of sexting in high school students in Rafsanjan City, Iran.
Methods The study was a cross-sectional local survey of 944 high school students in Rafsanjan using stratified cluster sampling method. The survey tool was a questionnaire of texting and sexting quantity and quality. The obtained data entered the SPSS V. 16 and analyzed using Chi square and t-test.
Results Out of 994 samples, 10.9% did not access to mobile phone. About 62.7% of samples had smart phones and internet access via mobile phones. In last six months, 34.7% of samples had sent sext and 15.7% had received sext. There was a statistical significant relationship between sending (P<0.0001) and receiving sext (P<0.0001) and the total number of texting per day.
Conclusion Iranian youths have a wide access to mobile phones and sexting is prevalent among them. Such situation would expose them to threats and dangers in sexual interactions and calls for parents’ supervision and plan for parenting education.

This study evaluated the effects of geranium aromatherapy massage on premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

A total of 120 female students with diagnosed PMS were randomly divided into three groups as control group, aromatherapy massage group, and massage group. Essential oil of geranium 2% in almond oil and sweet almond oil were used in aromatherapy massage group and massage group, respectively. Aromatherapy massage protocol was run for 8 weeks.

The study revealed that aromatherapy massage decreased the PMS physical and mental symptoms and massage therapy decreased the PMS physical and mental symptoms too (P < 0.001); however, this decrease was more in aromatherapy massage group (P < 0.001).

This study recommends aromatherapy massage, as a complementary treatment, to improve PMS

Islamic doctrine and related teachings play a seminal role in constructing the sexual performance of followers, women in particular. The aim was to explore women’s understandings of Islamic Shiite principles related to their sexuality.
In a qualitative content analysis approach, four individual interviews and seven focus groups conducted in Rafsanjan, a big city in Kerman province in Iran. Content analysis was used to extract meanings and themes.
Three major themes were emerged describing the sexual concepts and religious-related teachings concerning women's sexual understandings and performances: “unconditional sexual submission” (Tamkin), “paradox between virtue and unconditional sexual submission” and “misconceptions”.
Religious teachings have a basic and comprehensive role in sexuality construction and sexual health of women. However, occasional inconsistency between beliefs, learning and sexual expectations, practices, and situations would lead to jeopardize the psychological and somatic health of women. Religious-related misconceptions have essential role in creating sexual problems.

Sexual relationship is a mutual interaction, which its promotion requires appropriate contribution of both partners. Given the complaints of lack of female contribution in sexual relationships where the male is the initiator, this article aims at exploring the roots of not being responsive toward male sexual request in married women.
This was a qualitative study with content analysis approach for exploring the concept of sexual behavior in married women of reproductive age. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 52 Iranian women in Rafsanjan and Isfahan. Fifty-two subjects from target group were in Rafsanjan and Isfahan cities that voluntarily took part in 4 individual deep interviews and 8 focused group consisted of 48 participants. All sessions and discussions were recorded and transcripted verbatim. Inspired by the Graneheim approach, content analysis was adopted to extract the meanings and perceptions.
From study data, we extracted three main themes: “attention and affection prerequisite,” “deviation from sexual script” and “individual wishes.”
With respect to sexual and marital life quality promotion in women, it is essential for caregivers to take care of women expectations and sexual authority. We suggest these contents be mentioned in premarital consult.

Sexual well-being is essential in women’s overall health. Emphasis is placed on the assessment of women’s sexual behaviors across various domains. The purpose of this study was to describe the processes undertaken to evaluate the psychometric properties of a questionnaire developed for assessing sexual behaviors in its domains among Iranian women through their reproductive age.
A mixed method study using exploratory design was conducted with the Iranian women of reproductive age living in Rafsanjan, a city in the Kerman Province, the center of Iran. Item reduction was made in three main steps: 1) item development in the qualitative phase of the study; 2) determination of internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha correlation coefficient; 3) content and face validity, construct validity using factor analysis. The qualitative exploratory phase produced the 62-item Sexual Behaviors Assessment Questionnaire (SBAQ).
The exploratory factor analysis revealed three domains include sexual capacity, sexual motivation, and sexual performance. Good internal consistency and reliability were obtained (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = 0.81) for the global 33-item SBAQ. The items on the SBAQ revealed factor-loading > 0.5.
The SBAQ is a new validated and culturally appropriate instrument for evaluating sexual behaviors of Iranian women through their reproductive ages.

The fear of aspiration of gastric contents and its life‑threatening disadvantages in patients have encouraged many medical practitioners to follow conservative policies for clear fluid/liquid and solid intake from midnight to the time of surgery. These policies have been pursued more severely in case of pregnant women, leading the physicians to follow “nil per os” policy. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the incidence of regurgitation in two groups of pregnant women during general anesthesia for cesarean section, with standard fasting policy and taking clear fluid an hour prior to the induction of anesthesia. This clinical trial was conducted for a period of 21 months in Nik‑Nafs Maternity Hospital of Rafsanjan. The pregnant women who were candidates for elective cesarean section were registered for the study. All women fasted from midnight, and then were randomly assigned to one of the two groups. Those in the case group received 150 ml of clear liquid containing 10% carbohydrate about an hour before the induction of anesthesia. The occurrence of regurgitation was assessed by inserting the turnsole paper into the pharynx. Finally, the data of 411 cases were analyzed by descriptive methods. There was one case of regurgitation (0.69%) in the control group and one case (0.36%) in the case group, and no case of aspiration. There was no evidence to suggest that taking clear fluids about 1 hr before cesarean section will increase the risk of regurgitation. It confirms the safety of following more flexible fasting policies preoperatively, in addition to oral fluid intake, in case of parturients.

In the recent decades, the high rate of cesarean section is increased worldwide along with critical concerns about its primary benefits. Many researchers showed the positive relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and the prevalence of cesarean delivery. However, it seems that the prevalence of elective cesarean section is even rising in low socioeconomic classes.. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the socioeconomic status and the prevalence of elective cesarean section in nulliparous women in Niknafs Teaching Centre, in Rafsanjan, Iran..Patients and This cross-sectional study was comprised of 459 nulliparous women and was carried out in Niknafs Teaching Center, in Rafsanjan from August 2011 to April 2012. A valid questionnaire was completed during a brief interview with the subjects. It included the demographic, economic, and educational statuses of the subjects as well as information about the delivery types. The collected data was analyzed using chi-square and Fisher exact tests in SPSS version 16.. Five socioeconomic groups were defined as very poor, poor, fair, good, and very good. Overall, 74% of the participants were placed in fair and lower groups. Significant relationships were observed between SES and primary elective cesarean delivery (P < 0.001) as well as the final rate of cesarean delivery (P = 0.02). However, there was no statistically significant relationship between the reason for cesarean delivery and SES of the mothers.. The improvement of the SES has a linear relationship with demand for cesarean delivery. But elective cesarean section is notably high in Iran even in lower socioeconomic classes. This could verify that socioeconomic factors are not the only reason for the high prevalence of cesarean delivery in Iran and that other factors are in fact responsible for this level of performance..

In the last decades, the increased rate of cesarean section has challenged its primary goals seriously. Many researchers showed the positive relationship between socioeconomic status and prevalence of cesarean delivery. However, it seems that the prevalence of elective cesarean is increasing in low socioeconomic classes, too. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between socioeconomic status and the prevalence of elective cesarean in nulliparous women in Niknafs Teaching Centre, Rafsanjan, Iran. This cross-sectional study was carried out in Niknafs Teaching Center, Rafsanjan, Iran during 8 months. A total number of 459 nulliparous women registered in the study. A valid questionnaire was completed during a short time interview with the subjects. It included the demographic, economic, and educational status of the subjects as well as information about the delivery type. The collected data was analyzed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests in SPSS16. Five socioeconomic groups were defined as very poor, poor, fair, good, and very good. Overall, 74% of the subjects were placed in fair and lower groups. Significant relations were observed between socioeconomic status and primary elective cesarean delivery (P < 0.001) and also the final rate of cesarean delivery (P = 0.02). However, there was no statistically significant relationship between the reason of cesarean delivery and socioeconomic classes of the mothers. The improvement of socioeconomic status of the subjects showed a linear relationship with increased demand for elective cesarean delivery. However, this type of cesarean was also commoner than standard rates in low socioeconomic classes. This rate could impose lots of financial pressure to the health system and could be considered as a cause of inefficiency in the health care delivery system.

Chemokines are classified in four distinct groups as CXC, CC, CX3C and C, depending on the presence or absence of a motif called ELR (Arg-Leu-Glu) before the first cysteine residue in their structure. CXC chemokines are also subdivided into ELR+ and ELR-. Increasing evidence has indicated the existence of a chemokine network in the liver which is involved in both physiological responses and, under certain circumstances, pathological and repair processes following hepatic injury. The CXC chemokines play a major role in both these processes, and much attention has been focused on their therapeutic applications to liver disease. The aim of this study was to examine the response of cultured hepatocytes to exogenous inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a and IFN-g) regarding expression of IP-10 and growth regulatory oncogen (Gro) chemokines. In this study we employed western and northern analysis to measure chemokines at the level of protein and mRNA by hepatocytes in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines. We found that, the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-a and IFN-g, selectively stimulated expression of IP-10 but were without effect on Gro. This confirms a potential direct involvement of these cytokines in chemokine production by hepatocytes. Thus, IFN-g and TNF-a may play a role in hepatic injury and inflammation and produce some of their biological effects by localized induction of chemokines by hepatocytes. Given the similarity to an acute phase response, we were able to show that IFN-g and TNF-a mimicked the effects of cell isolation and culture on induction of IP-10 expression. Further, evidence for linkages between IFN-g and TNF-a and liver injuries is seen in hepatitis C and hepatitis B in which increased levels of TNF-a and its soluble receptor were reported.