مجله تحقیقات سلامت در جامعه
سال پنجم شماره 3 (پاییز 1398)

The olive oil industry wastewater contains significant amounts of oil and this can cause serious problems if it is discharged into the wastewater treatment system, so the oil in the wastewater must be removed and seperated prior to any action. Therefore, the oil in the sewage should be removed and separated prior to taking any measure. There are several ways to remove oil. According to the above, in the present study, the efficiency of the electro coagulation process in reducing soluble COD synthetic wastewater containing olive oil was investigated.

In this study, iron and galvanized electrodes were used. Firstly, the optimum values of current density, initial pH, and electrolyte concentration were determined. Thereafter, the effect of time variations on electrode corrosion, voltage, decreased COD concentration, and energy consumption was investigated. The kinetics of Grade 1, Grade 2, and WeberMorris were also investigated for two electrodes.

The maximum removal efficiency of soluble COD was obtained at 99% for iron and galvanized electrodes at a current density of 12.5 mA/cm 2, electrolyte concentration of 400 mg / l, initial pH 7, and reaction time. The electrical energy consumption in these conditions for these two electrodes was measured at 28.5 and 46.25 KWhr/m3, respectively. Finally, kinetics models, including pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Weber Morris, were investigated for these two electrodes. The results revealed that the highest correlation coefficient for both electrodes was related to the pseudo-second-order model.

Although galvanized electrode is more efficient in the reduction of soluble COD concentration, as compared to iron electrode, it consumes more electrical energy. Therefore, the type of electrode must be selected according to the purpose.

One of the most effective strategies in Health, Safety, and Environment Management System (HSE-MS) is the importance of training in safety. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of safety training on reducing the rate of unsafe acts using a management system in Ekbatan profiling industry.

This cross-sectional study was conducted based on a descriptive-analytical and interventional design. Safety behavior sampling was initially utilized to determine the rate of unsafe behaviors. Subsequently, the rate of individuals' unsafe behaviors was assessed using prepared checklists and random observation. The HSE-MS was used for the improvement of unsafe behaviors. The effectiveness of the intervention and the level of unsafe behaviors were analyzed before and after the intervention, after two years using Excel 2007 and SPSS software (version 16) through the paired t-test.

The mean rate of the individuals' unsafe behaviors was 34% before the intervention. Moreover, the highest and lowest rates of the unsafe acts were awkward posture (25.8%) and running (0.8%) at the workplace, respectively. The results obtained from the paired t-test showed the effect of the intervention and a decrease in the rate of unsafe behaviors by 20% (P=0.037).

Training is the cornerstone of the MS leading to the improvement of the unsafe behaviors. Therefore, continuous and effective training in the safety management system will result in a reduction in the rate of accidents and the improvement of the safety status.

Cardiovascular diseases with an increasing trend are among the leading causes of death in developed countries. Therefore, epidemiological indices in mortality are recently highlighted. In this regard, the present study aimed to determine the epidemiology of mortality and morbidity caused by cardiovascular diseases in patients admitted to the cardiac care units of Hamadan educational-medical hospitals, Hamadan, Iran, within 2017.

This was a retrospective, descriptive cross-sectional study. The data were collected from expired patients' records which were kept for one year after their deaths in the cardiac care unit of Besat and Farshchian heart centers in Hamadan, Iran, using a census method and a researcher-made checklist. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS (version 21) using descriptive statistics.

Out of the 3,446 patients admitted to the cardiac care unit, 191 patients died with the highest mortality incidences occurring in the sixth decade of life among married, urban, low-educated and low-income women with a history of hypertension and lipid disorders who did not smoke, had no family history of heart disease and diabetes. Based on the obtained results, the most prevalent underlying and cardiovascular diseases were reported as respiratory disorders (24.6%) (47) and myocardial infarction (34.6%) (66), respectively.

Various risk factors increase the odds of developing cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, it seems necessary to focus on education and promotion of community awareness in various ways, such as social media, in order to prevent these diseases.

Job burnout is a kind of psychological distress that results from various occupational factors and leads to the deterioration of job performance. This condition is usually characterized by weakness, disappointment, and nonachievement of career goals. Regarding this, the present study aimed to compare the frequency of burnout syndrome between general family and non-family physicians in Mazandaran province, Iran, in 2018.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 153 urban family physicians, 158 rural family physicians, and 295 non-family physicians (i.e., a total of 606 cases) selected using simple random sampling technique. In this study, Maslach Burnout Questionnaire was used, as the main tool for measuring the three dimensions of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal empowerment. Study participants included two groups of family general practitioners with more than two years of experience working in all shifts as a family physician, as well as non-family general practitioners working in health centers and offices affiliated to mazandaran university of medical sciences. General practitioners working in the hospital and staffing plan were excluded from the study. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the mean values and the mean differences of burnout dimensions at two levels of urban and rural family physicians and those outside the family physician plan.

Emotional exhaustion score in the non-family physicians was 14.6±10.31, while this score was obtained as 19.73±12.57 and 20.39±12.17 in the urban and rural family physicians, respectively, showing a statistically significant difference (P<0.0001). In this regard, family physicians (especially rural family physicians) had the highest occupational burnout in this dimension. However, regarding the other two dimensions, the difference between the family and non-family physicians was not statistically significant. Generally, emotional exhaustion had the highest prevalence (20.3 %), followed by depersonalization (29.4%) and personal accomplishment (24.1%). In addition, more than half of the subjects showed a high level of burnout at least in one of the three dimensions of this construct.

As the findings indicated, occupational burnout was more common in family physicians, especially in rural area family physicians, which can be due to working in remote places with more duties, fewer facilities, and more difficult environmental conditions. Many demographic and environmental factors account for the incidence of burnout. Therefore, it is required to perform further studies and develop plans targeted toward reducing occupational burnout, especially in family physicians, since resolving this situation can improve the quality of patient care services.

One of the health sector evolution plan's goals is to reduce the rate of cesarean section (C-section) and increase the natural childbirth rate. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the rate of C-sections before and after the implementation of the health sector evolution plan in the hospitals affiliated to Abadan School of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran.

The study population of this descriptive-analytical study included all hospitals with a maternity ward affiliated to Abadan School of Medical Sciences. The samples were selected using a census method.
The C-section rates were evaluated in 2013 and 2018 to calculate the baseline C-section rate at the beginning and five-year after the implementation of the plan, respectively. In order to investigate the effect of the health sector evolution plan on the mean cost spent by mothers, it was studied in one hospital. The data were analyzed in SPSS  software (version 18) using the Chi-square test, and Paired t-test.

The total C-section rate was 45% as the baseline cesarean rate in 2013, which decreased by 24.44% to 34% during the 5 years after the plan. The mean cost spent by each hospitalized mother was 103342.175 Rials prior to the implementation of the health sector evolution plan which was reduced to 96689.4347 Rials after the implementation of the plan.

According to the results, there was a reduction in the rate of C-sections after the implementation of the health sector evolution plan in hospitals under study. However, regarding the global rate of C-sections, the mean C-section rate is still high in these hospitals.

Ticks as biological vectors and reservoirs of diseases, such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), have an important role in the transmission of pathogens to humans and animals. In this regard, this study aimed to determine the biodiversity indices, distribution, and fauna of the vectors of CCHF in Ahvaz, Iran.

The tick samples were collected and identified from the head, ear, groin, under the tail, and around the rectum of cattle, sheep, and goats in spring and autumn. Biodiversity indices were calculated based on the host type. Moreover, the frequency map of the ticks was drawn using ArcGIS software (version 10.4).

A total of 287 livestock were examined in this descriptive cross-sectional study. Overall, five species of tick were identified from three genera. Frequency rates of Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Boophilus annulatus were calculated as 21.25%, 2.5%, 61.25%, 11.25%, and 3.75%, respectively. According to the Shannon-Weiner index, the species diversity of the goat host was less than that of the hosts of cow and sheep. In addition, based on the Simpson index, the diversity of dominant species in the goat host was less than that of the other two hosts. Furthermore, the species richness index in sheep host was the highest among the hosts. However, the evenness index of the species based on the host type was calculated to be the highest equal to 0.789 for the host of the cow.

According to the obtained results, there was a relation between biodiversity indices and tick-borne diseases. The aforementioned relationship provides useful information in terms of preventing diseases transmitted by ticks.

Assessment of water quality assessment is an appropriate measure an important step for the optimal and efficient use of drinking water resources. This study aimed to investigate of drinking water quality in Torbat Heydariyeh County using IWQIS software in 2018.

In the present study, 234 samples of groundwater resources were taken from different areas of the city and 20 physicochemical parameters were evaluated. Drinking water quality and rating was estimated using the Iranian Water Quality Index Software (IWQIS) and statistical analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 20).

As evidenced by the obtained results, only about 1% of the samples were outside the standard range of drinking water quality, according to IWQIS software. Moreover, from all investigated samples, 9.2% in total soluble solids, 14.5% in magnesium, 8.6% in chlorine, 0.4% in nitrate, 42.1% in sodium, and 97% in fluoride were outside of Iran’s national water standard No.1053.

The average drinking water quality index (DWQI) in Torbat Heydariyeh was obtained at 46.76 which falls within an excellent range, excluding water fluoride. Moreover, the highest number of samples outside the standard range was observed in autumn.

Adolescence is associated with physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional, and social changes in a person’s life. During this time, the concepts of identity and body image are raised, both of which can lead to anxiety and ultimately social avoidance. In this regard, the present study was conducted to investigate the mediating role of identity styles in body image and social avoidance of adolescents referred to health centers in Zahedan, Iran, in 2018-2019.

The present descriptive-correlational (correlational-predictive) study was performed on 128 adolescents referred to healthcare centers. The sampling was conducted using the convenience sampling method, and data collection tools were the questionnaires of body image concerns, social avoidance and distress, as well as identity styles. Data analysis performed by SPSS software (version 16) using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, as well as stepwise and standard regressions.

Results of the present study indicated that identity styles, including diffuse-avoidant, normative, and commitment, were able to predict and determine variations related to body image concerns (P<0.01). Moreover, the normative identity style could predict and determine variations associated with social avoidance and distress (P<0.01). Furthermore, the results indicated that body image concerns could predict and determine the variations related to social avoidance and distress (P<0.05).

Identity styles and body image during adolescence can weaken communication skills, have adverse effects on the levels of adolescents’ social interactions with others, and deprive them of having the opportunity to acquire mental, physical, and social skills. Therefore, the risks associated with the aforementioned issues should be taken into consideration, and culture should be extensively developed in national and transnational levels in this regard.