نشریه طلوع بهداشت
سال بیستم شماره 6 (پیاپی 90، بهمن و اسفند 1400)

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory and chronic disease of the central nervous system. Lack of knowledge about the disease and its symptoms may delay early diagnosis and control of the disease. The present study aimed to investigate the general knowledge and attitude towards multiple sclerosis in Isfahan.

This cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study was conducted in 2021 in Isfahan. A 22-question researcher-made questionnaire was created and distributed online through social networks. The data were analyzed by independent t-test and one-way ANOVA using SPSS software (v.24).

A total of 480 people participated in this study. The mean scores of knowledge and attitude were 4.77±1.86 and 54±6.24, respectively. The results of t-test indicated that there was a significant difference between participants' knowledge and attitude scores in terms of gender and history of multiple sclerosis in close relatives. ANOVA results also showed that there was a significant difference in the mean scores of participants' knowledge and attitude according to their education level and job status. However, there was no difference in the participants' attitudes towards multiple sclerosis and patients with the disease according to their marital status.

Based on the present study findings, the participants' knowledge about multiple sclerosis was moderate. Therefore, measures must be taken in order to increase the general knowledge through the mass media and health centers. It can help to early diagnose and control of the disease and correct people's misconceptions about patients with multiple sclerosis.

In recent decades, with the emergence of new industrial activities and increase production of waste production, industries require the existence of treatment equipment and sanitation. These devices sometimes spread infectious microorganisms into the air. These include waste recycling industries and wastewater treatment plants. Bioaerosols are produced at different stages of the wastewater treatment process, especially in processes such as mobile mechanisms and aeration.

In this study, air sampling was performed from different units of the treatment plant and indoor air. the plates were placed in an incubator for 24-48 hours at a temperature of 35 to 37 ° C. Then the number of bacterial colonies grown on the culture media was counted and recorded as CFU/m3.

The results showed that the average population of bacterial aerosols was higher in summer than in spring. Also, the highest bacterial population was observed in spring in indoor air with an average of 187.58±13.41 CFU/m3 and in summer in a equalization unit with an average of 202.89±12.11 CFU/m3.

The results of this study showed that the number of bacterial bioaerosols increases in warm seasons. Also, the equalization unit had a high ability to produce bacterial bioaerosols. Finally, It can be said that increasing the distance from the source of contamination causes a significant reduction in the number of bacterial bioaerosols.

Due to the high prevalence of self-medication among medical sciences students, according to previous research, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of virtual education on self-medication of medical sciences students based on the health belief model.

The present quasi-experimental randomized controlled study was conducted on 110 students of Khomein University of Medical Sciences in 2021. The students were divided into experimental and control groups (55 people in each group) through two-stage sampling. The method of data collection was a questionnaire based on the health belief model about self-medication. The questionnaire was completed by both groups before and after the educational intervention. In order to analyze the data, Chi-square and independent and paired t-tests were used using SPSS26 software.

There was no significant difference between the scores of experimental and control groups before the intervention in the constructs of the health belief model. After the intervention, a significant difference was observed in the mean scores of knowledge (p=0.001) and perceived intensity (p=0.027) in the experimental group. However, no significant difference was observed in the mean scores of other constructs between the experimental and control groups.

Although virtual education intervention is effective in learning, it cannot provide a satisfactory quality of education. It is suggested that a study be conducted to compare the two methods of face-to-face and distance learning at the same time.

The elderly are at risk of COVID-19, so preventive behaviors play an important role in reducing the incidence and mortality of this disease among this group. This study aimed to investigate the preventive behaviors of COVID-19 disease and its related factors in the elderly of Hamadan.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 370 elderly people covered by retirement centers in Hamadan in the second half of 2021. The subjects were selected by multi-stage sampling method. The researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection containing demographic variables and questions related to preventive behaviors. The data were analyzed by SPSS16 software using descriptive statistics.

The mean age of the participants was 64.11 ± 4.47 (ranging from 60 to 87 years). They were in a good condition in terms of refraining from handshakes or kisses and frequent hand washing with soap and water, and they were in unfavorable condition in terms of using gloves. There was a significant relationship between gender, occupation, and death of spouse or children with preventive behaviors.

It is necessary to identify the factors affecting the performance of preventive behaviors in order to increase these behaviors in the elderly as one of the high-risk groups.

One of the most important factors in maintaining and promoting health in old age is regular physical activity. Benefiting from self-regulatory strategies is an important part of exercise interventions that have been proven to be important in promoting physical activity. The present study was designed and conducted to determine the effectiveness of physical activity educational program based on self-regulatory theory on quality of life of the elderly.

This interventional and quasi-experimental study was conducted on 64 elderly in in 2020 in Comprehensive Health Centers in Isfahan. The elderly were randomly divided into intervention (n = 34) and control (n = 30) groups. For the intervention group, self-regulated physical activity educational program was performed. The required information was collected using the WHOQOL-BREF Questionnaire and Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly before and two months after the intervention. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20 using Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, t-test, and covariance.

In the intervention group before and after the intervention, the mean score of walking was 7.75 ± 7.35 vs.   15.54±8.01, mild physical activity 2.85±2.87 vs. 5.53±6.23, and low physical activity was 2.86±15.71 vs. 7.86 ± 14.41, respectively. Moreover, the mean of social relationshipswas 61.76 ±17.3 vs. 68.75±9.68 and mental health was 51.1±11.06 vs. 53.67±9.66, respectively before and after the intervention, which was significantly different (P <0.05).

Self-regulatory strategies can be used to increase in physical activity in the elderly. In fact, if the elderly are more active, their social relationships and mental health will improve..

Considering the importance of breastfeeding and its benefits for infants and the need for necessary education for successful breastfeeding, the present study aimed to determine the knowledge, self-efficacy, and performance of mothers in the field of exclusive breastfeeding and its related factors in infants less than 6 months of age in Ashkzar, Yazd.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 300 mothers with infants less than 6 months of age using a researcher-made questionnaire with face-to-face interviews and telephone calls. The indicators related to exclusive breastfeeding were calculated using SPSS 20 software. The relationships between independent and dependent variables were analyzed and the most important factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding were determined.

The results showed that the mean age of mothers was 43.28 ± 6.59. Mean and deviation of knowledge, self-efficacy, and performance scores of mothers in the field of exclusive breastfeeding were 18.82, 16.72, and 16.11, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the mean score of exclusive breastfeeding with the number of fetus, using a bottle, using a pacifier, and birth weight.

  Due to the modifiable nature of most factors related to breast milk, it is possible to increase the exclusive breastfeeding of infants by education and using modern methods of appropriate counseling by health workers.

Reproductive health is the complete physical, mental, emotional, and social health associated with the reproductive system. According to the statement of the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development, young people have the right to know and have access to reproductive health services, so that they can make informed decisions about their fertility issues, and governments are required to provide these services. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and attitude of Karaj students in the field of reproductive health in 2021.

This research was a cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted by a researcher-made questionnaire on 401 students of different fields and levels of study in Karaj.

Knowledge in 36.8% of the participants was at a good level (score more than 75%), in 60.9% of them was moderate (score 25-75%) and in 2% was poor (score less than 25%). In terms of attitudes toward premarital sex, 23.2% agreed with boys having sex before marriage, 26.4% had no opinion, and 54.1% disagreed. Moreover, 19.5% agreed with girls having sex before marriage, 21.9% had no opinion, and 54.1% disagreed.

According to the findings, policy-making is a necessity in order to develop formal reproductive and sexual health education programs for young people.

Omega-3 is one of the most essential fatty acids  that the body must receive from the diet. Many studies have shown that there is a relationship between consuming  diet containing omega-3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA) and maintaining brain function and reducing cognitive impairment. The present study aimed to determine the predictors of omega-3 supplements consumption in order to prevent the elderly Alzheimer based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs.

This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 323 elderly referring to the health centers of Tehran city in 2016 selected using a random sampling method. The data collection tool included demographic information, knowledge, and the HBM constructs, distributed after confirming its validity and reliability. The results were analyzed by SPSS-18 software using statistical tests, including Chi-square, independent t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, Spearman test, and logistic regression model.

Logistic regression analysis showed that the best predictors of omega-3 supplements consumption were, respectively, knowledge, performance, self-efficacy, and perceived susceptibility that could predict 74.5% of consumption or not consumption of omega-3 supplementation.

The present study led to identify the most powerful constructs of the HBM in predicting the behavior of omega-3 supplements consumption in the elderly. Therefore, this model can be designed and implemented as a reference framework to design educational interventions in preventing Alzheimer’s disease.