Iranian Journal of Health Sciences
Volume:11 Issue: 4, Autumn 2023

Background and

Malaria is one of the most deadly and life-threatening parasitic infections in the world. Pregnant women and their unborn children are among the most vulnerable people to malaria, which causes maternal anemia and parental mortality. This research was carried out to investigate the prevalence of malaria parasites in pregnant women attending the Antenatal Clinic, Gumel General Hospital, Jigawa State, Nigeria.

A total of 100 pregnant women were selected using simple random sampling and examined for malaria infection from July to September 2021. The study questionnaires were administered to the respondents whose blood samples were collected. The outcome variables for this research were malaria infection (assessed using rapid diagnostic tests) and pregnant women with any Plasmodium species. The independent variables include age, social status, number of deliveries, pregnancy trimester, malaria transmission modes, and control measures of the mosquitoes/malaria. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. The differences and similarities between study parameters were presented in relevant tables.

A total of 64 samples (64%) were infected with Plasmodium falciparum. The samples aged 15-20 years demonstrated the highest prevalence of the infection (71.4%). Social status indicated that homemakers were more infected, with 66.3%. On the number of deliveries, those that delivered three times and above showed the highest prevalence of infection with 72.5%. Finally, those in the third trimester were the most infected, with 62.2%. 

The current study showed that malaria is prevalent in pregnant women in Gumel. The associated factor with malaria infection comprised forgoing insecticide-treated bed nets, inadequate environmental sanitation, and living near stagnant water. Therefore, the future mothers should be motivated to participate early in focused antenatal care services to protect themselves from the possible harm of malaria. However, enlightenment on the devastating effects of malaria and preventive and control measures should target all women, especially at social and religious congregations, even before marriage.

Background and

The critical position of spirituality and spiritual wellbeing has drastically been recognized in recent decades, and cognitive flexibility and metacognitive beliefs play an essential role in health-related behaviors. The present study investigated the mediating role of spiritual wellbeing between cognitive flexibility and the students’ metacognitive beliefs. 

The research method was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population included all students of Islamic Azad University, Sari branch, Sari City, Iran, in the 2022-2023 academic year. A total of 364 students were selected by stratified random sampling based on their education level and were asked to answer the questionnaires about spiritual wellbeing (Palotzian and Ellison, 1982), cognitive flexibility (Dennis and Vanderwaal, 2010), and metacognitive beliefs (Wells and Cartwright-Houghton, 2004). Data analysis was done by structural equation modeling using SPSS software, version 24 and AMOS software, version 23.

In this study, 69% of the participants were women and 31% were men. About 57% were 25 years or younger, 63% were undergraduate students, 30% were postgraduate (Master’s degree), and 7% were PhD students. The results indicated that all direct paths between study variables were significant (P<0.01). The relationships of the indirect paths were significant through the mediating role of spiritual wellbeing (P<0.01).

According to the research results, spiritual wellbeing mediates cognitive flexibility and metacognitive beliefs in university students. Thus, it is possible to design special programs in order to improve metacognitive beliefs and strengthen cognitive flexibility through spiritual health.

Background and

The psychological wellbeing of adolescents has always been a focal point of research topic. Ignoring this issue could have irreversibly adverse effects on individuals and societies. The present study investigated the mediating role of sexual intimacy in relationships between the attitude and sexual health and self-differentiation of mothers with the psychological wellbeing of adolescents living in Ahvaz City, Iran.

Conducted during the academic year 2021–2022, the descriptive-correlational recruited study students from Ahvaz senior high schools and their mothers. Using the stratified cluster sampling, 300 students and their mothers participated in this study as the study sample. The research instruments included the psychological wellbeing scale, the attitude scale toward sexual health, the differentiation of self-inventory, and the marital intimacy questionnaire. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between the study variables. Bootstrap analysis gauged the significance of mediating relationships. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to evaluate the proposed model using SPSS software, version 27 and AMOS software, version 25. 

The results showed that all direct paths to the psychological wellbeing of adolescents were significant, except for the self-differentiation of mothers (P<0.001). Moreover, the indirect paths from mothers’ attitude toward the sexual health to the psychological wellbeing of adolescents and the correlation between mothers’ self-differentiation and the adolescents’ psychological wellbeing were significant when mediated by the sexual intimacy of mothers (P<0.001). 

The proposed method demonstrated a good fit. Improving the sexual intimacy of mothers is expected to boost the psychological wellbeing of adolescents. It is recommended to hold workshops to promote effective communication skills and self-differentiation for couples to enhance the sexual intimacy of mothers, thus boosting the psychological wellbeing of adolescents.

Background and

Oral health is the key factor for ceaseless orthodontic treatment. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of patients with fixed orthodontic appliances about oral health care.

In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, 201 patients referred to the Orthodontics Department of Yazd Dental Faculty, Yazd City, Iran, were recruited by convenience sampling between August 2021 and March 2022. A valid and reliable questionnaire was used, containing demographic information and 7 knowledge questions, 7 attitudinal, and 8 practical questions regarding oral health. The data were analyzed with the t-test and analysis of variance in SPSS software, version 25.

The Mean±SD age of participants was 19.65±6.03 years within an age range of 10-37 years. The participants had moderate knowledge and poor practice of oral health. No significant correlation was seen between patients’ knowledge and practice scores (P>0.05). Demographic variables had no significant effect on the attitudinal questions. 

Oral health knowledge among patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment was evaluated as “moderate” and their practice as “poor.” There are some negative attitudes about orthodontic treatment among patients, such as being an unsafe treatment in pregnancy or being impossible in adulthood, that should be rectified. Educational interventions are suggested as the patients’ knowledge, attitude, and practice of oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment should be improved.

Background and

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a highly infectious virus transmitted mainly through sexual intercourse. The HPV vaccine is the most effective way to prevent HPV-related cancers. This study investigates the predictors of intention to receive the HPV vaccine among female students at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. 

This study was a cross-sectional study conducted on female students at different faculties of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (2020-2021). The study participants (n=364) were selected through a quota sampling. The study tools comprised demographic information, a health belief model (HBM), and an intention questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive, multivariate linear regression, and correlation analyses using SPSS software version 20.

The Mean±SD age of the students participating in the study was 23.96±5.18 years. Most were single (81%). Among the students, only 3 (0.8%) had received the HPV vaccine. The lowest score was related to perceived benefits 3.68±0.57, and attitude 3.64±0.57 had the highest average score. Based on the results, 33% of the intention to obtain the HPV vaccine was explained by the constructs of HBM. All constructs, except perceived barriers, had a statistically significant relationship with the HPV vaccine intention.

The beliefs and attitudes of the female students about HPV infection and vaccination were insufficient. So, there is a need to provide educational intervention by covering HPV issues and their complications in the curriculum of students before their graduation.

Background and

Evaluating the causal association effect of risk factors is essential in estimating the mortality rate among COVID-19 patients. Much research has been conducted to assess the impact of COVID-19 on death in various countries worldwide. However, few studies have addressed the effect of causal association of risk factors. This study aims to address this gap by estimating the impact of COVID-19 on death by evaluating the causal association with the risk factors. 

The research population included all inpatients with initial COVID-19 symptoms, confirmed by their PCR test results. They were admitted to hospitals affiliated with Golestan University of Medical Science, Golestan, Iran, in 2020. We employed the propensity score method, an effective statistical technique for evaluating the causal association effect of risk factors in observational studies. We also used the student and chi-squared tests to compare the differences between the two study groups.

We used the propensity score matching estimation approach and logistic regression analysis for comparison. Of 6379 inpatients, 5581 (87.5%) were discharged or recovered, and 798 (12.5%) died. The causal association between treatment results (discharged vs died) and variables of PCR test, SpO2, gender, age, and hospitalization duration in ICU were statistically significant. 

The propensity score matching estimation method revealed a high risk of death in patients with PCR+ test diagnosis. Specifically, using this approach, the above-measured risk factors increased the chance of death in patients with PCR+ to 72%. However, the traditional multiple logistic regression model estimated the risk of death at 46%, suggesting potential underestimation. This disparity might be due to better control of the effect of the above-measured risk factors by the propensity score matching. Therefore, the former estimating approach is more effective in assessing the impact of COVID-19 on death.

Background and

Accumulation of heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons lower than the dangerous range can still threaten human health by entering the food chain. Therefore, this research investigated the effect of inorganic and organic Zinc (Zn) sources and Piriformospora indica (P. indica) fungus on reducing the risk of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) for humans due to lettuce consumption.

This research was done as a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS software, version 9.1. A total of 54 treatments were prepared consisting of organic and inorganic Zn fertilizers at the rates of 0, 20, and 40 kg Zn/ha in a Cd- and Pb-contaminated soil that was simultaneously polluted with crude oil (0%, 4%, and 8% w/w) under cultivation of lettuce inoculated with P. indica. After 4 months, the lettuce plant was harvested, and the Pb and Cd risk assessment was calculated according to the US Environmental Protection Agency formula.

Plant inoculation with P. indica significantly decreased the hazard quotient (HQ) factor by 11.4% (0.4 units) for consumers of the lettuce cultivated in the soil polluted with 8% w/w crude oil. Furthermore, using 40 kg/ha pure Zn from a Zn-EDTA source in the crude oil-polluted soil (4% w/w) significantly decreased the HQ factor by 14.3%. 

Plant inoculation with P. indica and inorganic and organic Zn sources significantly decreased the HQ factor. Although this decrease depends on the type of plant, the kind of pollution and the physicochemical characteristics of the soil should be investigated in separate studies.

Background and

In recent decades, there has been an increasing trend in postponing pregnancy to the final years of the reproductive age. Accordingly, the growing number of young women with breast cancer (BC) has caused some women at reproductive aged diagnosed with BC to consider pregnancy after completing treatment. Since the fertility rate has decreased in Iran in recent decades and given that young BC women have an essential role in the fertility rate, this policy brief was conducted to investigate the childbearing recommendations for women of reproductive age with BC.

A systematical search was first conducted in international databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Library, and PubMed, as well as national databases such as SID and MagIran, and in some international health websites to find the most relevant evidence.

The results led to the extraction of three main themes: Myths, facts, and considerations about childbearing. Overall, there was no comprehensive clinical guideline or document for the management of childbearing issues among women with BC.

In cases of BC, women of reproductive age not only require high-quality cancer treatments, but also need comprehensive support for their fertility status to adhere to their treatment successfully. Also, physicians and other healthcare providers should update their information to be able to give complete responses to these women’s questions and main concerns regarding childbearing issues and the prognosis of cancer after pregnancy.