مجله سلامت و بهداشت
سال ششم شماره 3 (پیاپی 22، تابستان 1394)

Anthraquinone dyes such as reactive blue 19 in water resources and industrial wastewater effluents are important environmental challenges in many countries. Various methods including photo-catalytic oxidation have been considered to remove these dyes. This research was carried out in laboratory scale using a 500 ml batch photoreactor. The effects of operating parameters such as concentration of catalyst, pH, initial dye concentrations, and reaction time on removal of reactive blue 19 were evaluated. Response surface methodology based on Central Composite Design was used to assess the effects of independent variables on removal efficiency and prediction of the best response value. TiO2 nano-fiber photo-catalytic oxidation experiments were done and repeated three times using the optimum condition obtained for each variable. The initial and final dye concentrations were determined by a spectrophotometer. The effect of pH, concentration of nano-particles, and detention time was significant on the dye removal efficiency. The effects of pH and nano-particle concentration on the dye removal efficiency were linear. Dye removal efficiency was also correlated to square of nano-particle concentrations. The optimum photo-catalytic oxidation removal efficiency of 95% was occurred at 1 mg/lit of TiO2 nano-particle, 20 mg/lit of initial dye concentration, pH = 4.2 and the detention time of 75 min. The results showed that the applied method in this study is efficiently able to remove and destroy the dye. At the same condition, the removal efficiency of TiO2 nano-particle was higher than the TiO2 nano-fiber.

Optimal use of available resources is one of the challenges for all the hospital managers. One proposed solution for this problem is reduction of the average duration of hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting long-stay hospitalizations.

This cross-sectional survey was done on medical records of 370 randomly selected inpatients in Sina hospital in 2013. Data collection tool was researcher-made form. Data analysis was done by STATA software.

The median of LOS in the studied hospital was 4 days. Minimum and maximum of LOS was 1 and 60 days, respectively. Factors such as age (p= 0.04), job (p=0.03), type of disease (p= 0.04), hospitalization ward (p= 0.03) and discharge status (p= 0.04) significantly affected the average length of stay. Among the age groups the highest odds ratio (OR =2.09) belonged to 60-79 years age group. In terms of discharge status patients that need to follow up at discharge time had the highest odds ratio (OR = 1.8).

In order to better manage the LOS indicator, care providers must identify the factors affecting this indicator and then towards these manageable identified factors implement principal measures to take advantage of all the hospital beds.

Air pollutants as one of the societies problems have different adverse effects on human health. Deleterious effects of gaseous air pollutants especially ozone justify investigation of its concentrations and the health effects. In this study the effects of ozone on health of the residents of Mashhad, Tabriz, Shiraz, Isfahan and Arak metropolises were investigated in 2011. The required data were obtained from environmental protection agencies of studied cities in 2011. The data were validated according to the WHO criteria and entered to the AirQ software after preparation by Excel software. Annual average concentration of O3 in Shiraz was higher than the others cities and its concentrations in most of the studied cities were higher in summer than the cold seasons. The highest cumulative number of death; 294 and 148 cases, were in Isfahan and Mashhad, respectively. The minimum cumulative number of death was in Arak with 55 cases. The high concentration of O3 in Shiraz requires investigation of O3 precursors, climate and geographic conditions, and location. Consequently one can say that the use of AirQ software and WHO recommendations is a reliable, useful, and simple method to assess the health effects of O3 on human health.

Trans-theoretical Model is one of theoretical approaches to the promotion of physical activity which represents behavior change as a process which passes through the definite stages. This study was conducted to investigate application of Trans-theoretical Model to identify determinants of physical activity behavior in the college students. This cross-sectional study was performed with participation of 200 college students which selected by systematic random sampling method. Data gathering instrument was a Questionnaire that includes: Stages of Exercise Change Questionnaire (SECQ), self-efficacy for physical activity and decisional balance questions. Test-retest method was used for reliability of SECQ and Alpha Cronbach's Methods for self-efficacy and decisional balance questions (0.82, 0.72, and 0.77, respectively). Data was analyzed using SPSS19 by use of central indexes, one way ANOVA, chi-square, Pearson correlation coefficient and regression. Generally, distribution of individuals according to the physical activity stages was as follow: pre-contemplation 42%, contemplation 13%, preparation 15%, action 11.5%, and maintenance 18.5%. Average physical activity in week was 150.6±161.2 minutes. The level of physical activity through the stages of change (from precontemplation to maintenance) showed an increasing trend (p<0.001). Stages of change, self-efficacy and decisional balance, significantly predicted physical activity (p<0.001). Given to the importance of the Trans-theoretical Model constructs in predicting physical activity behavior, we propose that educational intervention based on these constructs, performed to promote physical activity, especially for the students of passive stages (pre-contemplation, contemplation and preparation).

Inappropriate management of hospital solid wastes is a major issue in Iran that could have negative effects on human health and the environment. The purpose of this study was to assess the hospital wastes management in Yazd educational hospitals by identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and to provide strategic management plans using SWOT method. This work is an applied-developmental research based on the research goals and its research methodology is a mixed (survey and descriptive- analytical) method. The research was performed by completion of a checklist, field inspection, and interviews with the health professionals and administrators of the educational hospitals of Yazd city from October 2012 to March 2013. Internal and external matrices were used for analysis and SWOT method for codification of strategies. To improve waste management in the hospitals based on SWOT matrix; SO, ST, WO and WT guidelines should be put in the priority. Hospital wastes strategic management plans (HWSMP) related to the SO strategy emphasize on paying special attention to: all the provisions of hospital wastes management regulation, environmental standards, allocation of adequate fund for recycling process, applicable research in the field of solid waste, short term monitoring to ensure the accuracy of wastes management performance, and regular training courses on the methods of hospital wastes management. The findings of this research showed that the SO strategy with focusing on maximization of the internal strengths and utilization of external opportunities should be set as a top priority for hospital wastes management in Yazd city to improve the quality of health services.

Measurement of physical activity (PA) is always a challenge. Utilizing self reporting tools has been rather controversial while talking on children physical activity assessment. Present study assesses children’s PA using a self- report checklist and compares it with parent-report method. In this study that evaluates PA of children using a self-report tool and compares it with the parent-report one, the self-report tool was utilized on 300 grade 5 and 6 students that were selected through multi-stage sampling method. The compiled data were compared with those of parent-reported results. The mean Vigorous physical activity (VPA), Moderate Physical Activity (MPA), and Energy Consumption (Metabolic Equivalent; MET) indices in boys were significantly higher than the girls (t-test, p=0.001). Despite the significant difference in MET estimation between the results of self- and parent-reports, there was a significant correlation with a coefficient of 0.9 between the results obtained from two tools. Differences in mean MET estimations between self- and parent-reports are due to the differences in their utilized time periods. This was proved through significant correlation observed between the two estimations. Therefore, self-report checklist can be used as a valid tool for assessment children's physical activity. Yet, comparing the self-report checklist outcomes with the ones from other physical activity assessment techniques is recommended.

Working in the mines particularly in underground mines is one of the hard and harmful jobs due to occurring different accidents and diseases. The aim of this study was application of job analysis and William Fine to identify and control hazards in a uranium mine. The risk assessment was conducted using job safety analysis (JSA) in 22 jobs with high accident frequency and severity rates. Data were collected for analysis using observation and interview methods and frequency of job risks was identified. William Fine method was used to evaluate health risks, make decision, and prioritize corrective measures for the hazards. 182 risks were identified as a result of JSA. The most probable risks were identified as radiation exposure and rock falls with respective relative frequency of 42 and 18%. According to the results of William Fine, oxygen deficiency, radon gas inhalation, exposure to ionizing radiation, and serving activities had the highest level of risk with respective scores of 3600, 3000, 3000, and 3000. Carpentry operations and compressor operator had the lowest level of risk score of 60 and 180, respectively. Radiation is the major risk in uranium mining operations. Therefore, the basic control measures including using the wet mountain cutting method (to prevent from radioactive dust dispersion), ventilation of radon gas in the tunnel, monitoring the gases after blasting process, personnel training, and the risk assessment routinely should be done for all the mining operations.

Provision and promotion of community health need active public involvement. Islamic councils as representatives of a community can play an important role in this area. The involvement areas should initially be recognized in order to achieve this goal. This research was planed and implemented to identify Islamic council's involvement areas in East Azerbaijan Health system. This qualitative study was conducted using grounded theory approach. Fields of Islamic councils contributions were investigated through Semi-structured in-depth interviews with members of urban and rural Islamic councils and PHC workers. Collected data were manually analyzed using Straus and Corbin methods. We interviewed 29 individuals. The results of interviews analysis were categorized in 6 main categories including: city and rural environmental health, different aspects of PHC administration, health education and health promotion, facilitating community and organizational involvements, facilitating communication and other technical aspects such as maternal health. From the viewpoint of the participants, there is wide variety of fields for members of Islamic councils to involve in health system particularly in environmental health area. Health system administrators and policy makers should implement right strategies for facilitating Islamic councils’ involvement and using their high potential to achieve health system goals.

Recovering waste component is one of the USEPA integrated waste management strategies in order to reduce the quantity of waste generation. Since recycling process is not performed in Ardabil city, this study aimed to evaluate the recovery potential of Ardabil municipal wastes in 2014. In this descriptive-analytical study, initial data (classification of production sources, identification and classification of waste components) were obtained from different sources (library information, observation, and checklist), and completed by the given guidelines and the calculations. Weight percentage of waste ingredients was determined using ASTM recommendation (56 sample- 100kg) for 4 seasons and the moisture content and heat value were determined by the computational and laboratory methods. Data were analyzed with SPSS software and compared with the results of other studies and guidelines. The production rate of Ardabil municipal wastes was estimated as 312-350 ton/day. Food and garden wastes had the highest weight percentage equal to 59.27% with the moisture content of 65.83% and non-ferrous metals had the lowest percentage equal to 0. 1% with the moisture content of 8.76%. The weight percentages of other organic, inorganic, hazardous and special components were different. The heat value of 7810 kj/kg was estimated for Ardabil municipal wastes (wet weight). Ardabil municipal wastes have a high potential (97.3%) for recovery and can be divided into usable components in composting, energy production, conversion industries, and landfilling.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in most developed countries. The incidence of various types of cancer varies among different populations and associates with different factors including occupational, social, cultural and racial (possibly hereditary), tropical and geographical factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the spatial and temporal pattern of gastric cancer in Ardabil province from 2006 to 2012. This descriptive study was done in the tome period of 2006-2012. The number of reported patients with gastric cancer in Ardabil province was 1845. Data on age, sex and place of living were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Of 1845 gastric cancer cases in Ardabil province, 1287 cases (70%) were male and 558 (30%) were female. In terms of the cities, Ardabil, Meshkinshahr, Khalkhal, Germi, Parsabad, Namin, Bilesuar, Kosar, and Nir accounted for 54, 13, 8, 8, 6, 5, 3, 2, and 1% of the cancer cases. From the total patients with gastric cancer in Ardabil province, 67% was in the age group of 55 -79 years. Gastric cancer in Ardabil province showed an increasing trend from 2006 to 2012. The results of this study indicate that the likelihood of gastric cancer in men is 2.33 times higher than that of women. Spatial and temporal trends of gastric cancer in Ardabil province cities indicate necessity for paying more attention and studying community for further prevention of the disease.