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Geographical Locations - Iran
 The WWW Virtual Library: Public Health
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- (Statistical) Number of Inhabitants per Doctor: 1,064
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- A study on cercarial dermatitis in Khuzestan province, south western Iran
Background: Cercarial dermatitis' or swimmer's itch' is an itchy inflammatory response to the penetration of the skin by non-human schistosome parasites. In the hot season, (May to September) in Khuzestan province in the south west of Iran, swimming in canals and agriculture activities in swampy areas are common. This survey was made on people from villages north of Ahwaz city in south west Iran, to estimate cercarial dermatitis in this region. Methods: 2000 people were observed for clinical signs of cercarial dermatitis. Also 2000 Lymnaea gedrosiana snails were collected from agriculture canals and examined for animal schistosome cercariae during 1998–2000. Results: From this survey 1.1% of people had pruritic maculopapular rash on their feet, hands or other parts of body. From the total of examined snails, 2.4% were found to be infected with bird schistosome cercariae including Trichobilharzia species. Conclusion: Cercarial dermatitis could be a health problem in this area. This is the first report of cercarial dermatitis from this region of Iran. [author abstract] [BMC Public Health, 2003, 3: 35]
- Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever among health care workers in Iran: a seroprevalence study in two endemic regions
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has repeatedly caused nosocomial outbreaks among hospital staff. In the summer of 2003, we studied the seroprevalence of anti-CCHF IgG among health care workers who had come in contact with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever patients from three referral hospitals in endemic regions of Iran. A total of 223 eligible staff were examined. Whereas 5 of 129 (3.87%) exposed health care workers tested positive, none of the 94 in the unexposed group did (P = 0.075). Seropositivity was more frequent among those whose intact skin had come in contact with nonsanguineous body fluids (9.52%) and those who had had percutaneous contacts (7.14%). Health care workers exposed to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever patients, those who live in Systan-Baluchestan province, and older health care workers were more prone to seropositivity. Where introduction of high-risk modes of contact cannot be confined, we propose that health care workers take all the protective measures when handling Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever patients, particularly their blood and other body fluids. [author abstract] [American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 76(3), 2007, pp. 443–445]
- Determination of Dietary Status as a Public Health Problem among Rural Women
Energy, protein and iron intakes and status were investigated in 471 married women, 20-56 years old, selected by 2-stage random sampling, in rural areas in Islamic Republic of Iran. Pre-tested 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire was used to get data on nutrition intakes. Although average total iron intake was acceptable, only 6.4% of women derived at least 4% of their total intake from animal iron. Average energy and protein intakes were inadequate. Fining of this study showed that this group with medium-to-low socioeconomic status should receive particular attention in national health and nutrition planning. [author abstract] [Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 7 (1): 102-103, 2008]
- Development of Food-Based Dietary Guidelines for Iran: A Preliminary Report
Iran is undergoing an epidemiological and nutritional transition. Over the last 2–3 decades, major changes in lifestyle and food consumption patterns have occurred, as well as in the socio-economic situation. Disease patterns have changed and some micronutrient deficiencies and chronic nutritional diseases, including obesity, are on the increase. Considering these, food habits, and the national food system, the Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health and Medical Education and the Iranian Nutrition Society jointly undertook to prepare food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs). The process consisted of three phases: agreeing on food groups, designing pictorial FBDGs, and field testing them. Three working teams, supported by a large group of advisors consisting of nutritionists, epidemiologists, food/nutrition planners, and other relevant experts were formed. The first draft of the food groups consisted of 7 groups: Bread and Cereals; Meats and Eggs; Pulses; Fruits; Vegetables; Milk and Dairy Products; Miscellaneous (nuts, oils and fats, sugar and sweets, soft drinks). It was sent to 20 nutrition and public health experts for feedback. A suggestion was made to divide the Miscellaneous group into two – oils and fats, and Miscellaneous (sugars and sweets, pickled and salted food items). Three pictorial FBDGs were then designed: a plate, a pyramid, and a rectangle. Thus, three posters were prepared by the working teams and revised by a group of experts, followed by a preliminary evaluation. The final step will be field testing of the three revised, modified designs by the public and experts and their final evaluation. [author abstract] [Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2007;51(suppl 2):32–35]
- High prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Iran: a large population-based study
Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health threat, associated with an alarming increase in morbidity and mortality. The importance is the worldwide increase in its incidence and prevalence. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we estimate the prevalence and determine the associated factors of chronic kidney disease in a representative sample of 10063 participants aged over 20 years, in Tehran, Iran. Chronic kidney disease was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. … Conclusion: CKD with its high prevalence poses a definite health threat in Iran. [extract from author abstract] [BMC Public Health 2009, 9:44]
- Knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS among Iranian students
Background: Young people are of particular importance in state policies against Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). We intended to assess the knowledge and attitude of high school students regarding AIDS in Iran. Methods: Through a cluster-sampling, 4641 students from 52 high schools in Tehran were assessed by anonymous questionnaires in February 2002. Results: The students identified television as their most important source of information about AIDS. Only a few students answered all the knowledge questions correctly, and there were many misconceptions about the routes of transmission. Mosquito bites (33%), public swimming pools (21%), and public toilets (20%) were incorrectly identified as routes of transmission. 46% believed that Human Immunodeficiency Virus positive (HIV positive) students should not attend ordinary schools. Most of the students wanted to know more about AIDS. In this study knowledge level was associated with students' attitudes and discipline (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Although the knowledge level seems to be moderately high, misconceptions about the routes of transmission were common. There was a substantial intolerant attitude towards AIDS and HIV positive patients. We recommend that strategies for AIDS risk reduction in adolescents be developed in Iranian high schools. [author abstract] [BMC Public Health, 2004, 4:17]
- Measuring Horizontal Inequities in Iran's Health Care System Using Wealth Index
This paper uses nationwide survey data derived from the 2003 Utilization of Health Services Survey (UHSS) in Iran (n=16,935) to measure deviations from the horizontal equity (equal health care for equal need) principle in ambulatory care and inpatient utilization in Iran. We estimate indices of horizontal inequity for health care utilization using six measures of health care consumption: hospital admissions, general practitioner visits, specialist visits, dentist visits, any visit to a medical practitioner (“physician visits”), and ambulatory care visits. A measure of income is typically used to construct such concentration indices. The UHSS does not, however, contain income data. To overcome this data limitation, observable household characteristics are used to construct a wealth index (WI). Specifically, we use principal component analysis (PCA) to construct a measure of household wealth that is based on household assets, including: the number of rooms of the dwelling per (household) capita, indicators for whether or not the dwelling has a bathroom, separate kitchen, and the types of cooking, heating and cooling devices, the household possesses, as well as car and motorcycle ownership. Indirect standardization is used to generate horizontal inequity (HI) indices in two ways: (i) with only health care indicators (self-reported need for health care services, age and gender) and (ii) with health care need indicators, plus other socioeconomic variables (e.g. income, education, region of residence). Irrespective of which standardization approach is adopted, the computed HIs are positive for all health services except hospital admissions (for which the index is negative when we include both health and socioeconomic and demographic variables in the standardization function). These results suggest that the utilization of health care in Iran is generally – with the exception of hospital admissions – pro-rich. Moreover, we find that not only are doctor visits has a pro-rich distribution but also that the distribution of specialist services is more pro-rich than the distribution of primary health care (GP) services. This work is the first study to employ such a WI measure to generate estimates of health sector inequalities. Thus, in addition to producing novel results for Iran, this approach may be useful in other settings where data on income per se is not readily available. [author abstract] [Paper presented at the 31st Australian Conference of Health Economists in Hobart on 1-2 October 2009.]
- Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium Isolates from Humans and Animals in Iran
Isolates of Cryptosporidium spp. from human and animal hosts in Iran were characterized on the basis of both the 18S rRNA gene and the Laxer locus. Three Cryptosporidium species, C. hominis, C. parvum, and C. meleagridis, were recognized, and zoonotically transmitted C. parvum was the predominant species found in humans. [Applied and Environmental Microbiology, February 2007, Vol. 73, No. 3, p. 1033-1035]
- National HIV/AIDS Surveillance Pattern for Iran's Health System
Introduction: The present research has been conducted to design the HIV/AIDS Surveillance system for Iran applying WHO recommendations, using the experiences of the countries having the lead in the design and implementation of the system. Methods: In this descriptive study of applied kind, we initially investigated the existing circumstances governing Iran's HIV/AIDS information system from the Ministry of Health using a checklist. Subsequently, the HIV/AIDS surveillance system of selected countries (USA, United Kingdom and Australia) were studied and based on the country's requirements, a model was proposed and designed for Iran. The Delphi technique was utilized to find the views of 24 experts in infectious diseases and Health Information Management. The validity of research instruments was measured using content validity and the reliability was obtained using attest-retest method. Results: A model for HIV/AIDS surveillance system was presented based on WHO recommendations and using the experiences of selected countries. This was presented in six axes: general specifications of the system, minimum data set, data collection and reporting, data processing, data processing rules, and data distribution. Using Delphi technique, the results were approved obtaining the score of 36.3 out of 44 (82.5 percent). Conclusion: The design and implementation of HIV/AIDS surveillance system at the nation level in Iran is proposed for a better understanding of the epidemic procedure and spreading behaviors as well as focusing on the at high risk subpopulations and designing a prevention and care system using high quality data. Document in Persian. [Health Information Management, Vol 4, No 2 (1386) [2008]]
- National Integrated School Health Screening Program in Iran
Background: Screening program in schools are designed to identify children who have early signs of health problems. This study provides information about the findings of national screening program in Iran. Methods: This national program is conducted by the Ministry of Health& Medical Education (MOHME) with collaboration of the Ministry of Education & Training. This program had two major parts including 1) screening of behavioral, hearing and visual disorders, pediculosis and calculating body mass index and 2) physical examination of students, conducted by primary care physicians. All services are offered free of charge. The students' parents are informed about the health status of their children. Results: The screening program conducted in 2007-2008 included 3,124,021 students from 33 cities who were studying in the first- and third- grade- students in elementary schools, first- grade- students in middle and high schools. Of total students studied, 12.48% had weight disorders, i.e. body mass index <3rd percentile or > 95th percentile. 4.77% had visual disorders, 3.95 % had head lice, 2.24% had behavioral disorders, and 0.6% had hearing disorders. Conclusion: In addition to its benefits to the students' health status, the results of this screening program help health policy makers to design interventions for prevention and or early detection and treatment of the most common disorders documented among school students. [author abstract] [Iranian J Publ Health, Vol. 38, Suppl. 1, 2009, pp.88-89]
- Overweight and obesity among Iranian female adolescents in Rasht: more overweight in the lower social group
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the frequency of overweight and obesity among Iranian adolescent girls aged 14–17 years and its possible association with maternal education in Rasht city in 2005. Design: A cross-sectional survey on 1054 schoolgirls. Setting: High schools in Rasht city, Iran.. … Results: The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity in this population was 21.9 and 5.3%, respectively. Results of logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of overweight was higher for lower age group (odds ratio = 2.0, 95% confidence interval 0.18–3.09). Overweight was more common in girls with less educated mothers than in girls with more educated mothers (26.0 vs. 19.8%, P = 0.03). Conclusion: These data indicate that overweight is highly prevalent among adolescent girls, especially in lower social groups in Rasht, and the rate is exceeding those reported in other parts of the country. Preventive strategies need to be adopted to combat the epidemic of overweight and obesity in this population. [extract from author abstract] [Public Health Nutrition: 10(5), 450–453]
- Public health improvement in Iran — lessons from the last 20 years
Introduction: Health services are historically based on providers’s [sic] and policy makers’s [sic] understanding of population health status. This does not necessarily reflect the real needs of a population. Health needs assessment (HNA) should improve individual or population health and optimize the way that limited resources are utilized. Objectives: To review health needs literature and to describe Iranian primary healthcare (PHC) achievements in developing a needs-driven health system. Findings: The Iranian PHC system was established to meet healthcare needs identified through population health status surveys. Since 1984, the PHC system has become highly organized and efficient, resulting in a dramatic decrease in infant, maternal and neonatal mortality rates, population growth, increasing life span and a marked shift towards non-communicable diseases. Through an organized partnership of the general population, volunteers, health workers and health professionals, a needs-oriented healthcare system became central to health policy in Iran. Several information sources were utilized to establish need. Improving death certification was an immediate and important part of this process. Comment: Improved knowledge about personal rights, community and environmental health policies, and involvement of the media led to an increased range and depth of needs. Moving towards quality improvement and a needs-driven healthcare system requires continuous needs assessment. Novel methods of HNA, such as postal and telephone surveys, group discussions, surrogates for need such as quality-of-life measurement (commonly used in developed countries) or other locally designed methods such as the basic development needs approach, may be relevant to the Iranian PHC network. [author abstract] [Public Health (2004) 118, 395-402]
- Temporal variations of health indicators in Iran comparing with other Eastern Mediterranean Region countries in the last two decades
Background: The recent significant improvement in most health indicators in Iran has not been explored deeply particularly in comparison with other countries in Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). We aimed to explore the temporal variations of five main indicators in Iran and compare their variations in EMR countries. Methods: Data on DPT vaccination and birth weight were obtained from EMR office reports, and total fertility rate, under 5 mortality rate (U5MR) and adult literacy rate (ALR) were obtained from WHO sources for the time period 1995–2005. Using linear regression, we modeled the temporal variations in Iran and other EMR countries classified by their human development index (HDI) levels. Results: The estimated annual decline rate of U5MR in Iran as a middle HDI country was 2.5 per 1000 live birth which was much greater than the corresponding number in countries with medium HDI (1.85) and very close to countries with high HDI (2.67). The WHO data showed that Iran was very successful in increasing ALR. Conclusion: It seems that most health indicators in Iran have improved more rapidly compared with countries with low and medium HDI in EMR. The improvement rates were also very close to countries with high HDI in the region. [author abstract] [J. Public Health Med., December 2008; 30: 499 - 504]
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