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Background: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between health literacy dimensions and the perceived risk of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged Iranian women. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive-correlational study in which 280 women aged 40-60 years were investigated by random cluster sampling out of seven health centers in Yazd city in 2018. Data collection tools included predesigned demographic information from a standard Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA), and a standard perceived susceptibility and perceived risk components of the preventive behaviors of cardiovascular disease questionnaire. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, independent t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann Whitney tests. Results: A significant relationship was identified between demographic information and health literacy (p < 0.001). The mean (SD) scores of the perceived risk of cardiovascular disease and health literacy appeared to be 30.71 (5.10) and 35.62 (15.32), respectively. The perceived risk of cardiovascular disease in the participants turned out to be significantly correlated with the accessibility dimension of health literacy (r = 0.31, p < 0.001), but it failed to have any significant relationship with demographic information, especially obesity. Conclusions: As there is a significant relationship between health literacy and perceived risk of cardiovascular disease, hence increasing the health literacy of middle-aged women, especially in persons with high body mass index through the media and health centers, considered as an important source of health information, can be an appropriate task to augment the perceived risk of cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Spiritual health is an important aspect of health. Loneliness is an unpleasant emotional experience that causes feelings of emptiness and sadness, and affects social, physical, and psychological health. With regards to specific conditions of students, distance from their families, concerns about educational and career future, social structure of their environment, exposure to risk of loneliness, and the status of spirituality in young people's lives and as there has not been any research about this issue, we decided to investigate spiritual health and its correlation with loneliness. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 525 students from different faculties. The data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of three sections: demographics questionnaire, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Spiritual Well-Being Scale (Palutzian & Ellison). Data analysis was conducted by SPSS. Results: A total of 524 students participated in the study. The average age of the participants was 21.6±2.60 years old. There were 25.2% and 74.8% male and female participants, respectively. The majority of the participants were single (75.2%), living in dorm (72.9%), studied in the Health Faculty (36.3%), and were BSc. students (75.6%). The participants' mean score on spiritual health was 91.48±17.60. Most of the students (60.9%) experienced moderate levels of loneliness. The results showed a significant negative correlation between spiritual health and loneliness. Conclusion: Regarding the relationship between spiritual health and loneliness and the prevalence of loneliness among these students, it is recommended to pay attention and suggest approaches to improving spiritual health, as a useful strategy to prevent or reduce depression, in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common medical problem among nurses. A better understanding of nurses' experiences about LBP may help to develop preventative approaches. The study aimed to explore risk perceptions of nonspecific LBP among nurses in Bandar Abbas City, southern Iran. Methods: This qualitative study conducted as directed content analysis in 2013. Private semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 30 nurses with minimum of 1-year working experience in hospital. The interview questions were based on perceived severity and vulnerability structures of Protection Motivation Theory. All interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Perceived Severity had the following sub-themes: developing disorders in one's own life and profession, psychical and mental consequences, conflicts and problems in family life, and financial problems. Two sub-themes (problems and limitations in hospital's working system, nature of nursing profession) were identified in relation to perceived vulnerability. Conclusion: Nurses reflected their concerns about the impact of LBP on their job security and their considerations about how their back pain might be interpreted by their employers and co-workers. Importance of transparent medical diagnostic procedure and clinical evidence to justify degree of LBP and its burden on the nurses' performance was also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea refers to the occurrence of painful menstrual cramps of uterus and is considered as a gynecological complaint. The common treatment for this problem is medical therapy such as mefenamic acid [non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)] and oral contraceptive pills, both of which work by reducing myometrial activity. Fennel contains an antispasmodic and anethol agents and may be helpful for management of primary dysmenorrhea. Material and Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral fennel drop for treating primary dysmenorrhea. In this randomized clinical trial study, fennel drop 2% was compared with mefenamic acid for reducing pain of primary dysmenorrhea. Sixty college students suffering from primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to two groups and followed up for two cycles. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Parametric and non-parametric tests were adopted. Results: Comparison of pain intensity in the two groups showed that there was no significant difference in pain relief between the two groups. Comparison of bleeding severity in the study group before and after intervention was demonstrated from the first day to the fifth day (PV on first day, second day, third day, fourth day, and fifth day 0.948, 0.330, 0.508, 0.583, 0.890, respectively). Conclusion: It seems that fennel can be effective in reducing the severity of dysmenorrhea, but it has an unpleasant taste in view of most of the volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study is carried out with the aim of describing the pattern of health-promoting behaviors (HPBs) among middle-aged women and its relevant factors in Iran as a Muslim developing country. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 483 middle-aged women were selected using cluster random sampling from Yazd city in Central Iran. An adjusted Persian version of Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II was used for measuring HPBs. The demographic data were collected too. Results: The average score of middle-aged women HPBs was 2.73 ± 0.36 (2.69 ± 2.76, %95). Spiritual growth and physical activity had the highest and the lowest score in HPBs' dimensions, respectively. HPBs had a positive significant correlation with age (p=0.02) and education level (p=0.001) and a negative significant correlation with number of children (p=0.005). HPBs had a higher level in retired women than employees and housewives. Conclusions: In spite of a desirable level of HPBs in spiritual growth and interpersonal relationship dimensions among this group, their level of HPBs in physical activity and health responsibility dimensions was undesirable. It means that the feature of health among Iranian middleaged women in a Muslim developing country is different from the industrialized developed and also the non-Muslim countries; hence, they need a different intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although gestational diabetes is a well-known cause of pregnancy complications, its epidemiology in Iran has not been studied systematically. The aim of this review of published data was to describe epidemiology of gestational diabetes in Iran. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, www.sid.ir, www.magiran.com, www.iranmedex.com, and www.irandoc.ac.ir sites through March 2009, and examined the reference lists of pertinent articles, limited to studies in humans. Findings: The 20 eligible studies (4 English and 16 Farsi) included 20'985 participants and 826 incident cases of gestational diabetes. The prevalence of gestational diabetes was 3.9 percent (95% confidence interval: 3.64-4.19 percent). These findings were more consistent in Tehran studies, and its prevalence was 1.3 to 11.9% in other parts of the country. We found that differences in screening programs and diagnostic criteria or various ethnic groups make it difficult to compare frequencies of gestational diabetes among various populations. Nevertheless, factors that place women at increase risk of gestational diabetes were age, body mass index, and number of pregnancies. The literature is limited by lack of a consistent standard for screening or diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Conclusion: We conclude that the epidemiological data suggest that gestational diabetes is common among Iranian women. Large studies are needed to clarify this issue and to develop appropriate diabetic prevention strategies that address the potentially modifiable risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are many reasons why some couples do not become parents. Some are infertile, some do not want kids, children can be in a social context unacceptable and for others different life goals are more important. Objective: This study was designed to determine barriers of child adoption in infertile couples in Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at Iran from April 2010 to June 2011. The research program was comprised consecutively in 240 infertile couples. Experts in Guidance and Counseling vetted the instrument and set that it has content validity. Test re-test reliability was conducted by the investigators using a sample of 20 couples who have filled questionnaire. Results: Although 230 (96%) of the respondents heard of child adoption, only 89 (37.3%) of couples knew correct meaning of child adoption. Fifty four women (24%) knew how to adopt a baby while the rest did not; 196 (82%) respondents expressed their unwillingness to adopt a baby. Hoping of childbearing (78%) was the main barrier to adopt a child. Conclusion: The barriers mentioned were cultural practices, stigmatization, financial implications, and technical problems. Most of the infertile Iranian couples prefer to stay even so without children or think about new treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health beliefs play an important role in people's willingness to participate in health-promoting behaviors. Given the role of beliefs in women's function and the importance of the benefits of mammogram, and because the predictors of a behavior are a major prerequisite to codification of an effective prevention program, the present study was conducted with the aim of predicting mammography based on Health Belief Model (HBM) in women in Khorramabad., Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 262 women referring to health centers in Khorramabad, Lorestan province, in 2018, were selected by randomly sampling. The data collection tool was a four-part questionnaire including demographic information, knowledge on breast cancer and mammography, Champion's Health Belief Model, and Champion's Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Mammography. Validity and reliability of the tool were investigated and confirmed. Data were analyzed by version 16 of SPSS software using descriptive statistics, Chi-squared test, and multiple logistic regression., Results: The mean (standard deviation) age of the participants was 49.26 (±7.79) years. Seventy-nine (30.85%) of the 262 participants reported mammography. Constructs' sensitivity, benefits, barriers, and perceived self-efficacy were significantly different in terms of performing mammography ( P < 0.05). Participants with a history of breast cancer (odds ratio [OR] = 11.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [3.73-33.46]) had lower perceived barriers (OR = 3.54, 95% CI= [1.77-7.09]), were more likely to undergo mammography than women with no family history of breast cancer, and had moderate-to-high perceived barriers ( P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that health managers are required to pay more attention to training and promoting screening methods. Understanding the barriers to mammography in women by managers can help design and implement effective programs that enhance mammography in women., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2019 Journal of Education and Health Promotion.)