Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Iranian Female High School Students About Iron Supplementation: Evaluation of National Iron Supplementation Program Ali Alami1, Zahra Hosseini2, Mohammad Vahedian-Shahroodi3, 4, Alireza Jafari2 * 1Department of Health, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Public Health, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran 2Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran 3Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 4Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Abstract Background: Iron deficiency anemia in adolescence and adulthood, especially in girls, has a high prevalence. One of the strategies for reducing anemia is the implementation of iron supplementation programs. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of high school girl students about iron supplementation. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 399 female students. A cluster random sampling method was used in the northern, southern, eastern, western, and central parts of the country. Data were collected using a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS V. 20 software. Results: In this study, only 15 and 17 of the students had a proper level of knowledge and a positive attitude toward iron supplementation. Moreover, 77 of the students reported taking iron supplementation and 89 used iron supplements distributed in schools. However, Only 38 of the students stated that used iron supplements in the classroom or after class (at school). There was a significant relationship between the use of distributed pills in schools and knowledge (P = 0.026) and attitude (P = 0.016). In addition, there was a statistically significant relationship between the place of supplements use and the knowledge level (P = 0.032) and attitude (P = 0.003). Conclusions: Based on the results, students’ knowledge and attitude are not sufficient and the rate of use of distributed pills in schools is relatively low. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out revisions in the implementation process of the iron supplementation program. Keywords: Knowledge; Attitude; Behavior; Iron Supplementation; Female Students Please cite this article as follows: Alami A, Hosseini Z, Vahedian-Shahroodi M, Jafari A. Knowledge, attitude and practice of Iranian female high school students about iron supplementation: evaluation of Iron Supplementation National Program. Hakim Health Sys Res 2019; 22(1): 43- 51. *Corresponding Author: Ph.D. Student in Health Education and Health Promotion, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran. Tel: +98-5138413007, Fax: +98-5138413006, Email: Jafari.ar94@gmail.com
Introduction: The aim of community-based initiatives is to achieve better quality of life through socioeconomic development and empowerment of communities to increase power to control the determinants of health. The purpose of this paper was to provide community-based empowerment model as a cornerstone of this program. Methods: In order to provide an appropriate model for empowering rural community, a review of existing literature at national and international level was conducted. Furthermore, a team of specialists in the field of empowerment was formed as an advisory committee. Results: Empowerment model including four components and 18 steps was developed. Components included: groundwork, implementation of process by the rural volunteers, monitoring and evaluation, and documentation of experiences and activities. For each of these components, the practical steps which should be taken by the authorities or local communities were identified. Conclusion: Developed Empowerment Model, in accordance with the principles of empowerment has identified the practical steps for the local community and authorities. This model can be used to meet the objectives of health reform in delivering primary health services in suburban areas and informal settlements. Furthermore, it can provide guidance for countries in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region who are involved in different stages of communitybased initiatives.
Introduction: In recent years, Iran's scientific growth has been impressive. Despite increasing research outputs and number of researchers over the past few years, there are still several barriers in conduct ing research studies. This study aimed to investigate p roblems of and solutions to the research in dentist ry n Iran. Methods: This qualitative study was carried out using nomina l group technique in 2011.We invited 22 dentists, expert in managing academic institutes an d research centers in local and national levels. Th e nominal group discussion was held in four stages: 1 ) listing the problems; 2) classification of the pr oblems; 3) weighting the problems; and 4) presenting soluti ns. Results: From 45 items outlined in the discussion group, 28 items were classified as internal policies and practices of the universities (weakness area), and 17 items were classified as out of university probl ems (threat area). In the weakness area, the means of t he problem weight in both importance and influence dimensions were 11.73 and 12.74 out of 20, respecti vely. In the threat area, the means of the problem w ight in both importance and influence dimensions were 9. 89 and 10.12 out of 20, respectively. From 115 solutions provided by the participants, 72 ones wer e r lated to the weakness area; and 43 ones were re lat d to the threat areas. The results showed that establish ing a research secretariat in order to identify den tal research priorities (at national and local levels), promotin g community-focused health, and conducting goal-bas ed research were the most applicable solutions. Conclusion: The results showed that weakness area problems wer e most important than the threat area problems from the participants point of views. It s eems that university management should design appropriate plans to help academic members become f a iliar with problems of the society and publish th eir research studies. Appropriate infrastructure should be provided to empower academic members of the universities such as giving incentives and facilita t ng rese3arch study processes.
قدمه: اختلالات قاعدگي طيف وسيعي از مشکلات نظير بينظمي قاعدگي، هيپر- و هيپو منوره، پليمنوره و اليگومنوره، ديسمنوره، آمنوره، منوراژي و سندرم پيش از قاعدگي را در بر ميگيرد. هدف اين مطالعه تعيين ميزان شيوع انواع اختلالات قاعدگي و همچنين تعيين برخي عوامل تأثيرگذار بر بروز اختلالات قاعدگي در ميان زنان ايراني در سنين باروري بود. روش کار: مطالعه حاضر يک مطالعه مقطعي مبتني بر جمعيت بود. افراد شرکت کننده در مطالعه، زنان 45 -18 ساله ايراني بودند که به روش نمونهگيري خوشهاي طبقهبندي شده سهميهاي از چهار استان منتخب کشور انتخاب شدند. يافتهها: تعداد 941 زن واجد شرايط وارد مطالعه شدند. شايعترين اختلالات قاعدگي در زنان ايراني ديسمنوره (5/67%) و سندرم پيش از قاعدگي (9/54%) بود. عوامل زمينهاي نظير سن پايين، ازدواج در سنين بالا، و همچنين تجرد با بروز ديسمنوره ارتباط معنادار داشت (001/0 p < ). شاخص توده بدني بالاو بالا بودن ميزان تحصيلات به ترتيب با احتمال وقوع اليگومنوره و سندرم پيش از قاعدگي رابطه معنادار نشان داد (001/0 p < ). وقوع سن منارک در سنين پايينتر نيز با احتمال وقوع منوراژي ارتباط معنادار داشت. نتيجهگيري: تقريبا يک نفر از هر چهار زن ايراني در سنين باروري حداقل از يکي از اختلالات قاعدگي رنج ميبرد. تغيير سبک زندگي زنان، تشويق آنان به ازدواج در سنين باروري و مشاوره و اطلاعرساني کافي در زمينه اختلالات قاعدگي ميتواند نقش مهمي در کاهش عوارض ثانوي و سوء اين اختلالات داشته باشد.
Introduction: Financial accessibility of households to health care services is a major concern for policymakers and planners in health systems. The aim of this study was to assess the status of Iranian households' financial accessibility to health care services during 1983-2008. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, data of the national survey of households' cost and income conducted by the Iranian Statistics Center were used and studied in 2011. We calculated the trend of proportion of health care expenditures to households' income and regression estimation of health care expenditures function in logarithmic form to assess the status of households' financial accessibility to health care services. The Excel 2007 and the Eviews 5 were used to present descriptive statistics and regression estimations. Results: Findings of this study showed that the proportion of health care expenditures to average income had permanent and significant increase during the study period. Coefficient of impact of income on health care expenditures in urban and rural households were 1.07 and 0.91 (P<0.05), respectively. Coefficient of impact of social health insurance expenditures on health care expenditures in both urban and rural households was not statistically significant. Conclusion: In recent years, the proportion of health care expenditures to households' average income has been increased and financial accessibility of households to health care services has been significantly decreased in Iran. Moreover, development of health insurance coverage and prepayment mechanisms has not significant impact on decline of the proportion of health care expenditures to households' income.
