Behrooz Hamzeh

Opinions about potential causes and triggers of intimate partner violence against women: a population-based study among married men from Kermanshah city, Iran

This cross-sectional study forms part of a community-based social diagnosis in an Iranian city where different community members were approached regarding their opinions about what can cause and trigger intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW). The study deals with the opinions of married men and looks for patterns of opinions and how those patterns relate to individual socio-demographic characteristics. It also discusses opinions expressed concerning the consequences of IPVAW. A workplace-based convenient sample of men from Kermanshah city filled in a standardised, self-administered questionnaire (n = 480, response rate 93%). By means of cluster analysis, four patterns of answers emerged: (1) regarding most items proposed as potential causes or triggers (33.3% of respondents); (2) not regarding them as potential causes or triggers (18.9%); (3) being ambivalent about their role (20.3%); (4) having mixed opinions but mainly not regarding them as potential causes and triggers (27.4%). Being less educated and a blue-collar worker were prominent attributes of those men inclined not to agree with the potential role played in IPVAW by the items proposed (class 2). Moreover, individual ethnicity and perpetration of non-physical violence against ones spouse had very little association with the patterns observed.

Epidemiology of traffic crash mortality in west of Iran in a 9 year period

Purpose In Iran, the most common cause of injuries and the second leading cause of deaths are traffic accidents, and those problems impose a substantial financial burden on the society. This study aims to determine traffic accident mortality trends and their epidemiologic characteristics in the Kermanshah province, west of Iran. Methods In a cross sectional study, road traffic fatality data from 2004 to 2013 were analyzed to determine the epidemiological pattern of traffic accident mortality. Trend assessment was performed to ascertain the decreasing or increasing status. Chi-square and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests, as well as Poisson regression were used to determine the significance of the data in time. Data were analyzed using Excel and statistical package of SPSS version 19. Results Out of 5110 people that died in traffic accidents, 4024 (78.7%) were males. The state of accidents indicated that 404 (43.8%) female pedestrians died as a result of car crashes, and 1330 (41.4%) males died because of car collisions. 1554 (31.9%) deaths happened to pedestrians and 1556 (32.1%) to vehicle drivers, and the rest belonged to vehicle passengers. Head trauma was the cause of death for as much as 3400 (69.9%) cases. Fatal crashes in which pedestrians were involved mostly occurred between the hours 13:00 to 15:00, while the time for vehicle drivers was between 16:00 to 18:00. 2882 people (59.1%) died before reaching to health care facilities. Traffic crash mortality trend for pedestrians follows a linear pattern with a gentle downward slope, but the trend shows various swings when it comes to vehicle drivers. Conclusion The number of traffic crash deaths from 2004 to 2013 indicates a decreasing trend in two groups of road users: vehicle drivers and car occupants. This can be due to some interventions such as modification of traffic rules and enhancement of police control which has been implemented in recent years. Moreover, more attention should be paid to promote the optimal health care services to save the lives of the injured from traffic accidents.

Translation and validation of the self-care of heart failure index into Persian

Background:Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a common burdensome health problem worldwide. Self-care improves outcomes in patients with CHF. The Self-care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) is a well-known scale for assessing self-care. A reliable, valid, and culturally acceptable instrument is needed to develop and test self-care interventions in Iran. Objective:We sought to translate and validate the Persian version of SCHFI v 6.2 (pSCHFI). Methods and Results:We translated the SCHFI into Persian (pSCHFI) using standardized methods. The reliability was evaluated by assessing Cronbach’s &agr; coefficient. Expert opinion, discussion with patients, and confirmatory factor analysis were used to assess face validity, content validity, and construct validity, respectively. The analysis, using 184 participants, showed acceptable internal consistency and construct validity for the 3 subscales of pSCHFI—self-care maintenance, self-care management, and self-care self-confidence. Conclusion:The pSCHFI is a valid instrument with an acceptable reliability for evaluating self-care in Persian patients with heart failure.

Modeling and forecasting of the under-five mortality rate in Kermanshah province in Iran: a time series analysis

OBJECTIVES: The target of the Fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG-4) is to reduce the rate of under-five mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015. Despite substantial progress towards achieving the target of the MDG-4 in Iran at the national level, differences at the sub-national levels should be taken into consideration. METHODS: The under-five mortality data available from the Deputy of Public Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, was used in order to perform a time series analysis of the monthly under-five mortality rate (U5MR) from 2005 to 2012 in Kermanshah province in the west of Iran. After primary analysis, a seasonal auto-regressive integrated moving average model was chosen as the best fitting model based on model selection criteria. RESULTS: The model was assessed and proved to be adequate in describing variations in the data. However, the unexpected presence of a stochastic increasing trend and a seasonal component with a periodicity of six months in the fitted model are very likely to be consequences of poor quality of data collection and reporting systems. CONCLUSIONS: The present work is the first attempt at time series modeling of the U5MR in Iran, and reveals that improvement of under-five mortality data collection in health facilities and their corresponding systems is a major challenge to fully achieving the MGD-4 in Iran. Studies similar to the present work can enhance the understanding of the invisible patterns in U5MR, monitor progress towards the MGD-4, and predict the impact of future variations on the U5MR.

Malnutrition among patients suffering from HIV/AIDS in Kermanshah, Iran

Background: Inadequate food intake is one of the causes of malnutrition, which is an important complication of HIV and accelerates the progress of HIV toward acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Objective: The present study aimed to assess nutritional status of people with HIV/AIDS. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study recruited 340 people with HIV/AIDS visiting Behavioral Diseases Counseling Center in Kermanshah Province. Malnutrition was measured by body mass index (BMI). Food Frequency Scale was used to assess food intake, and the amounts of food intake were compared to recommended daily allowance (RDA). The data were analyzed in Stata-11 using Chi-square, Kruskal–Wallis, and ANOVA tests. Results: Mean BMI among men and women was 22.12 ± 3.75 kg/m2 and 25.54 ± 4.66 kg/m2. The prevalence of BMI-based malnutrition was 42.21% (141 people). Of participating patients, 11.08% were underweight, 22.75% overweight, and 8.38% obese. Underweight was reported more prevalent in men than in women and also in singles than in married patients (P = 0.001). Intake of protein, folate, Vitamins A and E, and fiber was less than RDA in a significantly large number of patients. Vitamin A deficiency was more evident in men and folate and calcium deficiencies in women. Conclusion: The present study showed inadequate intake of micro- and macro-nutrients in patients with HIV/AIDS. Malnutrition was observed as varying degrees of underweight and overweight, which requires greater attention to and care for these patients.

Locus of Control or Self-Esteem; Which One is the Best Predictor of Academic Achievement in Iranian College Students.

Background Self-esteem and behavioral consequences, which are due to external or internal locus of control, are effective on academic achievement of students. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the prediction of locus of control and self-esteem in academic achievement among the students. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 college students in Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2014. Data collection tools were in three sections: demographic, Rotter internal-external locus of control scale and Coopersmith self-esteem inventory. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 21. Results Results showed that 29.8% and 76.2% of the participants had internal locus of control, and high self-esteem, respectively. There was a significant correlation between self-esteem, locus of control and academic achievement of the students. Self-esteem accounted for 39.5% of the variation in academic achievement. Conclusions It seems that interventions to increase self-esteem among student can help improve academic achievement among them.

The potential of premarital education as a means of prevention of intimate partner violence against women: opinions of husbands and wives-to-be and gatekeepers in an Iranian city

Changing a pattern of violent behaviour is more difficult than learning not to use violence from the beginning. Premarital education is one of several means that can contribute to building relationship skills. The object of this study was to investigate to what extent and in what way gatekeepers who educate couples at premarital educational centres, as well as husbands and wives-to-be that undergo such training consider that premarital education can help to prevent intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW). Data were gathered in an Iranian city by means of purposive sample for gatekeepers (eight instructors and supervisors) and convenience sampling for future husbands and wives (9 men and 13 women), approached at premarital educational centres. A semi-structured protocol was used to face to face interview the participants on for example, the potential role of premarital educational programs in prevention of IPVAW and their suggestions for a course curriculum. Almost all the husbands and wives-to-be and the instructors considered that premarital education could help to prevent IPVAW but none of the supervisors did. Suggestions for the course curriculum dealt with skills training rather than awareness-raising. A number of answers strongly reflected a tendency to put the blame on the victim and this calls for particular attention in future program development and prevention work.