The comparison of sexual function in types I and II of female genital mutilation.

BACKGROUND: Female genital mutilation has many sexual, physical, and psychological consequences. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), and Sexual Function among circumcised women in Sardasht City, Iran." METHODS: In this present cross-sectional study, 197 women who were mutilated entered the study by simple random sampling from two healthcare centers in Sardasht, Iran. A gynecologist first performed a genital examination to identify the type of female genital mutilation of participants. Subsequently, Socio-demographic and FGM/C-related characteristics checklist and the female sexual function index questionnaire were completed by interview method. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23 software. RESULTS: Type I and II of female genital mutilation were performed in 73.1 and 26.9% of the participants, respectively. The age range of performing female genital mutilation in type I and II of female genital mutilation was 4-10 years old in 67.4% and 71.1% respectively. Traditional practitioners/local women carried out the circumcision in all of the participants, and Sunnah/tradition was reported as the most common reason for doing this procedure. The average total score of FSFI index in type I and II of female genital mutilation was 23.5 ± 2.0 and 17.4 ± 2.39, respectively. In all domains of FSFI, women with type II of female genital mutilation obtained lower scores than women with type I. CONCLUSION: Circumcised women have reduced scores in all domains of FSFI, and the severity of sexual dysfunction is related to the type of FGM/C. Considering the prevalence of female genital mutilation and its adverse effects, it is imperative to initiate cultural improvements through education and awareness. By educating and raising awareness among individuals about this issue, we can foster positive changes and address the problem effectively.

Satisfaction with appearance and sexual satisfaction in women with severe burn injuries.

Burn, particularly in women, can cause a variety of difficulties. Women's feelings of themselves and of life satisfaction are affected by their body dimensions and satisfaction with appearance, which can be significant predictors of their sexual satisfaction. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between satisfaction with appearance and sexual satisfaction among female patients with severe burn. The present study, adopted a descriptive-analytic approach and used a convenience sampling technique, to select 180 female patients Data collection instruments included a demographic questionnaire, the index of sexual satisfaction (ISS), and the satisfaction with appearance scale (SWAP). The results of this study showed that about 82% of women with severe burn injuries, had a lower level of sexual satisfaction. It was observed that satisfaction with appearance had a significant negative relationship with sexual satisfaction in women with burns (P < 0.001). According to the results of the present study, in order to improve appearance satisfaction and consequently sexual satisfaction, intervention attempts are essential. The findings of this study may have practical applications in the formulation of plans for patients with burn injuries.

Are anemia, gastrointestinal disorders, and pregnancy outcome associated with pica behavior?

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between pica and anemia, gastrointestinal disorders, as well as pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women. METHODOLOGY: This study was a prospective study carried out between January 2016 and June 2017 and was performed on 226 pregnant women who attended four different health care centers to receive routine prenatal care. Sampling was done considering the inclusion criteria, in two steps: cluster sampling and random sampling. Data collection was done using a researcher-made checklist. The significance level was set at p = 0.05. RESULTS: The average age of the participants was 26.10±6.27. The prevalence of pica in pregnant women in the first, second, and third trimesters was 9.3, 8, and 2.1%, respectively. The most common pica craving among pregnant women was for ice and frozen materials (68.2%). There was a statistically significant relationship between gastrointestinal disorders and anemia with pica (p < 0.001). There was also a significant relationship between birth weights of babies born to mothers with pica and those without pica (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Pica in pregnant women had a significant relationship with gastrointestinal disorders and anemia during pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes. Thus, in addition to providing healthcare services, health care professionals should consider patients' pica practices and make the necessary interventions.

The Effect of Expressive Writing on Postpartum Depression and Stress of Mothers with a Preterm Infant in NICU.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of expressive writing on postpartum depression and stress of mothers with a preterm infant in NICU. This clinical trial was carried out on 91 mothers whose infants were in NICU. Subjects were assigned to intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, subjects were asked to start expressive writing from the third day of hospitalization in NICU and continue it until the tenth day. EPDS, PSS: NICU, and PSS-14 COHEN were completed by all the mothers on days 3 and 10, and 1-3 months after the admittance. Mean EPDS score was obtained as 9.65 ± 5.28, 9.23 ± 5.41, 8.19 ± 4.45, and 7.60 ± 4.65, respectively, for control group at days 3 and 10, and 1-3 months after hospitalization, and it was also obtained as 9.62 ± 5.89, 6.04 ± 3.39, 2.95 ± 2.41, and 2.44 ± 2.01, respectively, for the intervention group at days 3 and 10, and 1-3 months after hospitalization (p < 0.001). Mean PSS-14 COHEN score was lower for intervention group similar to the control group (p < 0.005). Results of the independent samples T-test showed higher stress scores for the control group before and after the intervention, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.08). Mothers with an infant in NICU experienced a high level of postpartum depression and stress. Thus, according to findings of this study, expressive writing is proposed as a convenient and inexpensive means to reduce levels of postpartum depression and stress.

Husbands' participation in prenatal care and breastfeeding self-efficacy in Iranian women: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Self-efficacy is an important psychological and motivational factor for continuation of exclusive breastfeeding. This study aimed to examine the effect of husband participation on self-efficacy of breastfeeding in postpartum period. Methods: This study was a single-blind clinical trial (IRCT2014012115163N2) conducted on 66 pregnant women who referred to health centers of Urmia in 2014. Convenience sampling method was used to select the participants and then they were randomly allocated to control and intervention groups using RANDBETWEEN function in Excel. Participants in the intervention group had 2 training sessions with 4-week interval. They could also use telephone counseling over study time. Those in the control group received the routine pregnancy care, and their breastfeeding self-efficacy was compared 1 month after delivery using Dennis Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Chi square, independent and paired samples t test were used. Results: In this study, the mean score of breastfeeding self-efficacy in the intervention and control groups after intervention was 50.36±8.65 and 44.12±10.41, respectively, which showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.017). Conclusion: According to the results, one of the considerable strategies to enhance self-efficacy of breastfeeding is to involve husbands in prenatal care, which should be considered by the authorities and health professionals, including doctors, nurses, and midwives.

The Quality of Life in Women with Burns in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Severe and extensive burns and the consequent burn scars have a profound impact on various aspects of the patients', especially women's quality of life (QOL). Although burn is considered as a common phenomenon in Iran, few studies are conducted to investigate the QOL in women with burn scars. Thus, the present study aimed at investigating the quality of life of married women with severe burns. METHODS: The present study was a descriptive-analytic study conducted on 101 patients with severe burns who referred in 2016 to Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS) and a demographic questionnaire were used to collect and analyze the data. RESULTS: Burns had a significant negative impact on the life quality of women with burns. The average score of quality of life in women was obtained as 51.47±10.44. The most difficult in the quality of life of the patients were in skin sensitivity to heat and treatment regimens and the least difficulty was in simple abilities and hand function. CONCLUSION: The interventions to improve the quality of life is of high importance in the patients with burns. The findings of this study can help us in designing care plans for women with burns.

Spiritual Health and Physical Activity Among Iranian Pregnant Women.

This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between spiritual health and physical activity among Iranian pregnant women during 2015. A cross-sectional descriptive-analytic design was adopted. A total number of 411 participants were selected by convenience sampling from Iranian women who regularly attended health centers for prenatal care. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile questionnaire, 2nd edition. (Spiritual health and physical activity are two components of health-promoting lifestyle.) The data were analyzed, using descriptive statistics, t test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and regression. p values <0.05 were considered significant. The mean age of pregnant women was 27.90 ± 6.03 years. Spiritual health had the highest score (25.86 ± 4.7) and physical activity had the lowest score (11.31 ± 3.27), among six Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile subscales. In fact, there was a statistically significant correlation between spiritual health and physical activity (p = 0.000). According to results, pregnant women have higher spiritual health and lower physical activity scores. There was a statistically significant correlation between spiritual health and physical activity. The findings of this study can be used in prenatal care, midwifery education, and maternal health policies.

A Serological Survey of Chlamydia trachomatis and its Related Factors in Individuals with High-Risk Sexual Behavior.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) throughout the world and its annual incidence is reported to be around 50 million cases. High-risk sexual behaviors are among the predisposing factors for STIs. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and the factors affecting it in patients with high-risk sexual behaviors who had attended clinic of high risk sexual behavior of Urmia between October 2015 and June 2016. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Behavior Disorders Clinic in Urmia. One hundred and seventy six patients who had attended the clinic were selected using convenient sampling. A questionnaire was filled out by the participants and a 5 cc sample of their blood was collected to determine their serological level of antibodies. The participants' blood serum samples were analyzed by ELISA. Descriptive tests, T-test, and Chi-square test were run to analyze the data. All the statistical analyses were done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 23. RESULTS: The results indicated that 52.3% of the attendees of the Behavior Disorders Clinic in Urmia were single, 78.4% had a sexual partner except from their spouse, 31.8% had multiple sexual partners, and 8.52% had a high-risk partner. The results also revealed that there was a significant relationship between gender and presence of anti-Chlamydia antibodies (p=0.02). However, no significant relationship was observed between other demographic characteristics or history of high-risk behaviors and presence of anti- Chlamydia antibodies. CONCLUSION: Since the frequency of positive IgM was 11.9% in the present study, and Chlamydia trachomatis infections are mostly asymptomatic, early diagnosis and treatment of this pathogen can have a very important role in public health improvement. Screening individuals with high-risk sexual behavior is recommended.

The Relationship between Quality of Life and Sexual Satisfaction in Women with Severe Burns.

INTRODUCTION: Burn, especially in women, can affect the quality of life and it due to a change in sexual life. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the quality of life and sexual satisfaction in women with burns. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study conducted on 101 women with severe burns who were referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia, Iran, in 2016. The data gathering scales were demographic questionnaire, burn specific health scale-brief (BSHS-B) and Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS). RESULTS: The mean scores of the quality of life and sexual satisfaction were 102.94 ± 20.88 and 57.03 ± 25.91, respectively. Also, there was a significant relationship between quality of life and its subscales with sexual satisfaction and some demographic variables (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Interventional efforts for improving sexual satisfaction and thus, quality of life in these patients are important. The findings of this study appear to be effective in planning for women with a history of burns.

Retrospective Epidemiological Study of Burn Injuries in 1717 Pediatric Patients: 10 Years Analysis of Hospital Data in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Burn injuries are considered an important preventable cause of injuries in children, and it still produces significant death in Iran. This study investigated the causes and severity of burns in patients. METHODS: This study was retrospective descriptive study of children-burn injury in a referral Burn Care Center in Tehran, Iran during a ten-year period since 2005 to 2014. Data collection have been facilitated by using a specially designed checklist. The subjects included 1717 consecutive patients with various causes of burn injury. Data were analyzed applying descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Chi-square. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 4.11 ± 3.42 yr. The mean hospitalization period was 11.15 ± 8.37 d. The grade of burn was 2 in 1292 (75.2%) patients. Among the children-burn patients, 59.9% suffered from <20% of total body surface area burn. Most affected part of the body was trunk 762 (44.4%). Overall, 1256 patients (73.2%) suffered from hot liquid burns. Burns mortality rate for this study was identified 8.1% (N=3). CONCLUSION: The majority of the patients were male with a male to female ratio of 1.7:1. Most patients were in the 2-4 yr age group, with most of the injuries occurring in boys under the age of 5 yr old. It is the child's natural curiosity and inability to understand that special things are dangerous to them, which leads to burning injury. Most affected part of the body was trunk and 1256 patients (73.2%) suffered from hot liquid burns.

Does coffee affect the bowel function after caesarean section?

OBJECTIVES: Postoperative ileus is a common consequence of abdominal surgery, which tends to prolong the duration of hospital stay and imposes considerable economic costs on healthcare system. Coffee is proved to have positive effects on gastrointestinal motility index in healthy young adults. Thus, the present study aims to examine effects of coffee on bowel function after caesarean section. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total number 100 patients after elective caesarean section were randomly assigned before surgery into control and intervention groups. The intervention group received 100cc coffee at 8, 12 and 20h after the surgery, while the control group received 100cc hot water at the same intervals. First bowel sound, first passage of flatus, first defecation, and length of stay after surgery were compared in the two groups. FINDINGS: Mean time to first flatus passage was recorded in the control (22.54±5.09h) and intervention (17.28±4.44h) groups and showed to be statistically significant (p=-0.000). However, average time of first defecation (intervention 37.22±16.31h; control 36.82±16.5h; p=0.647) and mean time of hospital stay of patients (intervention 30.08±9.50h; control 32.16±11.82h; p=0.518) and first bowel sound (intervention 5.84±1.41h; control 6.16±1.33h; p=-0.326) were not statistically significant. DISCUSSION: Drinking coffee after a caesarean section reduces time to first flatus in patients. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to examine effects of coffee on ileus after elective caesarean section.

Epidemiology of Acid-Burns in a Major Referral Hospital in Tehran, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Most of the acid- burns are due to assault or accidental. The epidemiology of burns is diverse across the world and within a country. We evaluated the epidemiology and outcome of acid-burns in tertiary health care center in Tehran, Iran. METHODS: This study was retrospective descriptive among patients referred for acid-burn injury that was done in a referral Burn Care Center in Tehran, Iran, during a ten-year period since 2005 to 2014. Patient's data collected by a specially designed check list. The subjects included 37 consecutive patients with various causes of acid burn injury. Descriptive statistics (means with standard deviations or frequency distribution) of sociodemographic variables were computed. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 31.97±11.02 years. The mean hospitalization period was 18.08±15.25 days. The grade of burn was III in 75.7% patients. Among the acid-burn patients, 64.8% suffered from <20% of total body surface area burn. Most affected part of the body was Head /face/neck 17 (45.9%). Most of the acid-burn occurred from attack (67.6%). Burns mortality rate for this study was identified 8.1% (N=3). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed high acid attacks rates. Prevention strategies must be coordinated at national level. So acid-burn patients have to receive the best medical care possible, first locally and then in a specialized center.

A Survey of Medical Students' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Urmia, Iran.

Personal beliefs of medical students may interfere with their tendency for learning Complementary and Alternative Medicine concepts. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of medical students toward complementary and alternative medicine in Urmia, Iran. A structured questionnaire was used as data collection instrument. One hundred questionnaires were returned. Thirty-one percent of students reported use of alternative medicine for at least once. Iranian Traditional Medicine was the main type of alternative medicine used by medical students (93.5%). Neuromuscular disorders were the main indication of alternative medicine use among students (34.4%). Ninety percent of participants demonstrated competent knowledge about acupuncture while the lowest scores belonged to homeopathy (12%). Study results showed that 49% of medical students had positive attitudes and demonstrated a willingness to receive training on the subject. Thus, there appears a necessity to integrate complementary and alternative medicine into the medical curriculum, by taking expectations and feedbacks of medical students into consideration.