Vitamins B9 and B12 in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder that begins before age 12. Given the role of B group vitamins in cell metabolism, synthesis of nucleotides, and neurotransmitters, the present study systematically investigated the plasma levels of vitamins B9 and B12 in children with ADHD. Methods: We searched electronic databases including Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Iran MEDEX, Cochran database, and SID from conception to June 2023. Full-text case-control or cross-sectional studies were included in this study. Participants in the case group were children with ADHD aged 6-12 years. Review Manager Software (RevMan 5.4) was used for statistical analyses. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% CIs were used to determine the differences between the two groups. Results: Six studies were included in the present meta-analysis. They included 982 children, of whom, 204 were girls and 744 were boys. The mean age of the children was 8.86±2.03 years. The level of vitamin B9 was significantly different between children with and without ADHD [SMD -0.80, 95% CI (-1.55, -0.04)]. Vitamin B12 was significantly lower in children with ADHD [SMD -0.29, 95% CI (-0.42, -0.16)]. However, due to high heterogeneity (I2 = 93%), sensitivity analysis was used, I2 fell to 21%, and significant difference was observed between the two groups [SMD -0.19, 95% CI (-0.34, -0.04)]. Conclusion: The results of this systematic review showed that the level of vitamins B9 and B12 in children with ADHD was significantly lower than that in healthy children.

The effect of a midwifery continuity of care program on clinical competence of midwifery students and delivery outcomes: a mixed-methods protocol.

BACKGROUND: The midwifery continuity of care model is one of the care models that have not been evaluated well in some countries including Iran. We aimed to assess the effect of a program based on this model on the clinical competence of midwifery students and delivery outcomes in Ahvaz, Iran. METHODS: This sequential embedded mixed-methods study will include a quantitative and a qualitative phase. In the first stage, based on the Iranian midwifery curriculum and review of seminal midwifery texts, a questionnaire will be developed to assess midwifery students' clinical competence. Then, in the second stage, the quantitative phase (randomized clinical trial) will be conducted to see the effect of continuity of care provided by students on maternal and neonatal outcomes. In the third stage, a qualitative study (conventional content analysis) will be carried out to investigate the students' and mothers' perception of continuity of care. Finally, the results of the quantitative and qualitative phases will be integrated. DISCUSSION: According to the nature of the study, the findings of this research can be effectively used in providing conventional midwifery services in public centers and in midwifery education. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (IR.AJUMS.REC.1401.460). Also, the study protocol was registered in the Iranian Registry for Randomized Controlled Trials (IRCT20221227056938N1).

The effect of 8-week mindfulness counseling on sexual self-efficacy of women suffering from human immunodeficiency syndrome: A randomized controlled trial in Iran.

Background and Aims: Sexual self-efficacy refers to a woman's belief that she can be sexually active and attractive for her sexual partner and has acceptable sexual function. One of the issues that may negatively affect sexual self-efficacy is HIV infection. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of counseling based on mindfulness on sexual self-efficacy of women affected with HIV. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial involving 62 HIV-positive women in their reproductive age. Women in the intervention group were further divided into four groups. Each group received eight sessions of counseling based on mindfulness, while the control group received no intervention. A demographic questionnaire and sexual self-efficacy questionnaire were used to collect the data. The independent t test, χ 2, and repeated measure tests were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean change of total score of sexual self-efficacy in Week 8 compared with before intervention was 37.04 (95% CI: 31.38-42.70, p < 0001) and in Week 12 compared with before intervention was 36.97 (95% CI: 31.59-42.34, p < 0.0001), while in the control group, it almost remained unchanged. The score of readiness for sexual relationship, sexual self-stimulation, intimacy without sexual intercourse, and orgasm improved significantly 8 and 12 weeks after intervention (p < 0.0001), whereas no significant differences were observed in these dimensions in the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that 8 weeks of counseling based on mindfulness could significantly improve all dimensions of sexual self-efficacy and its total score in women affected with HIV. Thus, this method of counseling is recommended for HIV-positive women.

Effect of emotional freedom technique on the fear of childbirth in Iranian primiparous women: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Fear of childbirth is one of the main causes of women's emotional difficulty experienced in the perinatal period, especially those having their first child. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of emotional freedom technique (EFT) on the fear of childbirth among primiparous women in Ahvaz, Iran. Materials and methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 116 primiparous women. The participants were randomly divided into intervention (n = 58) or control (n = 58) groups. The intervention group received daily stimulation of certain points in their body for 12 weeks using EFT. The fear of childbirth was measured at the beginning of the study and 12 weeks after the intervention using the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (WDEQ-A) and at the first postpartum visit with WDEQ-B. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, paired t-test, Chi-square or Fisher's exact test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results: After intervention, the mean score of fear of childbirth in the intervention group decreased from 49.39 ± 8.21 to 40.42 ± 13.43 (p < 0.0001), while the same rate in the control group increased from 49.47 ± 9.06 to 52.09 ± 7.73 (p = 0.002). The mean score of fear of childbirth after delivery in the control group (45.88 ± 7.10) was higher than that in the intervention group (27.13 ± 5.08) (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, EFT can be considered as an effective method to reduce the fear of childbirth score in primiparous women.

Effect of mobile-assisted education on health promoting lifestyle and blood sugar of women with gestational diabetes: a randomised controlled trial.

Background: The gestational diabetes causes complications for the mother and the baby. Methods: It was a randomised controlled trial that was conducted in Public Health Center No 1 in Baghmalek, Khuzestan province, Iran. Seventy-six women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were recruited and randomly allocated into an intervention (n=38) and a control group (n=38). A mobile app was developed, and the content of the educational programme was designed according to the six dimensions of Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile (HPLP). Participants in the intervention group followed instructions about healthy lifestyle for 4 weeks, whereas the control group received only routine care. A demographic questionnaire, and the HPLP-II were used to gather the data.Health promoting lifestyle and blood sugar of participants were measured after 4 weeks. Results: The total score of HPLP was 98.34±13.99 and 92.39±14.56 before the intervention in intervention and control groups, respectively, which was improved significantly in the intervention group compared with the control group after intervention (143.13±23.41 vs 100.39±16.69, p<0.0001). Also, the scores of stress management, responsibility, interpersonal relationship, spiritual growth, nutrition and physical activity were significantly improved in the intervention group. Fasting blood sugar and blood sugar 2 hours after meal significantly reduced in the intervention group compared with the control group (86.05±7.71 mg/dL vs 93.92±5.52 mg/dL) and (113.65±10.96 mg/dL vs 124.97±9.15 mg/dL), (p=0.001), respectively. Conclusions: Our results showed that offering educational programmes based on mobile apps can improve healthy lifestyle and blood sugar in women with GDM. Trial registration number: IRCT20200817048434N1. Website address: https://www.irct.ir/search/result?query=IRCT20200817048434N1.

Prevalence and related factors for anorgasmia among reproductive aged women in Hesarak, Iran

INTRODUCTION: Orgasmic dysfunction in women is characterized by persistent or recurrent delay in or absence of orgasm following a normal sexual excitement phase. Research has shown that almost two thirds of women have concerns about their sexual relationship. Sexual dysfunction has many problems for couples; some researchers found that up to 67 percent of divorces related to sexual disorders. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence and related factors of anorgasmia among reproductive age Iranian women. METHODS: This study was conducted in 2006-7 in Hesarak, Karaj, Iran. A total of 1200 women were randomly recruited to the study. Sexual satisfaction questions were prepared according to the Enrich Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire. Orgasms were assessed according to the relevant questions in the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 11; Chi-square, Mann-Whitney and independent t-test were used for statistical purposes. RESULTS: This study showed that the prevalence of anorgasmia among Iranian women in Hesarak, Karaj, was 26.3 percent. There was a significant difference between the anorgasmic and normal orgasm groups regarding the women's age, age at marriage, duration of marriage and education during puberty (p<0.05). Some psychological factors, e.g. anxiety, fatigue, pain, feeling of guilt, anti-masculine feelings and embarrassment in sexual relationships were higher in the anorgasmic group (p<0.001). DISCUSSION: The results of this study showed that the prevalence of anorgasmia in Hesarak is high and most of the anorgasmic women were highly unsatisfied with their sexual relationship compared to the normal orgasm group. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of anorgasmia among Iranian women in Hesarak, Karaj, is high and some socio-demographic and psychological factors have a strong relationship with anorgasmia.