Individual Factors of Social Acceptance in Patients Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) at the Yazd Behavioral Consultation Center in Iran.

BACKGROUND: A considerable number of patients infected with HIV also have mental health problems. Individual psychotherapy is an effective way to treat these issues. Lack of social acceptance is a barrier to patients receiving proper medication and emotional/psychological support. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the individual factors of social acceptance in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty HIV-infected patients who were registered in the Behavioral Consultation Center entered the study. Each of them filled out a questionnaire based on the Crown-Marlow social acceptance scale. Their answers were evaluated according to the questionnaire key. RESULTS: Forty-five patients (90%) were male and five (10%) were female. Their ages ranged between 28 and 52 years old. Other variables researched in this study include patients' age, sex, education, occupation, place of living, marital status, family history of HIV, and family history of psychological disorders. Employed patients experienced more social acceptance than housewives and people who were unemployed or retired. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that HIV-infected patients with jobs enjoy a great deal of acceptance from the people around them and a higher quality of life in general. It also led to suggestions for further study with the purpose of finding more effective solutions for HIV prevention and better strategies for dealing with psychological disorders. Such research could also help in providing an enhanced understanding of the potential psychological impact that AIDS has on patients in Iran.

Dietary fat intake and lipid profiles of Iranian adolescents: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program--Heart Health Promotion from Childhood.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the serum lipid profiles of Iranian adolescents and their correlation with dietary fat intake and to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of students, parents, and school staff. METHODS: The subjects of this cross-sectional study were 2000 students (1000 girls and 1000 boys), ages 11-18 years, selected by multistage random sampling, and one of their parents (2000 subjects), as well as 500 school staff in urban and rural areas of two provinces in Iran (one for further interventions and the other for reference). The data were obtained by questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, 3-day food record form, and a 20-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). All serum lipids were determined in the same laboratory. RESULTS: Although the percentage of fat intake (21.2 +/- 0.4%) among the adolescents was within the recommended daily allowance (RDA < or = 30%), in most cases, the percentiles of serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) were significantly higher and the percentiles of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were lower than standard values according to Lipid Research Clinics (LRC) data; for example, the mean TC values for girls in the 11- to 14- and 15- to 18-year age groups were significantly higher than LRC standard values (169 and 172 vs. 160 and 159 mg/dl, respectively, P < 0.05). This difference was also significant in boys (167 and 168 vs. 160 and 153 mg/dl, respectively) at the P < 0.05 level. A significant linear association was shown between adolescents' dyslipidemia and the frequency of intake of hydrogenated fat, fast foods, cheese puffs, and potato chips (P < 0.05). Although the protein intake was lower than the RDA (13.4 +/- 0.9% vs. 15%, P < 0.05), because of the highly prevalent consumption of fatty lamb meat, the frequency of red meat intake had a direct association with dyslipidemia (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The improper intake of high amounts of saturated fat and the observed serum lipid profile of Iranian adolescents are likely placing them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and necessitate developing guidelines and community-based interventions.

Obesity and associated modifiable environmental factors in Iranian adolescents: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program - Heart Health Promotion from Childhood.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Iranian adolescents and their relationship with modifiable environmental factors. METHODS: The subjects of the present study were 1000 girls and 1000 boys, aged between 11 and 18 years selected by multistage random sampling, their parents (n = 2000) and their school staff (n = 500 subjects) in urban and rural areas of two provinces in Iran. Data concerning body mass index (BMI), nutrition and the physical activity of the subjects were analyzed by SPSSV10/Win software. RESULTS: The prevalence of 85th percentile 95th percentile in girls was significantly higher than boys (10.7 +/- 1.1 and 2.9 +/- 0.1%vs 7.4 +/- 0.9 and 1.9 +/- 0.1%, respectively; P < 0.05). The mean BMI value was significantly different between urban and rural areas (25.4 +/- 5.2 vs 23.2 +/- 7.1 kg/m2, respectively; P < 0.05). A BMI> 85th percentile was more prevalent in families with an average income than in high-income families (9.3 +/- 1.7 vs 7.2 +/- 1.4%, respectively; P < 0.05) and in those with lower-educated mothers (9.2 +/- 2.1 vs 11.5 +/- 2.4 years of mothers education, respectively). The mean total energy intake was not different between overweight or obese and normal-weight subjects (1825 +/- 90 vs 1815 +/- 85 kCal, respectively; P > 0.05), but the percentage of energy derived from carbo-hydrates was significantly higher in the former group compared with the latter (69.4 vs 63.2%, respectively; P < 0.05). Regular extracurricular sports activities were significantly lower and the time spent watching tele-vision was significantly higher in overweight or obese than non-obese subjects (time spent watching telelvision: 300 +/- 20 vs 240 +/- 30 min/day, P < 0.05). A significant linear association was shown between the frequency of consumption of rice, bread, pasta, fast foods and fat/salty snacks and BMI (beta = 0.05-0.06; P < 0.05). A significant correlation was shown between BMI percentiles and serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and systolic blood pressure (Pearson's r = 0.38, -0.32 and 0.47, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced efforts to prevent and control overweight from childhood is a critical national priority, even in developing countries. To be successful, social, cultural and economic influences should be considered.

Atherosclerosis risk factors in children and adolescents with or without family history of premature coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Although coronary artery disease (CAD) becomes symptomatic much later in life, the early identification and modification of risk factors may reduce its later incidence. MATERIAL/METHODS: 100 subjects 2-18 years old, evenly divided by sex, were randomly selected from among children of patients suffering from premature myocardial infarction (<55 years); the controls were 100 age- and sex-matched subjects without a similar family history. In the Pediatric Preventive Cardiology Clinic at the Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, the subjects completed a special questionnaire consisting of anthropometric data, blood pressure, skinfold thickness, rate of physical activity, and active or passive cigarette smoking. Fasting venous blood was analyzed for serum lipids, lipoproteins fibrinogen, and apolipoproteins A1 and B100. The data were analyzed with SPSS V6/win using the independent t-test, Kruskal-Wallis, chi-squared, and standard linear multiple regression tests. RESULTS: The data showed higher prevalence of some major and new risk factors in the experimental group than in the controls. The mean total cholesterol, LDL-C, TG, fibrinogen and Apo B100 were significantly higher in the experimental group, while the mean values of HDL-C and Apo A1 were significantly lower. The differences in terms of Body Mass Index, percentage body fat, rate of regular physical activity, and active and passive smoking were not significant between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Major and new CAD risk factors should be identified and modified as early as possible in children with high family risk by screening and health education at an early age.