The effect of date fruit consumption on early postpartum hemorrhage: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum hemorrhage, anemia, and iron deficiency are important health problems. Using safe, cheap, and available methods to reduce the amount of hemorrhage after childbirth can be effective for the mother's health during this period. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of date fruit consumption on the amount of hemorrhage after natural childbirth. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 98 women referred to the maternity ward of Al-Zahra Hospital in Rasht using the available sampling method. The primary outcome was postpartum hemorrhage, measured using the Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBLAC). Two hours after delivery, 100 g of date fruits were given to the intervention group, and the amount of hemorrhage was recorded during the first 24 h. Comparison between the two groups was done with the Mann-Whitney test with the Hodges-Lehmann estimator and corresponding exact conditional nonparametric confidence interval (CI) as effect estimate. A P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The median of postpartum hemorrhage after normal delivery in the date and control groups was 35.0 [interquartile range (IQR): 22.0 to 39.8] and 39.0 [IQR: 27.5 to 64.5], respectively. Using the Hodges-Lehmann estimator, on average, the median postpartum hemorrhage in the date group was 9.0 (95% CI: 2.00-18.0) units lower than the control group (P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Consumption of dates effectively reduces the amount of hemorrhage after natural childbirth; thus, consuming this fruit during postpartum period is recommended. Also to confirm the findings, it is recommended to conduct similar studies in this field. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials; https://www.irct.ir/trial/59197 (IRCT20210607051505N2) on 31/10/2021.

Quality of sleep in women with menopause and its related factors.

Background: Menopausal period is one of the most critical stages of a womans life. Complications of the menopausal period including sleep disorders can affect the physical and mental state of women. As sleep disorder has a determinant role in the quality of life, this study was conducted to evaluate postmenopausal womens quality of sleep and its related factors. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional-analytical study was conducted on 323 postmenopausal women based on convenience and consecutive sampling. The data-gathering tool consisted of two parts; sociodemographic characteristics and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests at a significance level of p<0.05. Results: Sleep disorder was determined in 49.9% of participants. The mean PSQI score was 5.32 ± 3.881. There was a significant correlation between PSQI and age (ß = 0.29, p < 0.001) indicating that sleep disorder increased with an increase in age. There was a significant correlation between body mass index (ß = 0.599, p < 0.001) and undesired sleep quality. Conclusions: Regarding the presence of sleep disorder in almost half of the study participants, and the relationship between sleep quality and body mass index and age, it is recommended that decision and policymakers design educational consultation interventions to improve the quality and quantity of sleep in menopause women.

Efficacy of mobile app-based training on health literacy among pregnant women: A randomized controlled trial study.

OBJECTIVE: : Health literacy of mothers during pregnancy shows social and cognitive skills indicating the motivation and ability of mothers to receive and use useful knowledge to maintain and promote the health of themselves and their children. The present study was conducted aimed to determine the effect of mobile app-based training on health literacy among pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: A random allocation clinical trial was conducted on 140 eligible mothers. All participants were randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. Data collection tools included personal information and maternal health literacy questionnaires. The questionnaires were completed and then a mobile app-based training intervention was performed for the experimental group. The participants of the experimental group were asked to read the contents of the software once a week for 8 weeks. The questionnaires were completed again after 8 weeks of the training intervention. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21. Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon, Fisher, Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and one-way analysis of variance was used for this purpose. RESULTS: The participants showed no statistically significant difference in terms of demographic-social information (p > 0.05). The mean change in health literacy scores after the intervention was statistically significant between the experimental and control groups (p < 0.001). Also, the mean change in health literacy scores before and after the intervention in the experimental group was statistically significant (p < 0.001). But this change in the control group was not statistically significant (p = 0.609). CONCLUSIONS: For the first time we used mobile app-based training and results showed that it is effective in the health literacy of pregnant women especially in situations like the Corona Virus pandemic. Therefore, it is suggested that health care providers, especially midwives, use this training method to promote the health literacy of pregnant women.

Quality of life and its determinants in postmenopausal women: a population-based study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess quality of life (QOL) and its determinants in Iranian postmenopausal women. METHODS: This population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted using cluster sampling design. The samples consisted of postmenopausal women aged 40-60 years with total household in Rasht city (north Iran) as the sample frame. Quality of life was assessed by Menopause-Specific QOL (MENQOL) Questionnaire. Mean domain scores and factors related to the higher score of each domain were determined. RESULTS: Findings showed that the mean scores for each domain were: vasomotor: 2.14 ± 1.49; psycho-social: 1.56 ± 0.85; physical: 1.91 ± 0.52 and sexual: 1.37 ± 1.05. Comparing the median of the studied domains, physical domain had the worst score in menopausal women. Pain in joint and muscle, one item of physical domain, had the highest score. The univariate analysis demonstrated that women aged 60-65 (p < 0.0001), women with postmenopausal stage 5 or more years (p < 0.0001), married women (p < 0.05), women holding higher education degree (p < 0.05), employed women (p < 0.05), women with a body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m(2) (p < 0.05) and women who do physical activity (p < 0.05) showed better QOL. Based on Logistic Regression model, the predictive factors of normal QOL in menopause status were: age, husband education, score of Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and BMI. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that menopause-related symptoms had negative impact on QOL. Confirmation by further research is needed.

An assessment of the stressors and ways of coping in Iranian medical sciences students.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported that medical sciences students are usually dealing with severe stress. However, no study is available on ways of coping in medical sciences students in Iran. As socio-cultural factors may affect the students' responses toward stress, this study aimed to investigate the stressors and ways of coping among students of Guilan University of Medical Sciences (GUMS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 487 randomly selected students in GUMS in 2012. The student stress scale and Lazarus ways of coping scale were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Also, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, and logistic regression analysis were utilized for data analysis. cross-sectional study was conducted on 487 randomly selected students in GUMS in 2012. The student stress scale and Lazarus ways of coping scale were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Also, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, and logistic regression analysis were utilized for data analysis. RESULTS: In the majority of students (61.4%), interpersonal factors were the dominant stressor. Most of the students used problem-focused ways of coping (79.7%). Chi-square test showed a significant relationship between gender and ways of coping (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Interpersonal sources of stress were the most common stressors among the medical sciences students. Establishing workshops on communication skills and effective counseling system are suggested.