Kerman City Research Articles

Inequalities in Unmet Oral Health Care Need Among Adults in East Iran, a Cross Sectional Population-Based Study.

Statement of the Problem: Need assessment is considered as a key element of health care planning. Subjective measures can be useful tools in epidemiologic surveillances.Purpose: The aim of study was to evaluate inequality in perceived unmet oral health need (PUOHN) in adults in east of Iran.Materials and Method: In this cross-sectional population-based study, the target population included adult residents in the Mashhad and Kerman city. Data was collected through telephone interviews using a validated structured questionnaire. Phone numbers were obtained from telecommunication company. Participants were selected by stratified random sampling. Predisposing and enabling variables associated with PUOHN were included gender, age, educational level, job, insurance coverage, dental insurance, type of insurance, residential location, household size, and family economic indicators. Logistic regression was used to examine association of PUOHN and predisposing and enabling factors.Results: 1475 individuals participated in the study (response rate of 63%). 52% of participants stated that their dental needs have not been met during the past year. The mean ages of respondents were 39 years old and 69.8% were female. Logistic regression analyses indicated living in rental house [OR=2 (95% CI 1.25-3.21), p Value=0.004] and higher household size [OR=1.19(95% CI 1.003-1.43), p= 0.04] significantly associated with PUOHN.Conclusion: The results of this study indicated high PUOHN in the adult population of East Iran. Effective strategies must be implemented to provide accessible dental services regardless of socioeconomic status.

Prevalence of Renal Colic in the Emergency Departments: A Multi-center Study

Background: Kidney calculi are the most common cause of kidney failure. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of renal colic and its risk factors in the patients referred to two emergency departments during a year. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in two hospitals in Kerman city, south-east of Iran, for one year from March 2019 to March 2020. All the archives of the two emergency departments were reviewed, and the required information was recorded in a checklist. The data was analyzed in SPSS 20 software. Results: A total of 504 patients were included in the study. The prevalence of renal colic was 0.5%. Most of the patients (58.5%) had an age between 19 and 39 years, and the majority (60.1%) were males and had a body mass index (BMI) above 25. A family history of renal colic was reported in 68.7% of the patients, and 63.9% had either hypertension or diabetes. Most of the patients consumed less than 3 liters of water per day. The highest referrals were seen in autumn (31.5%) and summer (27.4%). Conclusion: Considering the relationship between renal colic and age, sex, BMI, occupation, a family history of the disease, the presence of underlying diseases, the amount and type of drinking water, and the season of referral, it is recommended to control these risk factors to reduce the incidence of the disease.

Air Pollution and Mortality in the Elderly in Kerman, Iran

Background: Today, air pollution is a major issue in the world, particularly in metropolitan areas. Objectives: Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the relation between air pollution and mortality in the elderly in Kerman City. Methods: This ecological study was conducted using 2006 - 2013 mortality data inquired from the Deputy of Health of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. The data on cardiovascular and respiratory mortality, as well as death due to trauma, diabetes, and other diseases that happened in men and women aged 60 and higher were extracted. Air pollution data (CO, SO2, O3, NO, NO2, NOx, and PM10) for the same time frame were inquired from the Environmental Protection Agency of Kerman Province. Negative binomial regression was used to evaluate the relation between air pollutants and mortality using STATA13 software. Results: During the study period, a total of 14,793 deaths occurred in elderly men and women in Kerman City. Cardiovascular diseases were the leading cause of death. The results of multivariate analysis of air pollutants indicated that NO was directly and significantly related to the total number of deaths in the elderly, and increase in sulfur dioxide, ozone and NO was significantly related to increased mortality among elderly women. Carbon monoxide was significantly related to cardiovascular death of the elderly. But air pollutants did not show any significant effect on respiratory-, trauma-, and diabetes-related deaths. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that there is a significant relation between air pollution and mortality in the elderly. Accordingly, a warning system is suggested to reduce the elderly’s commuting on highly air polluted days.

Nitrite and Nitrate Levels in Groundwater, Water Distribution Network, Bottled Water and Juices in Iran: A Systematic Review.

Nitrate and nitrite can get into the body through the consumption of contaminated water either directly or indirectly. The accumulation of these compounds in the body, in the long run, leads to health problems, for example, digestive disorders, cancers, and even death threats in children. The aim of this review was to investigate nitrate and nitrite pollution levels in drinking water and fruit juices in Iran. In this review, data were collected through searching the Scientific Information Database, Science-Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Magiran databases using the keywords Nitrate, Nitrite, Drinking water, Drinking Water Resources, Juice and Iran. Finally, the location of the studies was geocoded through the Google My Maps (https://www.google.com/mymaps) software. Studies clearly indicated that the juices are safe in terms of nitrate. Nitrate and nitrite values were less than the national and international standards in all samples of bottled drinking water except for a few of the studies. The results of the reviewed studies also indicated that the nitrate content was higher than that written on the label in 96% of the samples, and nitrite was not labeled in 80% of them. The nitrate quantity was higher than the permissible limit in the water distribution network of Bushehr, Gilan and Mazandaran Provinces. Talesh, Ardabil, Hashtgerd, Divandareh, and Kerman cities had high nitrate levels in more than 50% of wells. Using nitrogen fertilizers and the lack of a wastewater treatment system were the main reasons for the presence of nitrate and nitrite.

Design and Standardization of Infertile Women Self-care Tools

Background and aims: Infertility is considered as a disease of the reproductive system meaning by the failure to reach a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. This study aimed to design and standardize a self-care tool in infertile women. Method: For the purpose of the study, we performed a cross-sectional pilot study on 233 infertile women referred to Najmieh Infertility Treatment Center in Kerman city in 2020 whose selection were randomly. Considering the available theoretical foundations and theories as well as available questionnaires associated with the self-care, a self-administered questionnaire with 42 items was constructed. In the following, the psychometric properties of the questionnaire were assessed using the face validity, content validity, structural validity as well as internal consistency. After determining the face validity and content validity quantitatively and qualitatively, the number of items was reduced to 36 items. Pearson correlation coefficient between self-care factors had a significant correlation at the level of 0.01, which indicates the convergent validity of this tool. Results: As a result of explanatory factor analysis, a questionnaire with 28 questions remained, representing 5 factors which altogether accounted for 60.17% of the total variance of the test. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.764 confirmed the internal consistency of the questionnaire. Pearson correlation coefficients between self-care factors had a significant correlation at the level of 0.01, which indicates the convergent validity of this tool. Conclusion: This study showed that the questionnaire entitled with "Self-care questionnaire for women with infertility" consisted of 28 items has good reliability and validity. Furthermore, this questionnaire is useful for assessing the self-care abilities of women with infertility and therefore, it can be used by health care providers working in the healthcare field.

The Dimensions of Health Belief Model Structures Related to Oral Health Behaviors aomng Pregnant Women in Kerman City in 2018 (A cross-sectional descriptive study)

Introduction: Paying attention to dental and oral hygiene in vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, is important for protecting and maintaining maternal and fetal health. This study was performed with aim to determine the dimensions of health belief model Structures related to oral health behaviors among pregnant women in Kerman city. Methods: This descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional study was performed on 138 pregnant women in health centers of Kerman city in 2018. Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire based on health belief model consisting of four sections: demographic information, oral hygiene status, health belief model and assessment of gingival plaque index by Silness and loe Method. Frequency and relative frequency were calculated for each of the variables. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 19) and linear regression analysis and t-test. P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean and standard deviation of participants' plaque index was 1.16±0.62, oral hygiene score was 13.49±2.04 and total score of health belief model questionnaire was 130.70±11.84. 61. The plaque index had significant relationship with perceived benefit (p<0.05). Also, there was a significant relationship between health belief model with education level, pregnancy week and type of insurance (p<0.05). A significant relationship was found between oral hygiene status with education level and pregnancy week (p<0.05) Conclusion:Health performance and dental plaque index of pregnant women are in moderate range which is the result of fear from dental procedures. The total score of people's health belief model is also in the moderate range. So, attention to the beliefs and health aspects of pregnancy care and necessary education in this area is necessary and recommended.

Comparative Testing of Susceptibility Levels of Phlebotomus sergenti, the Main Vector of Anthroponotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, to Conventional Insecticides Using Two Capture Methods in Kerman City, Southeastern Iran.

Background:Collecting live sand flies from indoor sites is a major challenge for researchers in large cities due to the reluctance of families to survey their homes. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of two methods for collecting sand flies for use in susceptibility tests in the urban area of Kerman, southeastern Iran.Methods:Sandflies were mainly collected using both baited traps and hand catch methods from outdoor and indoor sites. Susceptibility tests were separately done according to the standard World Health Organization testing protocol on Phlebotomus sergenti, including 60-minute exposure to DDT 4.0%, propoxur 0.1%, deltamethrin 0.05%, and malathion 5.0%.Results:During this research, the natural habitats and suitable indoor sites were selected to predict the density of live sand fly with perfect accuracy. The number of live Ph. sergenti caught by hand catch and baited traps methods was 42 and 361 in indoor and outdoor sites, respectively. The mortality rate of Ph. sergenti exposed to DDT 4%, deltamethrin 0.05, malathion 5%, and propoxur was 100%.ConclusionThe baited traps showed a significant efficiency compared to hand catch for collecting live Ph. sergenti for use in susceptibility tests in urban areas. The Ph. sergenti collected from both indoor and outdoor sites were susceptible to all insecticides.

Evaluation of water source origin around Kerman tunnel, Iran: water transfer tunnel path using 2H, 3H, 18O, and 34S isotopes

Safa Dam Tunnel to Golzar makes it possible to transfer water from Dam Safa to Kerman City. The tunnel, which is approximately 40 km long, is located in the Kerman Cenozoic magmatic arc as a part of the Dehaj-Sarduiyeh belt. The aim of this study was to investigate and identify the source of water resources around the tunnel path as well as the source of water entering the northern and southern parts of the tunnel. In this study, isotopes of oxygen, hydrogen (deuterium and tritium), and sulfur have been used. The values of these isotopes are first interpreted analytically on the reference graphs displayed in the next step. As a whole, 13 samples were taken for isotopic analysis from different parts of water resources around the tunnel path. In all samples, $$ {}{}^{18}O $$ and $$ {}{}^2H $$ were measured, and in addition, in 5 samples of $$ {}{}^{34}S $$ isotope and in seven samples $$ {}{}^3H $$ isotope values were measured as well. According to the isotopic composition, age of the samples, and hydrogeological conditions of the region, four types of water sources have been identified, which include the following: (1) meteoric waters (water samples of Chari and Dizin Mah Rivers, Mubarak Shah salt spring, Sarzeh and Ashkan, BH5 and artesian Shirink well), (2) hydrothermal waters (sample of Shirink hot spring water), (3) ancient waters (sample of water in the northern part of the tunnel), (4) ancient waters of snowmelt origin (southern part of the tunnel and BH4). The BH9 water sample is the result of mixing ancient water with ancient water from the source of snowmelt. Sulfur originates from water samples in the northern part of the tunnel and in the southern part of Thenardite sulfate (Na2SO4) mineral. In the source of sulfur, the samples of Shirink hot spring water and BH9, in addition to the extraction of Thenardite, also have some oxidation and reduction processes. The source of water sulfur of Ashkan spring was mainly fossil fuels and air currents. The results stated that the age of water samples shows a direct relationship with their depth.

Molecular epidemiology of clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by multilocus sequence typing in northwestern (Tabriz) and southern (Kerman) of Iran: The emergence of MRSA ST4848-SCCmec III

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is an intrusive human pathogen causing community- and hospital- acquired infections worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular characteristics of MRSA isolates recovered from hospitalized patients in Tabriz and Kerman cities in Iran. A total of 111 MRSA isolates were collected and their patterns of antimicrobial resistance were determined utilizing the disk diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration for vancomycin was determined by E. test on Mueller-Hinton agar plates. nuc and mecA genes were detected by PCR and SCCmec and MLST typing of the isolates were carried out. According to the results, the MRSA prevalence was 40.8% in Tabriz and 57.1% in Kerman. All MRSA isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid. The rate of multi drug resistance (MDR) was 68.2% in Tabriz and 56.6% in Kerman. 29 (56.86%) and 33 (55%) of MRSA isolates were recorded positive for SCCmec type III in Tabriz and Kerman, respectively. A total of 6 distinct clonal complexes (CC) were identified for MRSA isolates in 9 different sequence types (STs). ST4848 belonging to CC6 and ST859 belonging to CC88 were the predominant types in Tabriz (45.09%) and Kerman (43.33%). The results of the present study bolster the requirement for more MRSA isolates surveillance research to identify potential new MRSA clones and thus more effective infection control.

Survival Analysis of Gastric Cancer Patients Using Illness-Death Model In Kerman City, Southeast Iran during 2001-2016.

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer death worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the survival of patients with GC using the illness-death model (metastasis as an intermediate event). METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, 339 patients with GC who were referred to Shahid Bahonar and Afzalipour Hospitals in Kerman, Southeast Iran during 2001-2016 were included. Demographic, therapeutic, and clinical data were collected from the patients' medical records. To evaluate the factors affecting patients' survival and the relationship between the factors, the illness-death model (metastasis as an intermediate event) was used. RESULTS One, three, and five-year survival rates in patients with GC were estimated to be 63%, 40%, and 30%, respectively. The results of analysis of illness-death model showed that age (HR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97- 0.99; p = 0.007) and histological grade (HR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.68- 2.67; p =0.007) affected metastasis whereas history of cigarette smoking (HR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.08- 3.3; p = 0.02) and chemotherapy (HR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.4-0.93; p = 0.02) affected death hazard without metastasis. History of opium use (HR=2.11; 95% CI: 1.17- 3.8; p = 0.002), family history of GC (HR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.2-5.15; p = 0.01) and histological grade (HR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.11- 3.08; p = 0.02) were identified as factors affecting death hazard in patients with metastasis. CONCLUSION According to the results, patients' age at the time of diagnosis and histological grade have a significant effect on the occurrence of metastasis. In addition, using the disease-death model, a complete understanding of the behavior and effects of the studied variables on different disease states can be realized.

Investigation of the affective factors on the survival rate of patients with laryngeal cancer using Cox proportional hazards and Lin -Ying's additive hazards models.

Background: Determining the factors affecting survival and appropriate treatment methods leads to improving the survival rate and quality of life in cancer patients; therefore this study was aimed to determine the effective factors on the survival rate of patients with Laryngeal cancer in Kerman city, Iran. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 370 patients with Laryngeal cancer who referred to the hospitals of Kerman city, Iran during 2008 to 2018. Data were analyzed using Cox Proportional Hazards and Lin-Ying’s Additive Hazards models. Data analysis was done using SAS software version 9.4. The P-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 58.16±10.60 years. About 92% of the patients were men. The patient’s 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10-years of overall survival rates were equal to 82.38%, 60.68%, 55.98%, 49.83%, and 30.91%, respectively. Age at the diagnosis (p=0.001), radiotherapy (p=0.001), chemotherapy (p=0.015), surgery (p=0.031), and smoking (p=0.001) were found to have significant effect on the patient’s survival rate in the Cox model. These variables were significant in the Lin-Ying model too. Conclusion: Treatment is an important factor in controlling the disease and survival of cancer patients, and choosing the best treatment depends on the condition of the patient and the disease level.

Measurement Properties of Physical Therapy Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PTPSQ) in an Iranian Musculoskeletal Population

Purpose: A valid and reliable tool that could measure patient satisfaction with physical therapy care for Persian-speaking patients will improve communication and enhance the involvement of people in research on health care quality and disparities. We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version Physical Therapy Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PTPSQ). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a prospective validation study design was adopted. In this methodological study, 297 patients from several physiotherapy centers in Kerman City, Iran, were evaluated using the PTPSQ. After the seventh session, a demographic questionnaire, visual analog scale, and the global rating of change were also answered by the participants (time point 1). The psychometric evaluation included factor analysis, divergent validity, convergent validity, and analysis of floor and ceiling effects. Reproducibility and internal consistency were investigated in this regard. To assess the test-retest reliability, 40 participants (randomly selected) completed the PTPSQ, again 24 to 48 hours later (time point 2). This research project was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. SPSS v. 24 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The interclass correlation coefficient was in the range of 0.80-0.94 with the Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.92. The standard error of measurement, minimal detectable change, and coefficient of variation for the questionnaire were 5.14, 14.39, and 0.21, respectively. Factor analysis revealed the 3-factor model. The relationship between the PTPSQ scores and the patient satisfaction index was relatively good (&gt;0.40). Conclusion: Our results showed strong psychometric properties of the PTPSQ. Thus, we recommended its use in the Persian-speaking population.

Anthropometric Dimensions and Classroom Furniture Measurements Among Pre-school Students in Kerman, South East of Iran

Introduction: With the alternation of the educational system from a three-stage into a two-stage system in Iranian schools since several years ago, five-year-old children entered from kindergartens to primary schools. This study was conducted to investigate the harmonization of classroom furniture with anthropometric dimensions in preschool students. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 366 male and female preschool students were selected by cluster sampling method in Kerman, Iran. Some of the anthropometric dimensions such as shoulder, elbow, and popliteal height, popliteal buttock length, and buttock breadth were measured. mean, maximum, minimum, standard division, and 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles were calculated for both the sexes and were compared with five dimensions of the existing seats. Next, the dimensions of the standard seats were determined according to the anthropometric dimension’s students. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21 . Results: Independent-Samples T-test between girl and boy pre- school students in Kerman city showed just popliteal height had a siginificnt diference (p ≤0.05). Match of antropometric musurmants with seat dimentions indicated that there is no consistency between the seats and anthropometric dimensions in. Armrest height, seat height, backrest height, seat depth and seat breadth were matched with (0, 0.5, 10, 6.7, 0) and (0.7, 28.7, 6, 2.5, 0) percent of anthropometric musurments of girl and boy students respectively Conclusions: Due to adding a new grade to primary school, it seems that no work has been done for improving the furniture. Therefore, in this article, we presented the dimensions of an appropriate seat. This may help not only save production costs in the industry but also increase the matching between students' anthropometric and seat dimensions.

Risk Factors of Anthroponotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Among Residents in Endemic Communities in Southeast of Iran in 2019

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to identify the risk factors associated with the incidence of A.C.L in three endemic areas of Kerman City. Moreover, the residents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards A.C.L were assessed. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 195 residents of three endemic areas in Kerman City involved by A.C.L disease from January to March 2019. The risk factors for A.C.L were recorded using a checklist. Structured questionnaire was administered for data collection. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, correlation analysis, and linear regression via SPSS version 22. Results: The main risk factors for A.C.L identified in the study areas included construction waste, presence of old and dilapidated houses, poor sanitary conditions, refugee and immigration, as well as the presence of domestic animals in close physical proximity to humans. The response rate of this questionnaire was 100 %. Among the respondents, 41.5 % were males and 58.5 % were females. Majority of the respondents (61%) claimed that they had heard about A.C.L and were familiar with this infectious disease. Only 25%, 66.7%, and 32% of the respondents had good knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards A.C.L, respectively. No significant association was found between the participants’ gender and their levels of knowledge (P = 0.827), attitudes (P = 0.446), and practices (P = 0.603). Conclusions: The residents of endemic areas had a weak level of knowledge towards A.C.L. So, educational programs should be implemented in order to improve the residents’ knowledge in Kerman City.

A long-lasting emerging epidemic of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in southeastern Iran: population movement and peri-urban settlements as a major risk factor

BackgroundEpidemics of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are occurring more frequently and spreading faster and farther than before in many areas of the world. The present study aimed to assess a long-lasting emerging epidemic (2005–2019) of 5532 cases with anthroponotic CL (ACL) in peri-urban areas of Kerman city in southeastern Iran.MethodsThis descriptive-analytical study was carried out for 15 years in Kerman province, southeastern Iran. The data were passively obtained through the health surveillance system and the Kerman Leishmaniasis Research Center. Every subject was diagnosed using direct smear microscopy. The representative causative agent was further examined by ITS1-PCR, PCR-RFLP, 7SL RNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. For each subject, a case report form designating demographic and clinical data was recorded.ResultsA different pattern of ACL incidence was found in peri-urban areas compared to that in the city of Kerman. The incidence rate of ACL cases has significantly increased (P < 0.001) from 2005 to 2016 in new settlements with a gradual decline after that. The overall average risk of contracting the disease was 7.6 times higher in peri-urban areas compared to Kerman city, an old endemic focus. All isolates consisting of six variants were confirmed to be Leishmania tropica. The overall pattern of the ACL infection indicates that the etiological agent of ACL is propagated and transmitted by the bite of female Phlebotomus sergenti sandflies from person to person from dissimilar clones as reflected by the complexity of the migrants’ backgrounds in the province.ConclusionsThe movement of populations and establishment of new settlements in peri-urban areas close to endemic areas are major risk factors for and are directly linked to CL. The underlying factors of this emerging ACL epidemic caused by L. tropica were disasters and droughts, among others. A robust commitment to a multilateral approach is crucial to make improvements in this area. This will require decisive coordinated actions through all governmental factions and non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, active and passive case detection strategies, early diagnosis, and effective treatment could help control the disease.Graphical

The Mediating Role of Alexithymia in the Relationship of Coping Strategies and Personality Traits With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Aims: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of the severe psychological health problems imposing considerable social and economic costs on society. OCD debilitating symptoms can disrupt interpersonal relations, job performance, and life quality. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating role of alexithymia in the relationship between coping strategies and personality traits with OCD. Methods &amp; Materials: This is a descriptive correlational study. The study population consists of all people with OCD referred to psychiatric clinics in Kerman City, Iran, during 2018-2019. Of this population, 200 patients were selected using a convenience sampling method. Research instruments included the ways of coping questionnaire, NEO five-factor personality inventory, Toronto alexithymia scale, and Maudsley obsessive-compulsive test. The obtained data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation test and simultaneous and hierarchical regression in SPSS v. 23. Findings: Personality traits had a negative significant correlation with alexithymia (r=0.523, P&lt;0.000) and OCD (r=0.253, P&lt;0.000). Alexithymia had a significant positive correlation with OCD (r=0.272, P&lt;0.000). There was no correlation between problem-focused coping and alexithymia (r=-0.045, P&lt;0.531). There was a positive correlation between emotion-focused coping and OCD (r=0.198, P&lt;0.000). The fit indices indicated a good fit of the proposed model (P&lt;0.005). Conclusion: Alexithymia, as a mediator of the relationship between coping styles and personality traits with OCD, plays an essential role in improving the psychological health of people with OCD.

Status of Food Security in Kerman, Iran During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background and Aim: Food security at individual, family, national, regional and global levels can be achieved when all people at all times have physical and economic access to adequate and healthy food to meet their nutritional needs and priorities for a healthy and active life. This study aims to investigate the status of food security and its related socioeconomic factors in households during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-9) pandemic in Kerman, Iran. Methods &amp; Materials: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 households selected randomly from five comprehensive health centers in five districts of Kerman city in Iran. A demographic/socioeconomic questionnaires and the Persian version of the 18-item USDA Household Food Security Survey (HFSS) were used for collecting data. Ethical Considerations: All ethical principles are considered in this article. The participants were informed about the purpose of the research and its implementation stages. They were also assured about the confidentiality of their information and were free to leave the study whenever they wished, and if desired, the research results would be available to them. Results: There was a significant relationship between the socioeconomic factors (household size, house size, and number of amenities) and the food security. There correlation between the household size and food security was positive (R= 0.142, P&lt;0.001), while the correlation of house size (R= -0.093, P&lt;0.005) and number of amenities (R= -0.73, P&lt;0.001) with food security was negative. Conclusion: By increasing the awareness of people and improving their economic situation, it is possible to improve the food security situation of households in Kerman city.

The Analysis of the Effectiveness of Emotional Processing Strategies on Academic Adjustment and Academic Engagement of the Students in Kerman City, Iran

Background: Emotions accompany humans from the old days and have played their roles in the lives of human beings; a wide range of emotional instability and extremity and the adjusting dimensions of emotion have formed a series of behaviors. Besides, everyone's belief and cognition about one's abilities affect each moment of the educational and life stages. The present paper aimed to analyze emotional processing strategies' effectiveness on students' academic adjustment and engagement. Materials and Methods: The research method is a quasi-experimental one with a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design; the research community includes all the boy students in the first grade of high school in the academic year 2019-2020. Thirty cases were chosen randomly and substituted in two groups of 15 cases (an experimental group and a control group). The experimental group then received instruction and intervention for eight sessions, but the control group received no instruction. After the end of the instructional sessions, the posttest had been taken. The used instrument in this research includes the adjustment questionnaire of Singha and Singh's (1993), and Zerang academic engagement questionnaire (2012). For considering the validity and the data analysis, Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANCOVA), and SPSS V.22 were used. Results: The results have shown that the strategies embedded with emotional processing have more effectiveness in improving academic adjustment compared to academic engagement. The results also have shown that emotional processing strategies' effectiveness has significant relationships with academic engagement and adjustment at p <0.05. Conclusion: According to the research findings, teaching interventional strategies of emotional processing helps increase the students' academic adjustment and engagement.

\u201cStudents in public and private schools\u2014which are at higher risk of drug use?\u201d: a survey from Iran

BackgroundRecent evidence from Western countries suggests that private school students are more prone to drug use. Such an evidence is lacking in Muslim countries. The aim of this study was to examine whether the risk of drug use is higher in private schools than public schools.MethodsThis cross sectional study was conducted on 650 tenth grade students of Kerman city, the center of largest province of Iran using cluster sampling. Well-validated questionnaires regarding current, lifetime substance use, and perceived use by classmates were utilized. Substances included in the questionnaire were waterpipe, cigarette, alcohol, marijuana, opium, methamphetamine, and Naas. Drug Use Tendency Scale was used to measure the attitudes of students towards drug use.ResultsThe response rate was 93.7%. More than 82% of sample were public school students (n = 504). Current use of cigarette and marijuana was higher in private schools (12.2 and 3.0%, respectively) than public schools (4.4 and 0.5%, respectively) (P < 0.05). Perceived prevalence of cigarette smoking by classmates was higher among private school students.ConclusionDespite the popular belief that private schools are better than public schools regarding the risk of substance use, students who attend private schools may be at a higher risk of turning to some drugs comparing to public schools in Iran.

Application of modeling based on fuzzy logic with multi-criteria method in determining appropriate municipal landfill sites (case study: Kerman City)

Landfill site selection is one of the important steps in the management of municipal solid waste. Due to the detrimental environmental, economic, and ecological effects of landfill site selection, site selection must be done carefully and scientifically. This study aimed at finding the optimal site selection for a municipal landfill in Kerman City that has the least risk in the environment and is economically optimal. At first, the effective criteria were identified and quantified by fuzzy method. Then, the weight of criteria was also determined by analytic network process. Combination of multi-criteria decision-making method and geographic information system was used to analyze data. Then, using environmental impact assessment method, the selected landfill from aspects such as physical and chemical; biological and ecological; sociological and cultural; and economic and operational components were investigated at two stages of construction and operation. The results of multi-criteria decision-making showed that 1.86% of the land area had a high capability for landfill and 19.06% of the area had no capability. Finally, in the field study, three sites were selected because of their greater area, lower slope, and the proximity to the city as the best options for landfill through field survey. Of these three options, site 1 has a higher priority due to its better distance, greater area than the other two sites, and reduction in landfill transport costs. Also, environmental impact assessment of the selected landfill (option 1) showed that, in general, the negative impacts on the environment at the operation stage due to being in the group of very low and low impacts do not have much intensity of action, and this is due to the desired environmental conditions of the selected landfill for construction of a sanitary landfill. The research findings and field observations also showed that the weighted linear combination method and its integration with analytic network process technique have the flexibility and high potential for model decision-making and implementation and provided more accurate and objective results. Moreover, it is more reliable than other methods including analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy and can be used elsewhere to select the best landfill site selection.