Southeast Of Iran Research Articles

Consumption of Iron Supplements, based on the Structures of the Health Belief Model, in Children Aged 6 to 24 Months in the Southeast of Iran

Objective: Iron deficiency is one of the common problems during infancy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the status of iron supplement consumption and the factors affecting it based on the constructs of the health belief model. Methodology: In this descriptive study, 402 mothers of children aged 6-12 months were selected using multi-stage random sampling. The status of mothers' performance regarding the provision of iron supplements and the status of health belief model constructs were evaluated using a questionnaire whose validity and reliability have been confirmed. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression tests. Results: the present study showed that despite the state of proper awareness, the score of Consumption of iron supplements behavior was not favorable. So that 62.7% had reported a low performance. Pearson correlation test showed that only the perceived susceptibility score did not show significant relationship with the behavior (p = 0.174) The regression results showed that the variables included in the regression model, explained a total of 24.1% of the variance of the change in the behavior score (Adjusted R2 = 0.241). Conclusion: Considering the unfavorable situation of iron supplementation behavior in infants, the use of health belief theory constructs can be effective in persuading mothers. Community health nurses can be more successful in improving this index by providing educational intervention based on the structures of this model, especially helping to remove the barriers perceived by mothers.

Relationship of Health Literacy With Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding the Preventive Behaviors Against COVID-19 in Women in Zahedan, Southeast Iran

Background & Aims With the emergence of COVID-19, health literacy became more important for its prevention. Health literacy is important for attaining positive health outcomes in women. This study aims to investigate the relationship between health literacy and knowledge, attitude and practice regarding preventive behaviors against COVID-19 in women referring to comprehensive health service centers in Zahedan, Iran. Materials & Methods This descriptive-correlational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted on 144 women aged 18-60 years referred to comprehensive health centers in Zahedan, Iran, from September to December 2022. The sampling was done using a multi-stage stratified sampling method based on the entry criteria. To collect data, a sociodemographic form, the knowledge, attitude, practice questionnaire for preventive behaviors against COVID-19, and Savci et al.’s health literacy scale for protection against COVID-19 were used. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation test, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and regression analysis in SPSS software, version 23. Results The mean age of women was 31.74±10.02 years. Most of them had middle school education (64.4%) and were married (90.3%), with a monthly income level of 6-10 million Iranian Tomans (29.9%). Most of them were willing to receive COVID-19 vaccine (81.9%). Only 28.7% had a history of hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection. Their mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice were 14.9±2.93, 42.9±6.69, and 32±6.1, respectively. Their mean health literacy score was 39.5±11.08. Educational level, monthly income level, and history of receiving COVID-19 vaccine explained 48% of the variance in health literacy in the first-order regression model, and 61% of the variance in the second-order regression model. Conclusion The increase in health literacy, can improve knowledge, attitude and practice of women regarding preventive behaviors against COVID-19. In addition, their health literacy for preventive behaviors against COVID-19 is related to their age and education level. It is recommended to use educational programs to increase health literacy for emerging diseases in women from southern Iran. The results of this study can help policy makers in Iran developing health promotion interventions.

A preliminary validation of the impact on participation and autonomy questionnaire in an Iranian sample of patients with type 2 diabetes.

This study aimed to determine the face, convergent validity, internal consistency, and stability reliability of the impact on participation and autonomy-Persian version (IPA-p) scale for using among Iranian patients with type 2 diabetes. Trained experts interviewed 227 type 2 diabetes patients who were registered in out-patient Diabetes Clinic of Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Hospital, (Rafsanjan, Southeast Iran from May 2018 to February 2019) and their relatives to assess the face and convergent validity, internal consistency, and stability reliability of the IPA-p scale. A checklist was used to collect demographic information and also to record expert's̛̛̛̛̛̛ points of view about the scale to assess face validity. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha, and stability was assessed using interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Test-retest method was used to detect the reliability of the questionnaire. Respondents completed the IPA-p scale on the two occasions with an interval of 30-45 days. In relation to convergent validity, the confirmatory model showed an acceptable fit and the scale had a highly convergent validity. Exploratory factor analysis showed that the IPA-p scale has a ten-factor structure that explained 77.42% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha between the mean IPA-p scores achieved on the two occasions ranged from 0.65 to 0.92. Test-retest ICCs for the ten domains were between 0.64 and 0.81. The IPA-p questionnaire can be a relatively valid and reliable instrument for assessing self-reported participation among Iranian type 2 diabetes patients. However, some improvement is needed to make it fully suitable for using among Persian-language diabetic patients.

Epidemiology of deaths due to suicide in the southeast of Iran: a retrospective study from 2010 to 2017

Suicide is the most real life-threatening challenge for populations worldwide; therefore, it is important to identify its risk factors. This study comprised an epidemiological survey of suicide deaths referred to the forensic setting of Zahedan, Iran, between 2010 and 2017 (a total of 214 completed suicide cases). The research method was descriptive-analytical with a retrospective approach. The research tool was a questionnaire prepared based on the information form about the suicide deaths at the Zahedan Forensic Medicine Center. A frequency distribution in descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. The findings showed that hanging was the main method of suicide in the southeast of Iran. The highest suicidal rates were also related to adults with the following conditions: aged between 20 and 30, males, married individuals, employed people, urban dwellers, people without a history of suicidal behavior, and people with an elementary education. The results obtained by the current study can be useful for identifying suicide risk groups among attempted suicides and designing suicide prevention programs.

The profile of Oral Health Branch of Rafsanjan Cohort Study (OHBRCS) in Rafsanjan City, southeast of Iran

The profile of Oral Health Branch of Rafsanjan Cohort Study (OHBRCS) in Rafsanjan City, southeast of Iran

Temporal evolution of dust in the atmosphere of Baluchestan, southeast Iran, studied by handheld sun-photometer, space-borne lidar, and synoptic data

The atmospheric aerosol parameters in the vicinity of Iranshahr County in Baluchestan, located in the southeast of Iran (27.00-27.40 °N, 60.09-61.09 °E), were investigated using a Calitoo handheld sunphotometer, space-borne CALIOP-CALIPSO lidar, and synoptic station measurements. The findings indicate the prevalence of dust aerosols throughout the year, with a pronounced presence during the summer season. The Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), as determined by Calitoo measurements at 540 nm between April and October 2022, peaked in July with a maximum value of 0.63 ± 0.20. During this month, the Angstrom exponent reached the value of 0.44 ± 0.21, providing further evidence of severe dust storm activities in the region. An analysis of the level 2 aerosol profile data obtained from CALIOP measurements spanning a decade (2013-2022) has been presented. The results derived from the vertical profiles of extinction coefficient, depolarization ratio, and AODs are consistent with those measured by Calitoo. The monthly-averaged AOD at 532 nm exhibited its maximum and minimum values in July and January, registering at 0.83 ± 0.36 and 0.09 ± 0.13, respectively. As indicated by prior research, the primary atmospheric system responsible for dust events in the area is the north and northwesterly “120-days” or the Levar wind. Synoptic measurements of horizontal visibility indicated a significant reduction during the Levar wind period, which extends from April to late August.

AFEX-Net: Adaptive feature extraction convolutional neural network for classifying computerized tomography images.

Deep convolutional neural networks are favored methods that are widely used in medical image processing due to their demonstrated performance in this area. Recently, the emergence of new lung diseases, such as COVID-19, and the possibility of early detection of their symptoms from chest computerized tomography images has attracted many researchers to classify diseases by training deep convolutional neural networks on lung computerized tomography images. The trained networks are expected to distinguish between different lung indications in various diseases, especially at the early stages. The purpose of this study is to introduce and assess an efficient deep convolutional neural network, called AFEX-Net, that can classify different lung diseases from chest computerized tomography images. We designed a lightweight convolutional neural network called AFEX-Net with adaptive feature extraction layers, adaptive pooling layers, and adaptive activation functions. We trained and tested AFEX-Net on a dataset of more than 10,000 chest computerized tomography slices from different lung diseases (CC dataset), using an effective pre-processing method to remove bias. We also applied AFEX-Net to the public COVID-CTset dataset to assess its generalizability. The study was mainly conducted based on data collected over approximately six months during the pandemic outbreak in Afzalipour Hospital, Iran, which is the largest hospital in Southeast Iran. AFEX-Net achieved high accuracy and fast training on both datasets, outperforming several state-of-the-art convolutional neural networks. It has an accuracy of and on the CC and COVID-CTset datasets, respectively, with a learning speed that is 3 times faster compared to similar methods due to its lightweight structure. AFEX-Net was able to extract distinguishing features and classify chest computerized tomography images, especially at the early stages of lung diseases. The AFEX-Net is a high-performing convolutional neural network for classifying lung diseases from chest CT images. It is efficient, adaptable, and compatible with input data, making it a reliable tool for early detection and diagnosis of lung diseases.

Menarche age and the risk of diabetes: A cross-sectional study in South-Eastern Iran.

Diabetes is a major public health problem worldwide. This study aimed to determine the relationship between menarche age and overt diabetes in southeast Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 6094 eligible women between the ages of 35 and 70 participating in the Zahedan Adult Cohort Study. Demographic and background data, fertility, anthropometry, and disease history were collected based on a questionnaire. Menarche age was classified into five categories (under 12 years, 12, 13, 14, 15 years and more). Diabetes is defined as a blood sugar of 126 or more according to the definition by the American Diabetes Association. Data analysis was done using SPSS 26 software. Descriptive analysis was performed with frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation; and analytical analysis using chi-square and logistic regression tests. The significance level in this study was p < 0.05. The participants' mean age was 49.41 ± 8.88, and the mean age at menarche was 13 ± 1.49. 22.8% (1389 women) of participants with diabetes and 77.2% (4705 women) did not have diabetes. The findings showed that the chance of developing diabetes in women with a menarche age <12 years was significantly higher than in women with a menarche age of 13 years (reference) (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.51). This relationship was significant after adjusting variables such as body mass index, education level, fertility factors, history of diabetes, and reproductive diabetes (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.90, 1.44, p = 0.04). Our findings suggest that young age at menarche may be a risk factor for diabetes in adulthood. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings. However, it is suggested to pay attention to it in diabetes screening so that, if possible, by identifying people at risk and implementing prevention programs, the adverse consequences of diabetes can be reduced.

Investigation of Levar wind by WRF model in Zabol City (Southeast Iran) in 17 years duration (2005-2021)

Dust particles are one of the most important aerosol types with various effects on atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, weather phenomena, atmospheric chemistry, air pollution and human health. In this study, both wind speed and direction are simulated by the WRF model in one of the dustiest cities, Zabol City, in east Iran during a 17 years period (2005-2021). The city was chosen because it’s located in a dust source and is mostly affected by local dust storms. The dust frequency is very high and at least one third of the year, dust-related codes are reported at the weather station of the city. Also, a high number of dust events occurs from May to September that is in coincidence with the Levar wind. Since both wind speed and wind direction are one of important factors in dust rising and propagation, especially near the dust sources, these parameters were simulated by WRF model in this study. WRF model well simulated both the wind direction and the wind class frequency distribution at Zabol station, while the model mostly overestimated the wind speed during the 17 years period.

Epidemiology of malaria in saravan city and its suburbs from 2018 to 2023, Southeast Iran.

Malaria, transmitted by Plasmodium parasites and anopheline mosquitoes, continues to be a leading cause of global disease and death. This retrospective investigation from 2018 to 2023 examines the epidemiological attributes of malaria in Saravan, southeastern Iran. It seeks to evaluate the prevalence, transmission causes, local population impact, and health system effects. Blood samples from suspected malaria cases in Saravan health centers were collected for this analysis. Each positive case was detailed with demographic data in a questionnaire. The SPSS 26 statistical program scrutinized data with t-tests comparing the variables. The study indicated fluctuating malaria cases peaking in 2023, with an annual parasite incidence. (API) of 17.27. Plasmodium vivax was the predominant species (P < 0.001), with the majority of cases in individuals over 15, notably males. A significant number of cases were reported in September (20.7%). The findings emphasize the persistent malaria challenges in Saravan, accentuating the urgent need to strengthen prevention and control strategies. Reducing disease burden demands focused approaches, including improving prevention and treatment programs, enhancing surveillance systems, developing health infrastructures, and implementing localized therapies, especially considering recent climatic and rainfall patterns.

Ocular Manifestations among Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in the Southeast of Iran

Background: COVID-19 has a range of manifestations among different patients. Knowing the various manifestations of COVID-19 could help in better managing the infection. This study aimed to investigate the ocular manifestations of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: In this study, 379 PCR-positive COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Afzalipour hospital, a tertiary care academic medical center in Kerman city, were recruited. Demographic variables (age and sex), history of systemic diseases (diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension), systemic COVID-19 signs and symptoms (respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurologic, and sensory), and the severity of the disease were evaluated. Patients were asked about ophthalmic symptoms. If a patient had serious ocular complaints, such as ocular pain or vision loss, and needed specialized examination, an ophthalmologist examined the patient. Results: The patients’ mean (standard deviation) age was 54.2 (15.8) years. Overall, 46 patients (12.1%, 95% confidence interval: 9.0–15.8) showed at least one ocular manifestation. The most common signs and symptoms among those with ocular manifestations were redness (n=37, 80.4%), discharge (n=35, 76.1%), lacrimation (n=31, 67.4%), itching (n=15, 32.6%), and dry eye sensation (n=15, 32.6%). Ocular manifestations were more prevalent among those≥60 years old, those with hospitalization days&gt;7 days, those with more severe respiratory system involvement, and diabetic patients. Conclusion: One out of eight COVID-19 inpatients showed at least one ocular manifestation. As tear and ocular secretions are considered a route for coronavirus transmission, it is essential to pay attention to the early detection of ocular manifestations.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in a high-prevalence suburban community, southeast of Iran

Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic viral disease with a high mortality rate. The World Health Organization has classified it as a high-priority pathogen due to its severity. To manage this disease, knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of the community play an important role. This study was conducted in a suburban area in southeastern Iran, an endemic region with a high occurrence of CCHF. A cross-sectional study was performed among 176 livestock farmers in Zahedan suburb, and data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Single-factor and multi-factor analysis of variance was used to identify factors related to participants’ knowledge, attitude, and risk of CCHF. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 24, and a significance level of p ≤ 0.05 was adopted to determine statistical significance. Overall, the knowledge level about CCHF was moderate. Participants demonstrated a better understanding of high-risk occupations compared to the transmission routes and symptoms of CCHF. Conversely, their knowledge about the prevention and treatment of CCHF was found to be inadequate. The participants exhibited a good attitude towards CCHF prevention; most considered it a dangerous disease, believed in the effectiveness of preventive measures, and demonstrated the ability to address perceived obstacles. High-frequency engagement in high-risk behaviors related to CCHF was observed among the study participants. In the multi-factor model, the most critical factors associated with knowledge were age (p = 0.044), CCHF infection (p = 0.047), and CCHF education (p = 0.004). Income (p = 0.001), keeping livestock at home (p = 0.028), and receiving CCHF education (p = 0.012) were the most critical factors associated with attitude toward the risk of CCHF. The most important factors related to CCHF high-risk behavior were age (p = 0.045), gender (p = 0.028), and handling livestock (p < 0.001). These findings emphasize the need for maintaining health educational efforts on CCHF.

Molecular investigation of Coxiella burnetii in aborted fetus of small ruminants in southeast Iran.

The domestic animal, known as a main reservoir of Coxiella burnetii, is susceptible to the occurrence of coxiellosis, which can lead to abortions in domestic animals, causing significant economic damage and posing risks to human health. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate C. burnetii as the causative agent of Q fever in abortion samples of small ruminants in southeastern Iran. This study was conducted between 2020 and 2021 in Zarand city, located in Kerman province (southeast Iran). In this study, 50 abomasum swab samples of aborted sheep and goat fetuses were collected and analyzed using molecular methods to identify C. burnetii. The results revealed that 26% (n: 13) of the collected abortion samples were infected with C. burnetii. Among the positive samples, two (50%) belonged to goat abortion samples while 11 (23.9%) belonged to sheep abortion samples. This study demonstrates that C. burnetii is one of the causes of abortion in small ruminants in southeastern Iran. It is recommended to pay more attention to C. burnetii in domestic animals due to its significant economic impact on livestock and its potential implication for human health in Iran.

Aspartate Aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index Before and After the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir

Background: The aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) is a non-invasive method used to investigate liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the APRI before and after the treatment of HCV patients with sofosbuvir/daclatasvir (Sovodak) in the city of Rafsanjan, southeast Iran. Methods: This study was conducted on 45 patients with HCV from March 2021 to March 2022 in Rafsanjan. Demographic information, including age, gender, a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and intravenous (IV) drug injection, was collected. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed after treatment with Sovodak to calculate sustained virological response (SVR). Also, the APRI was calculated before and after treatment. Results: Among 45 HCV patients (97.8% = male, 2.2% = female, age range = 26 to 59 years), the administration of Sovodak to all patients resulted in an efficacy of 100% in the assessment of SRV in 12 weeks (SVR12). Also, the APRI level decreased significantly after treatment with Sovodak (0.35 vs. 0.68, P-value: 0.000), even in HCV patients with a history of HIV (0.77 vs. 1.47, P-value: 0.028) or HCV patients with a history of injecting drugs in the last 12 months (0.38 vs. 0.66, P-value: 0.000). Conclusions: The present study indicated that the APRI level in HCV patients decreased significantly after treatment with Sovodak, regardless of having a history of HIV infection or a history of drug injection. Therefore, Sovodak in HCV patients can reduce the odds of liver fibrosis and subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by reducing the APRI level.

Association of Food Security with Atherogenic Glucose and Lipid Profile among Women: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Zabol, Southeast of Iran

Association of Food Security with Atherogenic Glucose and Lipid Profile among Women: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Zabol, Southeast of Iran

Further studies on Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) fauna of Kerman province, southeast Iran

Further studies on Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) fauna of Kerman province, southeast Iran

Molecular detection of Brucella species among aborted small ruminants in southeast Iran.

Brucellosis, caused by Brucella bacteria, is a common zoonotic infectious disease with various clinical manifestations in humans and animals. The disease is endemic in human and ruminant populations in Iran, with a particular prevalence in areas where humans have close interactions with livestock. Since domestic animals serve as the primary reservoir for brucellosis, this study aimed to identify the presence of Brucella spp. among aborted small ruminants in southeast Iran. Between 2021 and 2022, aborted fetuses of small ruminants (46 sheep and 4 goats) were collected from Zarand County in the Kerman province. Swab samples from the abomasum contents of these fetuses were obtained and subjected to DNA extraction. The samples were then tested for Brucella spp. detection using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Out of the 50 aborted fetuses examined, Brucella spp. was detected in 15 (30%) specimens, comprising 13 (28%) sheep and 2 (50%) goats. Species typing revealed the presence of Brucella ovis (6 sheep and 1 goat), Brucella melitensis (6 sheep), and Brucella abortus (1 sheep) among the positive specimens. This cross-sectional study highlights the high prevalence of various Brucella species in samples from small ruminant abortions in southeast Iran. Additionally, the identified Brucella species were not limited to their primary host livestock. These indicated potential cross-species transmission among small ruminants.

Self-care Status in Healthy Women Visiting Health Care Centers in Zahedan, Southeast Iran

Background: Self-care in health is a set of activities undertaken to promote and restore health, prevent disease, and limit illness. Objectives: This study assessed the self-care status of women in Zahedan, southeast Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 15-60-year-old women in Zahedan. All the women were interviewed by an expert staff to obtain demographic data. In addition, they filled out a self-care assessment questionnaire that had 75 items in 5 dimensions, including physical health, mental and emotional well-being, management priorities, supportive relationships, and meaning. Results: A total of 250 women with a mean age of 40 ± 11.6 years completed the study. The total self-care score was 191.3 ± 44.9. About 64% of the women had an unfavorable self-care score, while only 6.4% and 30% had good and relatively good scores, respectively. There was a direct correlation between age, mental and spiritual well-being (r = 0.618, P

Assessing the environmental impacts of copper cathode production based on life cycle assessment.

The demand for copper is growing considerably in parallel with economic and technological development. The rate increase in copper consumption in Iran increases pressure on the numerous unexploited mines in southeast Iran and causes the environmental crisis alongside the northern Levar wind in this area. Given this, this study systematically explored the environmental impacts of a one-ton copper cathode processing operation from a cradle-to-gate perspective, using life cycle assessment (LCA). Moreover, the release of greenhouse gases and the energy consumption during the copper cathode production were also assessed. The results indicated that sulfuric acid use in the smelting and extraction stages, metal leaching from tailings, and CO2 dominated more than 50% of contributions to freshwater and marine ecotoxicity, human toxicity, and global warming. The energy analysis revealed 88.92% of crude oil use especially for the electrowinning stage, which should be promoted technologically. For global warming, the indirect CO2 emission from electricity consumption using fossil fuels was the main contributor (94.56%). Therefore, shifting from conventional energy systems to renewable energy systems could alleviate the overall environmental impact. For a 0.57-ton sulfuric acid effluent per one ton of copper cathode production, its treatment and reuse in the process is recommended. Summing up, the results of this study provide the environmental hot spots for copper cathode production for further investigation. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1180-1190. © 2023 SETAC.

Prevalence of Refractive Errors and Associated Factors in the Population of the Eye Cohort Study in Southeast Iran

Objectives: The study aims to determine the age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of refractive errors and its related factors among the adult population of southeastern Iran. Methods: The current study included 9280 individuals aged 35 to 70 years using a multistage random sample method from October 2015 to January 2019 as a part of a Persian cohort study in Zahedan. Uncorrected and corrected vision, objective noncycloplegic, and subjective refraction were measured, with all participants undergoing ophthalmoscopy, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundoscopy, refraction, and retinoscopy. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 statistic software and described as percentage, odds ratio, and 95% confidence interval. Comparisons between groups and relationships among risk factors and refractive errors were performed with chi-square, nominal, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of low and moderate myopia, high myopia, low and moderate hyperopia, high hyperopia, low and moderate astigmatism, and high astigmatism was 24.2 (95% CI: 22.40 - 25.90), 1.5(95% CI: 0.00 - 3.53), 16.1(95% CI: 14.20 - 17.90), 1.3(95% CI: 0.00 - 3.30), 35.6 (95% CI: 33.90 - 37.30), and 3.8 (95% CI: 1.80 - 5.70) percent, respectively. The prevalence of refractive errors significantly varied across different age groups overall and by sex (P = 0.01). The proportion of refractive errors also significantly differed by education (P = &lt; 0.001). The prevalence of against the rule, with the rule, and oblique astigmatism was 32.8 % (95% CI: 31.10 - 34.20), 42.1% (40.50 - 43.60), and 24.9% (23.10 - 26.60), respectively. The risk of astigmatism was significantly lower in men than in women (OR = 0.75; 95 % CI: 0.60 - 0.90). Based on multiple regression, the risk of myopia (OR = 2.07; 95 % CI: 1.60 - 2.60) and hyperopia (OR = 25.38; 95 % CI: 18.70 - 34.3) was higher in the age group 65 to 75 years compared to the younger group. Conclusions: The present study provided valuable information on the prevalence of refractive errors in the adult population in south-eastern Iran. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive eye care services, particularly for older individuals and those with lower education levels. Further prospective research is warranted to explore the factors contributing to refractive errors and to develop effective strategies for its prevention and management.