Journal of community health research

158-168

Authors: Neda Izadi, Maliheh Khoramdad, Parastoo Jamshidi, Ali Reza Zanganeh, Jabbar Shafiei, Alireza Firouzi

Abstract Introduction: The increasing rate of road traffic injuries have turned into a noticeable and critical danger threatening lives of people in different countries around the world. This study is done to determine epidemiological pattern and mortality rate trend of road traffic injuries. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the epidemiological pattern of mortality related to road traffic injury was determined in a 6-year-period data gathering by Kermanshah Forensic Medicine Center’s census. The external cause of death was classified using ICD-10 codes. The population of Kermanshah was provided by the Governor General’s Office. Data were then analyzed using Stata 11 software. To examine the mortality trend and its significance, the negative binomial regression was utilized. Result: The average age of 3231 death cases of road traffic injuries was 39.83±21.27and 78.4% of the subjects were males. The most important cause of death was head concussion (71.6%). The highest number of external causes was related to cars/van crashes. The mean mortality rate of road traffic injuries in Kermanshah province in this 6-year period was 27.81 deaths per hundred thousand people. The rate of mortality due to road traffic in Kermanshah has decreased from 33.13 to 22.58 cases per hundred thousand people and mortality rate decreases by 6% on average in proportion to every unit of increase in year (β= -0.06; CI: -0.11, -0.002). Conclusion: According to the results and despite the decrease in traffic injuries' mortality in recent years, this rate is still higher than that of other countries; therefore, this area of interest should be reviewed, changed, and even revolutionized.

182-194

Authors: Mohammad Malakootian, Ali Toolabi, Zahra Derakhshan , Mohammad Taghi Ghaneian

Abstract Introduction: The most important environmental problem of automotive industries is the produced wastewater due to its various processes. The flocculation and coagulation along with chemical sequestration are among important processes for removing contaminants from wastewaters. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficiency of coagulation and flocculation process along with chemical sequestration in the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from automotive industry sewage. Materials & Methods: This study is an applied-experimental study. The removal of organic and inorganic substances by coagulation, flocculation process combined with chemical sequestration was carried out in batch reactors. The parameters turbidity, heavy metals' concentration, color, phosphate, coagulants concentration, exposure time, TSS, pH and COD were studied. The concentration of color and residue of heavy metals were determined using spectrophotometer -UV and atomic absorption. Results: The research results showed that the removal percentage of Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn by ferric sulfate combined with lime at a pH equal to 10 and the exposure time of 100 minutes were 52.65, 96.3, 3.27 and 100 respectively, and percentage of removing them by aluminum sulfate combined with lime was 52.65, 97.8, 3.37 and 99.81 respectively. the removal percentage of TSS, COD, color, turbidity, phosphates ferric sulfate was also 68.9, 83, 94, 84 and 47.2 respectively, and this amount of removal by aluminum sulfate was 62, 80, 94, 73.5 and 48 respectively at neutral pH and concentration of coagulant was obtained equal to 150 mg/ L. Conclusion: According to the results, the use of coagulation and flocculation process combined with chemical sequestration in the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants in wastewaters of automotive industry achieved under optimal conditions is very effective and can be used in water treatment of automotive industry.

202-210

Authors: Fatemeh Rakhshany Zabol, Gholamreza Sharifzadeh, Mitra Moodi

Abstract Introduction: Trans theoretical model (TTM) is one of the models applied to assess the physical activity behavior. One of the criticisms leveled at studies conducted on the trans theoretical model is that majority of them have employed cross-sectional designs so that they fail to show the dynamic nature of change. Thus, the aim of the current study was to investigate transitional shifts in Physical Activity Behavior among employees of Birjand universities based on Transtheoretical Model. Materials & Methods: This prospective study with six months of follow-up was conducted on 200 employees of Research and Education departments of Birjand Universities of medical sciences. A total number of 179 participants completed the questionnaires at two time periods, i.e., at the baseline and six months later. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire consisting of demographic variables and constructs of Transtheoretical model which was completed by using the self-reported method. Results: Transitional shifts in physical activity behavior were classified into four patterns: stable sedentary (26.3%), stable active (39.1%), exercise adopters (12%), and exercise relapsers (22.6%). Stable active group had a significant decrease in the mean score of pros. Exercise adopters had a significant increase in the mean scores of self-efficacy and pros. Also, significant decreases were observed in the mean scores of behavioral processes, cognitive processes, and self-efficacy among exercise relapsers. Mean scores of the pros, self-efficacy, behavioral and cognitive processes at the baseline and follow-up showed significant differences between the four patterns. Conclus ion: The results of this study provided partial support for internal validity of TTM. It seems that interventions based on this model can be effective in adopting and maintaining physical activity behavior.

220-231

Authors: Mohammad Sasanipour, Amir Hossein Hashemian, Mosayeb Moheby Meymandi, Saeedeh Shahbazin

Abstract Introduction: Recent studies on Iranian mortality clearly underscore the role of cardiovascular diseases, unintentional injuries, and cancers as three leading causes of reduced life expectancy during the last three decades. The purpose of current study is to measure the effect of these causes on the 2010 life table for Iran. Materials & Methods: The number of registered deaths by age, sex, and death distribution by cause for Iran in 2010 was obtained from death registration system operated by the Ministry of Health. In order to know more about the population at risk population forecast information of the Statistical Centre of Iran (SCI) was used. The obtained data were analyzed using Multiple Decrement Life Table and Kitagava analysis method. Results: The results showed that there are three leading causes of death for a potential 13-yearlost life of Iranian men and women. More detailed results indicated that cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and unintentional injuries play larger roles in this regard while men were more likely to die by unintentional injuries than women. Life expectancy of middle aged men was more affected by unintentional injuries while old aged women were more affected by cardiovascular diseases. Conclusion: Particular consideration of cardiovascular diseases' risk factors of both sexs and males' death by unintentional injuries was of utmost importance in reducing mortality rate and increasing life expectancy as a result.