Journal of Health Research in Community

9-15

Authors: Sana Shokri, Mehran Ghalenoei, Ebrahim Taban, Omran Ahmadi, Bahram Kouhnavard

Introduction and purpose: Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common occupational problems, and the use of portable computers is accounted for one of the main causes of these disorders. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among students using portable computers, to assess pain rate in different body parts, and to identify the most exposed body parts. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 184 students of Health Faculty, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire and computer-related musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire were applied to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in different body parts caused by repetitive movements. Results: According to the computer-related musculoskeletal disorders questionnaire, most of the participants felt pain in the right shoulder (23.9%). Based on the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire, upper arm, right side of the neck, right side of the hip, and the lower extremities were the most painful areas, respectively (2.29% 3.30%, and 2.8%, respectively). Chisquare test reflected a significant relationship between students’ gender and the painful areas (P=0.007). Conclusion: Less use of tables and chairs while using laptops was a common ergonomic problem among the students. Using tables and chairs while working with laptops, using external keyboards to reduce stress on the shoulders, applying the right ergonomic methods, and doing short exercises are recommended to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.

25-32

Authors: Ghasem Mardi, Bahram Kouhnavard, Vahid Ahmadipanah, Mehdi Aghanasab

Introduction and purpose: The maximum amount of working time in offices is spent on the use of visual display terminals. Considering the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among visual terminal users, ergonomic risk factors in workplace were assessed, using Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). Methods: This descriptive, analytical study was conducted on 45 staff, working in morning and evening shifts at Section 118 of Qom Telecommunication Company in 2014. For data collection, we applied the observational method (to observe the physical status and work conditions), interviews (to gather information on subjects’ physical status and work conditions), RULA (to evaluate the risk of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders), and ROSA (for rapid office strain assessment). For data analysis, Pearson’s test was applied. Results: The final score on ROSA showed that 15.2% (n=7) and 26.1% (n=12) of the subjects were exposed to low (score: < 3) and alarming (score: 3-5) risks, respectively. Moreover, 56.5% (n=26) of the subjects required urgent ergonomic interventions (score: > 5). The RULA results showed that 24 (53.3%), 12 (26.7%), and 9 (20%) computer users were at intermediate (level 2), high (level 3), and very high (level 4) levels of risk, respectively. Conclusion: Considering the sc arcity of similar studies in the country, it is hoped that future studies assess the relationship between the findings obtained via these methods and other assessment strategies.

41-52

Authors: Fahime Khandouzi, Abdolhosein Pari Zangane, Abbasali Zamani, Yousef Dadban Shahamat

Introduction and purpose: Investigation of water quality is an important step toward the suitable use of potable water supplies and choosing the proper agriculture model. Hence, the need for the study of water quality has been increasingly addressed in the water resources management programs. Methods: In this study, hydro-geochemical quality of groundwater resources for drinking and agricultural purposes has been studied in Ramian, Golestan province, Iran. Fifteen qualitative characteristics of the 13 wells of Water Organization of Golestan province in two dry and wet seasons were analyzed during 2011-2012. The quality and diagrams demonstrating water quality were evaluated using Aua Chem and Aq-qa softwares. Results: Groundwater in the study area was classified as hard and very hard. The main cations and anions were Na+ >Ca2+> Mg2+ and HCO3 - > SO4 2->Cl- . Based on piper diagram, the dominant hydro-chemical facies of water was Na-HCO3 . Salinity index of water indicated that most of the samples in the two seasons were in the average class. According to Schuler and Wilcox groundwater quality index, water was moderately suitable and suitable for agriculture and drinking, respectively. In addition, 77% of the cases were in C3 -S1 Conclusion: High salinity is one of the most important problems of water supply in Ramian for irrigation, which can reduce plant growth or even stop the growth of some plants. Inadequate water resources management can damage the soil in the near future.

61-69

Authors: Seyed Abolhassan Naghibi, Sorour Ashari, Fereshteh Rostami, Seyed Hamzeh Hosseini

Introduction and purpose: Religiosity and spirituality diminish daily stress and tendency towards substance use. Today, more people are becoming inclined towards the opinion that spirituality could effectively treat the symptoms of neuroses and mental disorders. This study aimed to determine the relationship between spiritual health and mental health in patients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in private and government sectors in Sari, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 123 men and women undergoing MMT. Data were collected using spiritual and mental health questionnaires. Data analysis was performed in SPSS 18 using two sample t-test and Spearman’s correlation-coefficient.Results: In this study, mean scores of spiritual health and mental health were 43.29 and 41.26, respectively. Our findings were indicative of a significant correlation between spiritual health and mental health in patients undergoing MMT. The most significant correlation was observed between spiritual health and social function, while the least significant correlation was observed between spiritual health and physical problems. Moreover, no significant relationship was found between marital status, number of children, and gender with spiritual health. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, spiritual health could positively affect mental health. Therefore, spirituality could promote the mental health of patients with addiction, improve mental disorders, and diminish the tendency towards substance abuse.