Journal of community health research

140-146

Authors: Zohreh Karimian Kakolaki, Seyed Saeed MazloomyMahmoodabad, Sakineh Gerayllo, Fatemeh Heidari, Bahareh Motaghi Dastenaei, Firoozeh Sharifi

Introduction: Marital satisfaction is defined as individuals’ global subjective evaluation of the quality of their marriage. Quality of Life (QOL) is a multidimensional concept and includes all aspects of individuals’ lives. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is characterized by a wide variety of emotional and physical symptoms and behavioral changes. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of marital dissatisfaction and premenstrual syndrome in the emotional dimension of quality of life. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 246 women who referred to the health centers in the suburbs of Yazd. Tools for data collection were Quality of Life questionnaire SF36, Premenstrual Syndrome Screening Tool and Index of Marital Satisfaction (QOL &PSST & IMS). The collected data were coded by SPSS18; descriptive statistics were used to summarize and organize the data. Then, data were analyzed using Path Analyze Test. Results: Marital dissatisfaction (p = 0.021) and premenstrual syndrome(p = 0.001) has a direct negative effect on the quality of life's emotional dimension, and the severity of premenstrual syndrome has a stronger effect. Also, marital dissatisfaction with the effect on the severity of premenstrual syndrome (p = 0.001) indirectly affects the quality of life's emotional dimension. Conclusion: The findings of this study emphasize that women with premenstrual syndrome and marital dissatisfaction have problems in their emotional dimension. Therefore, women should be educated in order to have a better mental health, overcome complications of marital life, and recognize the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. They also need to learn the improvement strategies overcome the premenstrual factors and increase their quality of life.

155-163

Authors: Kanuda M. Mandago, Fabian P. Mghanga

Introduction: To assess patients’ awareness on the risk factors, complications, and prevention of complications of hypertension. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on a non-random sample of hypertensive patients attending Songea Regional Referral Hospital, Tanzania using an interview-based questionnaire. Data entry and analysis were performed using SPSS v.14. Results are expressed as Mean ± SD for continuous data and proportions for categorical data. Logistic regression was performed to assess the association between variables and patients’ awareness on risk factors, complications, and prevention of complications of hypertension. Results: Four hundred and fifty hypertensive patients with a mean age of 57.00 ± 12.60 years were enrolled in the study. Females accounted for 52.90% of the study population. More than one-third (35.60%) of patients had the low level of awareness on the risk factors, complications and preventive measures of the complication of hypertension. Having a higher education level, having a long-standing history of hypertension of more than 5 years, and a positive family history of hypertension were all associated with a high level of awareness among hypertensive patients. Conclusion: The findings show that a considerable number of hypertensive patients are not aware of the risk factors, complications and preventive measures of hypertension. Assessing patients’ awareness of risk factors and complications of hypertension during follow-up visits may improve patients’ control of blood pressure and slow down the progression of complications.

173-182

Authors: Marjan Khosravi Asl, Mansoureh Nasirian, Alireza Bakhshayesh

Introduction: The existence of female-headed households is a global fact. These women are the most vulnerable members of the society, who experience some degrees of emotional distress, general signs, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. So, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of emotion-focused therapy on anxiety and depression of the female-headed households. Methods: This quasi-experimental study had a pretest-posttest design in which the experimental and control groups were investigated. The study was performed on 30 women who headed the households and were supported by the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation of Yazd city. The participants were selected randomly in 2016. The data collection tool for this study included the Beck anxiety and depression questionnaire. Finally, the collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: The findings showed that the emotion-focused treatment method reduced the anxiety of the participants. Moreover, the effect size was equal to 0.52, which indicated that 52 percent of the variance changes were attributed to the independent variable. In addition, the emotion-focused therapy reduced the level of depression among the women. The reported effect size was 0.734, which showed that 73 percent of the variance changes were due to the independent variable. Therefore, we can conclude that the emotion-focused therapy had a significant effect on the anxiety and depression of the female-headed households (p < 0.001). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the multivariable model of covariance analysis indicates that changes in the groups can be caused by the intervention. Therefore, it can be concluded that the emotion-focused therapy was effective on the anxiety and depression of the women. Consequently, this therapy can be used to reduce the anxiety and depression of the female household heads.

192-199

Authors: Sahar Jafarzadeh Rastin, Elaheh Khoshnevis, Seyed Mahmood Mirzamani Bafghi

Introduction: Abnormalities and genetic disorders in the fetus are one of the most important traumatic events for mothers, which can cause discomfort and stress. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of training based on problem-focused coping strategies on Quality of Life (QOL) in pregnant women with a genetic risk of fetal abnormality. Methods: The current study is an experimental method of field trial type with a pretest-posttest and a control group. After the random selection of 30 pregnant women with genetic risk of fetal abnormalities, a pretest of the quality of life questionnaire was done and they were randomly divided into two groups (experimental and control). Then, the experimental groups during twelve sessions (once a week, for 60 minutes) were trained coping strategies and after completion of training, from both groups, QOL post-test was performed and the descriptive statistical index and covariance analysis test was used to analyze. Results: Results showed that Mothers' QOL scores increased significantly in post-test compared to pre-test, and significantly different. After the intervention, there was a significant increase in various dimensions of QOL including Physical Functioning (PF), Role Physical (RP), Bodily Pain (BP), General Health (GH), Vitality (VT), Social Functioning (SF), Role Emotional (RE), and Mental Health (MH). In the intervention group compared to the control (F= 67.48, P< 0.01). Conclusion: It can be concluded that coping strategies training on QOL pregnant women with genetic risk of fetal abnormality are statistically significant in its effectiveness. In addition, it can be deduced that training of problem-focused coping strategies can serve as an effective instructive approach to prevent risks of stress among pregnant women with genetic risk of fetal abnormality.