Journal of community health research

65-66

Authors: Mehrnoosh Shirdeli , Saeede Sadat Hosseini , Motahareh Sadat Hosseini

Sesame oil, known as Queen Oil, is one of the most nutritious sources. Raw sesame oil contains compounds, such as waxes, free fatty acids, and unsaturated fatty acids. It also contains antioxidants such as vitamin E, gum, small particles, etc. (1, 2). Given the presence of anticancer compounds, such as antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids, this foodstuff is recommended to patients with cardiovascular diseases (3). However, it should be considered that this oil, similar to all other liquid oils, has high potential for chemical and microbial spoilage due to factors, such as light, exposure to air, temperature, humidity of the environment, and microbial agents. Furthermore, Sesame oil causes hydrolysis and oxidation processes, which increases the necessity of observing the essential points during the production and maintenance. Generally, production of free radicals during the hydrolysis process is very harmful and causes diseases like cancer (4, 5). It should be noted that this oil is produced industrially and manually (in the presence of the customer)

76-82

Authors: Farnaz Mohamadhoseinzadeh Hashemi , Mehrnoosh Jafari , Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini

Introduction: The utilization of the medical research results is one of the most important indicators in the development of this profession, which provides effective care to patients and improves the quality of care. However, performing based on the evidence-based results has been unsuccessful in some cases. This study aimed to investigated and prioritize the factors affecting evidence-based medicine among physicians affiliated to Iranian Health insurance. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 physicians affiliated to Iranian Health insurance in Tehran city in 2018. The simple random sampling method was used to collect the data. The data collection tool was a questionnaire containing of three parts: demographic questionnaire, Fonk (1995) evidence-based medical barriers questionnaire that included four domains and 25 questions, as well as a researcher-made questionnaire that prioritized the factors influencing evidence-based medicine implementation. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 21 and Expert Choice software using hierarchical analysis method. Results: Most physicians were male (53.3%) and worked as an official employee. Among four dimensions, the highest mean and standard deviation was related to organizational impact, while the lowest was related to the quality of research and possible outcomes. Regarding the factors of organizational impacts, the highest weight or priority was attributed to the feeling of insufficient independence to change care methods with a weight of 0.259. Among the factors related to the research quality, the highest weight and priority was related to the factor of methodological defects in the research with a weight of 0.192. Considering the factors related to the skills of conducting research, the highest priority and weight was attributed to the lack of documentary evidence for the performance change with a weight of 0.320. Moreover, regarding the factors related to communication and access to the findings of the research, the highest weight and priority was in the factor of unavailability of actual articles (0.475). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that physicians considered problems and barriers related to organization, individual, and quality of research studies. Therefore, facilities should be created for using research findings as well as the conditions for updating physicians' knowledge, skills, and attitudes to use the research results.

92-100

Authors: Hassan Rezaeipandari , Vali Bahrevar , Alireza Babaei Mazreno , Zohreh Rahaei , Saeedeh Zare Jamalabadi , Maryam Jedari Eghbali

Introduction: Ebola is a viral infection with a high mortality risk and health workers are considered as an at-risk group. The main aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and attitude of health workers about Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Yazd city, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 110 health workers in health centres of Yazd city, Iran in 2015, who were selected by cluster random sampling method. The tool for data collection was a researcher-made questionnaire including demographic information as well as knowledge and attitude questions about EVD with confirmed validity and reliability. Data were analysed by statistical tests of Student’s T-test, Chi-square, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean score of the participants' knowledge and attitude were 25.16± 3.58 (range 0-46) and 46.59±4.05 (range 13-65), respectively. More than half of the health workers did not know transmission routes of EVD. However, 59.6% of them were aware that the one way to prevent the disease was to avoid contact with an infected person. A significant correlation was also found between knowledge and attitude scores (P< 0.001, r= 0.384). Conclusion: Since knowledge of the health workers was at the moderate level, training courses and interventional programs are recommended for health care workers especially about transmission routes and signs of EVD to increase the Knowledge and attitude of the participants.

113-120

Authors: Sayani Dutta , Erach Bharucha

Introduction: Piped water systems are considered to be the gold standard for drinking water according to the Joint Water Monitoring Study. However, poor maintenance of distribution pipes, intermittency of water supply, and sewage water intrusion have contributed to a number of water-borne disease episodes in developed and developing countries. Methods: This study investigated the risk burden related to drinking water and sanitation in population clusters of Pune, western India that are being served by a piped distribution system through a cross-sectional survey. Two-stage stratified convenience sampling was carried out. The city was divided into administrative wards of which the city center, the neo-urban and the peri-urban settlement were selected. In the second step a higher (HSG) and a lower socioeconomic group (LSG) were selected from each of the three studied wards. A questionnaire including close-ended items was used to conduct the survey. Results: In 2711 individuals studied, risk burden related to drinking water and sanitation was found to be higher in the LSG; 60% (677 of 1121), 70% (1029 of 1473) , 74% (1325 of 1791) from the LSGs did not have a private water tap and continuous water supply, and did not treat the water at the household level, respectively. 98% (1403 of 1426) had neither a private water tap nor a private sanitary facility. The socioeconomic difference was significant (p<0.0001). 51 (3.5%) individuals from the LSGs and 42 (3.49%) ones from HSGs reported having suffered from severe diarrhea in the recall period of 2 years. Although the number of disease cases was lower than the overall risk burden, the potential of the latter to cause a disease outbreak cannot be eliminated. Conclusion: The study highlights that piped drinking water system which is considered as a safe source can become a source of pathogenic microorganisms if not properly maintained. A holistic approach to risk assessment, i.e., from the catchment and its source water to the consumer, is required.