Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 42 3 2013 03 15 222 230 Zhenfang Xia School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China ; School of Public Health, Hainan Medical College, Haikou, Hainan, China. Zhuansuo Wang Qunfang Cai Jianjun Yang Xuan Zhang Tubao Yang 2015 10 15 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) occurs around the world with high prevalence and causes serious physical harm and economic burden to the afflicted. Haikou City is China's southernmost tropical island city, which has not been previously studied for its T2DM prevalence. The objective of the study in employing a cross-sectional survey is to discuss the epidemiologic status of T2DM in Haikou City and to analyze the possible determinants.A total of 12,000 community residents over 18 years old from four districts in Haikou City were stratified-randomly sampled. A questionnaire survey and physical examination were conducted. Data entry and statistical analysis were performed using SPSS17.0 software.The prevalence of T2DM in Haikou City was 5.3% (5.15% for males and 5.46% for females). According to the multivariate analysis, the positive factors mainly associated with T2DM in the city included family history, Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR), triglycerides, low high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and blood pressure. For both men and women, family history was the highest independent risk factor associated with T2DM (OR= 47.128). The T2DM risk increased with increasing metabolic aggregate.The prevalence of T2DM for the community population of Haikou City was low. The possible risk factors included age, occupation, BMI, waist circumference, WHR, overweight, systemic obesity, central obesity, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins, family history, and HDL. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/4624 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/4624/4269

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 42 3 2013 03 15 231 239 Alma Aubakirova Dept. of Public Health, Institute of Public Healthcare, JSC Astana Medical University, Astana, Kazakhstan. Alibek Kossumov Nurbek Igissinov 2015 10 15 The article provides the analysis of death rates in road traffic accidents in Kazakhstan from 2004 to 2010 and explores the use of sanitary aviation.Data of fatalities caused by road traffic accidents were collected and analysed. Descriptive and analytical methods of epidemiology and biomedical statistics were applied.Totaly 27,003 people died as a result of road traffic accidents in this period. The death rate for the total population due to road traffic accidents was 25.0±2.1(0)/0000. The death rate for men was (38.3±3.2(0)/0000), which was higher (P<0.05) than that for women (12.6±1.1(0)/0000). High death rates in the entire male population were identified among men of 30-39 years old, whereas the highest rates for women were attributed to the groups of 50-59 years old and 70-79 years old. In time dynamics, death rates tended to decrease: the total population (Tdec=-2.4%), men (Tdec=-2.3%) and women (Tdec=-1.4%). When researching territorial relevance, the rates were established as low (to 18.3(0)/0000), average (between 18.3 and 24.0(0)/0000) and high (from 24.0(0)/0000 and above). Thus, the regions with high rates included Akmola region (24.3(0)/0000), Mangistau region (25.9(0)/0000), Zhambyl region (27.3(0)/0000), Almaty region (29.3(0)/0000) and South Kazakhstan region (32.4(0)/0000).The identified epidemiological characteristics of the population deaths rates from road traffic accidents should be used in integrated and targeted interventions to enhance prevention of injuries in accidents. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/4622 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/4622/4267

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 42 3 2013 03 15 240 248 Mohamad Rodi Isa Population Health & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia ; Julius Centre, Dept. of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Foong Ming Moy Azad Hassan Abdul Razack Zulkifli Md Zainuddin Nur Zuraida Zainal 2015 10 15 This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety among prostate cancer patients, and to ascertain the association between stress status, socio-demographic, medical and surgical illness, current urinary problem and cancer status with general health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among these patients.A hospital based, cross sectional study was conducted at Surgical Clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) using universal sampling.A total of 193 patients were recruited. The prevalence of anxiety was 25.4% (95%CI: 19.2 - 31.6). The anxiety ratings were mild anxiety (10.4%), moderate anxiety (13.6%) and severe anxiety (1.6%). The total quality of life among stress group was 59.2 ± 14.7 and among non-stress group was 73.9 ± 12.7. There was a significant negative weak correlation between anxiety score and total quality of life (rs=-0.534, P<0.001). In multivariable analysis, there was a significant difference in the total quality of life (QOL) among anxiety status [adj. mean diff. = -9.1 (95%CI: -15.2, -4.7)]. The adjusted mean difference was associated by age category of the patients (P<0.001); living partner (P<0.001); intermittency (P=0.035) and problem of hematuria during micturition (P=0.005).The prevalence of anxiety among prostate cancer was moderately high. Treating the urination problem as well as encouraging living with spouse/family may improve the quality of life among anxiety condition of these patients. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/4620 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/4620/4265

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 42 3 2013 03 15 249 260 Zorica Terzic Supic Institute of Social Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. Milena Santric Milicevic Isidora Sbutega Vladimir Vasic 2015 10 15 Adolescence is transitional stage of physical and mental human development occuring between childhood and adult life. Social interactions and environmental factors together are important predictors of adolescent cannabis use. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the social determinants and adolescents behavior with cannabis consumption.A cross sectional study as part of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs was conducted among 6.150 adolescents aged 16 years in three regions of Serbia, and three types of schools (gymnasium, vocational - professional, and vocational - handicraft) during May - June 2008. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to obtain adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals in which the dependent variable was cannabis consumption non-user and user.Among 6.7% of adolescents who had tried cannabis at least one in their lives, boys were more involved in cannabis use than girls, especially boys from gymnasium school. Well off family, lower education of mother, worse relations with parents were significantly associated with cannabis use (P < 0.05). Behaviors like skipping from schools, frequent evening outs, and playing on slot machines were also related to cannabis use (P < 0.05).The study confirmed the importance of family relationship development. Drug use preventive programmes should include building interpersonal trust in a family lifecycle and school culture. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/4617 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/4617/4263

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 42 3 2013 03 15 261 271 Mehmet Top Dept. of Health Care Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. 2015 10 15 The purpose of this study was to describe the influence of organizational variables on hospital staff nurses' job performance as reported by staff nurses in two cities in Turkey. Hospital ownership status, employment status were examined for their effect on this influence.The reported influence of organizational variables on job performance was measured by a questionnaire developed for this study. Nurses were asked to evaluate the influence of 28 organizational variables on their job performance using a five-point Likert-type scale (1- Never effective, 5- Very effective). The study used comparative and descriptive study design. The staff nurses who were included in this study were 831 hospital staff nurses. Descriptive statistics, frequencies, t-test, ANOVA and factor analysis were used for data analysis.The study showed the relative importance of the 28 organizational variables in influencing nurses' job performance. Nurses in this study reported that workload and technological support are the most influential organizational variables on their job performance. Factor analysis yielded a five-factor model that explained 53.99% of total variance.Administratively controllable influence job organizational variables influence job performance of nurses in different magnitude. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/4615 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/4615/4261

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 42 3 2013 03 15 272 279 Ladan Rokni Dept. of Geography and Tourism Planning, School of Human Geography, University of Tehran, Iran. Ahmad Pourahmad Mohammad Hassan Moteiey Langroudi Mehdi Rezaeiy Mahmoudi Najmeh Heidarzadeh 2015 10 15 The aim of the present study was to appraisal the prose and cone of Shiraz City in terms of its potential in the context of health tourism.The statistical sample included medical and health tourism sector in the city of Shiraz in the northwest of Fars Province, south of Iran. The efficient authorities on the topic were identified through the hospitals engaging in medical tourism. The research was based on theoretical sampling through which the experienced people of extensive knowledge on medical tourism were interviewed.Active hospitals on attraction foreign patients averagely admit 15 and 50 foreign patients monthly and annually, respectively. Arab countries in the Persian Gulf were detected as the main marketing for Shiraz medical tourism. Oman encompassed the highest rate with 20% of admitted patients. Eye treatments with 30% and orthopedic with 6% were demonstrated as the highest and lowest rates in terms of foreign patients' needs, respectively. Closeness of cultural and religious beliefs and familial relationships on one hand and trusting to Iranian physicians on the other hand were amongst the most reasons for selecting Iran as a destination for medical tourism by patients.Implementing 4 strategies on monitoring medical tourism would result into significant improvement of attracting more foreigner patients not only into Shiraz but all around Iran. These items have been discussed in the text. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/4613 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/4613/4259

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 42 3 2013 03 15 280 292 Isaac Rahimian Boogar Dept. of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran. Mohammad Reza Mohajeri-Tehrani Mohammad Ali Besharat Seyavash Talepasand 2015 10 15 Diabetic self-management is important for controlling the diabetes complications and promoting health-related quality of life in these patients. The objective of this study was to examine a hypothetical model regarding influences of sociostructural determinants, collaborative decision-making and patient's beliefs system on diabetes self-management.In a cross-sectional descriptive study from Dec 2010 to Mar 2010, 500 patients of Iranian adult patients with type II diabetes attended the outpatient diabetic clinics of the Shariati Hospital in Tehran were selected by convenience sampling. Data were collected by The Demographical Information, Social- Economical Status and Diabetic History Questionnaire and eleven self-reported scales of this research. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with LIZREL software applied for data analysis.The modified model had a desirable fitness to the observed data. Patient's beliefs system directly influenced the diabetes self-management. Sociostructural determinants influenced diabetes self-management indirectly via collaborative decision-making and Patient's beliefs system. In addition, collaborative decision-making significantly influenced patient's beliefs system that thereby impacted diabetes self-management.Sociostructural determinants, collaborative decision-making and patient's beliefs system are integrated and cooperatively affect on diabetes self-management. Comprehensive intervention schedules required to improve these agents for encouragement the type II diabetes self-management. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/4611 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/4611/4257

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 42 3 2013 03 15 293 297 Ahmad Shojaei Legal Medicine Research Center, Iranian Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran. Saadolah Moradi Farshid Alaeddini Mahmood Khodadoost Mohammad Reza Ghadirzadeh Ali Khademi 2015 10 15 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/2633 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/2633/2613

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 41 1 2012 01 15 59 65 K Ghatreh Samani Dept. of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, I M Noori Drug Applied Research Center and Biotechnology Research Canter, Tabriz University of Medical Scienc M Rohbani Nobar Drug Applied Research Center and Biotechnology Research Canter, Tabriz University of Medical Scienc M Hashemzadeh Chaleshtory Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran E Farrokhi Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran M Darabi Amin Drug Applied Research Center and Biotechnology Research Canter, Tabriz University of Medical Scienc 2015 10 03 Background: The T allele of the hepatic lipase (HL) C-514T polymorphism was previously found to be associated with lower plasma HL activity. Here, we examined the association between this polymorphism and plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations in patients with coronary arteries stenosis. Methods: We studied 342 subjects undergoing coronary angiography in two groups of non CAD (n=146) and CAD (n=196). -514C→T polymorphism was determined using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: After adjustment  for age, smoking  and body mass index, HDL-cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher  in men with the C/T&T/T genotype than those with the C/C genotype(mean 38.6 and 34.7 respectively P=0.01). The frequency of T allele in non CAD was 0.136 and 0.226 in female and male respectively and 0.170 and 0.223 for female and male in CAD subjects. There was no difference in T allele frequency in CAD and none CAD groups in male and female (P=0.466 and 0.722 respectively). Conclusion: -514C→T of LIPC gene have a positive effect on HDL-C concentration especially in male gender. However, no difference was determined in frequency of T allele between CAD and normal arteries subjects. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/2634 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/2634/2614

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 41 1 2012 01 15 66 72 MR Baneshi Reserch Center for Modeling in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran H Faramarzi Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz M Marzban Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Scien 2015 10 03 Background: Diagnostic models are frequently used to assess the role of risk factors on disease complications, and therefore to avoid them. Missing data is an issue that challenges the model making. The aim of this study was to develop a diagnostic model to predict death in HIV/ AIDS patients when missing data exist. Methods: HIV patients (n=1460) referred to Voluntary Consoling and Testing Center (VCT) of Shiraz southern Iran during 2004-2009 were recruited. Univariate association between variables and death was assessed. Only variables which had univariate P< 0.25 were selected to be offered to the Multifactorial models. First, patients with missing data on candidate variables were deleted (C-C model). Then, applying Multivariable Imputation via Chained Equations (MICE), missing data were imputed. Logistic regression was fitted to C-C and imputed data sets (MICE model). Models were compared in terms of number of variables retained in the final model, width of confidence intervals, and discrimination ability. Result: About 22% of data were lost in C-C model. Number of variables retained in the C-C and MICE models was 2 and 6 respectively. Confidence Intervals (C.I.) corresponding to C-C model was wider than that of MICE. The MICE model showed greater discrimination ability than C-C model (70% versus 64%). Conclusion: The C-C analysis resulted to loss of power and wide CI's. Once missing data were imputed, more variables reached significance level and C.I.'s were narrower. Therefore, we do recommend the application of the imputation method for handling missing data. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/2635 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/2635/2615

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 41 1 2012 01 15 73 78 A Entezari Educational Development Center, Ministry of Health & Medical Education, Tehran, Iran MA Javadi Ophthalmology Research Center, Labbafi Nejad Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Scienc B Einollahi Ophthalmology Research Center, Labbafi Nejad Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Scienc 2015 10 03 Background: Academic medicine is in a state of dramatic transformation. For this reason strategic thinking is the most essential part of educational planning. The main purpose of the present study was developing the strategic educational planning of Ophthalmology in Iran from 2007 to 2010 Methods: A qualitative investigation using focus group discussion has been implemented successfully for developing educational planning. Six to twelve representatives of key stakeholders in the ophthalmic education of Iran participated to this study. Results: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of ophthalmology education in Iran were analyzed. Strategic goals in education, research, and health service providing domains were being developed. Educational goals were defined as training of human resources in accordance with the community needs at the level of general practitioner, specialist, and fellowships in ophthalmology. Research goals of the program were defined as scientific inter-departmental and international communications, in order to promote the level of education, research, and treatment in the country. Also, in the field of health services according to the community needs, providing services by the means of advanced and cost effective methods were defined as strategic objectives. Conclusion: Based on this strategic plan in the last three years ophthalmic education in Iran shall be many changes in educational, research and health care provision for social accountability. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/2636 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/2636/2616

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 41 1 2012 01 15 79 86 A Rafiee Dept. of Marine Biology, Sciences & Research Branch, Islamic Azad university, Hesarak, Tehran, Iran SMR Fatemi Dept. of Marine Biology, Sciences & Research Branch, Islamic Azad university, Hesarak, Tehran, Iran S Jamili Dept. of Marine Biology, Sciences & Research Branch, Islamic Azad university, Hesarak, Tehran, Iran S Ajdari Dept. of Immunology, Pasteur institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran F Riazi-rad Dept. of Immunology, Pasteur institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran A Memarnejadian Dept. of Hepatitis and Aids, Pasteur institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran MH Alimohammadian Dept. of Immunology, Pasteur institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran 2015 10 03 Background: Ferroportin (Fpn), a regulator of iron homeostasis is a conserved membrane protein that exports iron across the enterocytes, macrophages and hepatocytes into the blood circulation. Fpn has also critical influence on survival of microorganisms whose growth is dependent upon iron, thus preparation of Fpn is needed to study the role of iron in immunity and pathogenesis of micoorganisms. Methods: To prepare and characterize a recombinant ferroportin, total RNA was extracted from Indian zebrafish duodenum, and used to synthesize cDNA by RT-PCR. PCR product was first cloned in Topo TA vector and then subcloned into the GFP expression vector pEGFP-N1. The final resulted plasmid (pEGFP-ZFpn) was used for expression of Fpn-EGFP protein in Hek 293T cells. Results: The expression was confirmed by appearance of fluorescence in Hek 293 T cells. Recombinant Fpn was further characterized by submission of its predicted amino acid sequences to the TMHMM V2.0 prediction server (hidden Markov model), NetOGlyc 3.1 and NetNGlyc 3.1 servers. The obtained Fpn from indian zebrafish also contained eight transmembrane domains with N- and C-termini inside the cytoplasm and harboured 78 O-glycosylated amino acids. Conclusion: The recombinant Fpn from Indian zebra fish was successfully expressed in Hek 293 cell line. Although the discrepancy in two amino acids was observed in our produced Fpn and resulted in an additional O-glycosylation site, but had no effect on the topology of the protein compared to other Fpn described by other researchers. Therefore this construct can be used in future iron studies. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/2637 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/2637/2617

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 41 1 2012 01 15 87 95 M Mirmohammadkhani Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Scien A Rahimi Foroushani Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Scien F Davatchi Dept. of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran K Mohammad Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Scien A Jamshidi Dept. of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran A Tehrani Banihashemi Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran, Iran K Holakouie Naieni National Institute of Health Research, Tehran, Iran 2015 10 03 Background: The aim of the article is demonstrating an application of multiple imputation (MI) for handling missing clinical data in the setting of rheumatologic surveys using data derived from 10291 people participating in the first phase of the Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Disorders (COPCORD) in Iran. Methods: Five data subsets were produced from the original data set. Certain demographics were selected as complete variables. In each subset, we created a univariate pattern of missingness for knee osteoarthritis status as the outcome variable (disease) using different mechanisms and percentages. The crude disease proportion and its standard error were estimated separately for each complete data set to be used as true (baseline) values for percent bias calculation. The parameters of interest were also estimated for each incomplete data subset using two approaches to deal with missing data including complete case analysis (CCA) and MI with various imputation numbers. The two approaches were compared using appropriate analysis of variance. Results: With CCA, percent bias associated with missing data was 8.67 (95% CI: 7.81-9.53) for the proportion and 13.67 (95% CI: 12.60-14.74) for the standard error. However, they were 6.42 (95% CI: 5.56-7.29) and 10.04 (95% CI: 8.97-11.11), respectively using the MI method (M=15). Percent bias in estimating disease proportion and its standard error was significantly lower in missing data analysis using MI compared with CCA (P< 0.05). Conclusion: To estimate the prevalence of rheumatic disorders such as knee osteoarthritis, applying MI using available demographics is superior to CCA. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/2638 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/2638/2618

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 41 1 2012 01 15 96 106 F Mousavi Dept. of Social Medicine, Tehran Medical Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran AA Tavabi Dept. of Health and Treatment, Tehran Medical Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran E Iran-Pour Tehran Medical Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran R Tabatabaei Polymer Science and Technology, Tehran Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, B Golestan Dept. of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Science 2015 10 03 Background: As insomnia is common, especially among the elderly in the nursing homes, we aimed to estimate insomnia prevalence among the elderly residing in nursing homes as well as to determine factors associated with insomnia in the elderly. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2009 on 772 elderly residents at Kahrizak Nursing Home, Tehran Iran. The information was gathered through 5-part questionnaires by interviewing either the individuals or the nurses in charge and also reviewing the subjects' medical files. Eventually, the necessary data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests. Results: The mean age of the participants was 76.8 ± 8.05 years (range, 65 to 107 years). Based on the results, 303 (39.2%) of the elderly, including 86 (34.7%) men and 217 (41.1%) women, had insomnia syndrome. 433 (56.1%) participants complained of difficulty initiating sleep, 357 (46.2%) of disrupted sleep, 362 (46.9%) of early morning awakening, and 313 (40.5%) of non-restorative sleep. Our findings also showed that age (P = .004), number of diseases (P = .019), motility status (P = .017), sleep environment satisfaction (P < .001), cognitive status (P = .023), and functional autonomy (P = .003) were significantly associated with insomnia. Conclusion: Insomnia is a prevalent disorder amongst the nursing home elderly population, especially elderly women, and several pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical factors may trigger its occurrence. However, to prevent this problem, further studies are required in Iran and Middle Eastern region to establish a reliable understanding about insomnia patterns, causes, and cures. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/2639 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/2639/2619

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 41 1 2012 01 15 107 113 M Malakootian Environmental Health Research Center and Dept. of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Publi M Ahmadian Social Development & Health Promotion Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Ke K Yaghmaeian Dept. of Environmental Health Engineering, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sh Dowlatshahi Environmental Health Research Center and Dept. of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Publi MR Ghotbi Ravandi Dept. of Occupational Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran 2015 10 03 Background: The purpose of this research was to determine the traffic noise level and changes in the Kerman City, southeast Iran in recent years. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2008 to investigate the existing noise situation in Kerman. Sound levels (LMax, LMin, Leq, L99, L90, L50 and L10) were determined throughout 13 stations using sound level measurement system (model, CEL-440). Number of passing vehicles was also assessed at the sampled stations. Results: Sound level in all sampled stations was higher than Iran and World Health Organization guidelines. Comparison of Leq in different hours using statistical tests showed significant difference between different hours with 95 % confidence coefficient (P=0.01). Comparison of Leq throughout the week also showed that there was a significant difference (P=0.001) between Friday and workday. The comparison of Leq with the number of passing vehicles using Pearson correlation statistical test showed significant difference between the number of heavy vehicles passed and the level of Leq (P=0.001). It also showed that number of heavy vehicles caused the most noise levels. Conclusion: The results of this study compared to a similar study conducted in 1999 showed an increasingly high noise level. Noise level increased from 1999 to 2008 by 3.89 % which is indicative of an increase in noise emission sources. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/2640 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph