Jorjani Biomedicine Journal

Background & objective: But its etiology is unknown. Based on deficiency of epidemiological studies, this study Family and genetic factors are effective on incidence of external hydrocephalus aimed to determine the demographic features of children with external hydrocephalus.

Methods: Referred to Taleghani tertiary hospital during 2009-2011 were assessed. Inclusion criteria In this retrospective descriptive study (2011), all records of children with external hydrocephalus was definite diagnosis of external hydrocephalus. Checklist was used for data collection. All data were entered to SPSS software (version 16) and were described by descriptive statistics.

Results: (48.8%), 32 cases born by cesarean section (78%), 31 cases (75.6%) with no consanguineous marriage of parents, 38 cases (92.7%) born at term gestational age, 24 cases (58.53%) with macrocephaly in family, 17 cases (41.5%) with hospitalization history, 39 cases (95.1) with normal birth weight were assessed. Mean of age and head circumference were 8.8±2.8 years and 35.15±1.5 cm, respectively. Increase of head circumference with 30.2 % was the most common complaint at referred time during health cares. 33 cases (80.5%) diagnosed based on CT scan and 11 cases (26.8%) had development delay. From 41 children included to the study, 33 boys (80.5%), 20 cases with Fars ethnicity

Conclusion: Of head circumference during health cares had the most frequency of external hydrocephalus. Much more attention to these children and early diagnosis and treatment is essential. Boys children with fars ethnicity, macrocephaly history, developmental delay and increase.

Background and Objective: β-Thalassemia major is a chronic genetic disease which is determined with symptoms and signs of a chronic severe anemia. Children with β-Thalassemia major have several risk factors for cognitive problems. The purpose of this study was to compare the cognitive function in β-thalassemia major children and healthy counterparts.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 1391, using convenient sampling method in Zahedan and Shiraz cities. After matching children in terms of age, gender and city of residence, 40 children with β-thalassemia major and 40 matched healthy 6-12 year old children were compared using the independent t-test and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Revision (WISC-R) in terms of verbal understanding, organizing perceptual and freedom from distraction. Data were expressed in descriptive ways and independent t-test was used to analyze data using spss 18 software.

Results: Children with β-Thalassemia major gained low scores in the areas of verbal understanding (P=0.01) and freedom from distraction (P=0.01) significantly in comparison to healthy counterparts, but no significant difference was observed in the area of organizing perceptual index (P=0.29) not difference between the two groups.

Conclusion: Children with β-Thalassemia major do not necessarily face cognitive decline and are slightly lower than their healthy counterparts and require more attention in the field of education, to improve the quality of their knowledge.

Background and Objectives: Damages caused by accidents are accounted as a major cause of death for children under 5 years old. To design preventive programs, health education theories could be employed. This study aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention based on health belief model on the damage caused by accidents in children less than 5 years in 1392 in Qorveh city.

Methods: The present randomized field trial study was conducted on 120 mothers with children less than 5 years who were supported by four different health centers. These centers were randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. The effect of intervention was investigated using a standardized questionnaire including 85 items of health belief model structures. The questionnaires were completed using interviews by trained interviewers. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 19.0, independent and two-tailed samples t-test.

Results: We found that there were positive and significant differences in terms of knowledge, intensity, perceived barriers and self-efficacy between two groups after intervention (P<0.05). Average differences before and after the intervention and the average scores were significantly different in all cases (P<0.05). There was a significant difference regarding the mild injuries among children under five years between the two groups after intervention (P=0.023).

Conclusion: Our results showed that education on the basis of health belief model, as one of the theories of health education, has positive effects on the promotion of safety knowledge, attitude change and improving the function of mothers over damaged children lower than 5 years and consequently the promotion of health and safety among children.