OBJECTIVESHypertension (HTN) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Considering the importance of this disease for public health, this study was designed in order to determine the prevalence, awareness, treatment, control, and risk factors of HTN in the Iranian adult population.METHODSThis cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,107 residents of Isfahan, Iran. Samples were selected through multi-stage random cluster sampling in 2015-2016. The outcome variable was HTN, determined by measuring blood pressure in the right arm via a digital arm blood pressure monitor. Awareness, treatment, and control of HTN were assessed by a validated and reliable researcher-developed questionnaire. Other demographic and clinical variables were assessed via a demographic questionnaire.RESULTSThe overall prevalence of HTN was 17.3% (18.9 and 15.5% in men and women, respectively). The prevalence of HTN increased in both genders with age. The prevalence of awareness of HTN among people with HTN was 69.2%, of whom 92.4 and 59.9% were taking medication for HTN and had controlled HTN, respectively. Logistic regression identified age, body mass index, having diabetes and hyperlipidemia, and a positive family history of HTN as determinants of awareness of HTN.CONCLUSIONSThe results showed that HTN was highly prevalent in the community, especially in men and in middle-aged and older adults. Approximately 30.8% of patients were unaware of their disease, and there was less awareness among younger adults. Despite the high frequency of taking medication to treat HTN, it was uncontrolled in more than 40.1% of patients. Health policy-makers should therefore consider appropriate preventive and therapeutic strategies for these high-risk groups.

Background:Stress, anxiety, and postpartum depression are the most common problems among women in their childbearing age. Research has shown that aromatherapy administered during labor reduces anxiety in mothers. With regard to the specific biological conditions in postpartum period and the subsequent drop in hormone levels, this study investigated the effect of lavender on prevention of stress, anxiety, and postpartum depression in women.Materials and Methods:In a clinical trial, 140 women admitted to the obstetric and gynecological unit were randomly divided into aromatherapy and non-aromatherapy groups immediately after delivery. Intervention with aromatherapy consisted of inhaling three drops of lavender essential oil every 8 h with for 4 weeks. The control group received routine care after discharge and was followed up by telephone only. After 2 weeks, 1 and 3 months of delivery, women were assessed by the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale and the Edinburgh stress, anxiety, and depression scale in the two groups. Data analysis was performed by Mann-Whitney, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and post hoc tests. Level of significance was set as 0.05 for all tests.Results:The results showed that the mean stress, anxiety, and depression at time point of 2 weeks (P = 0.012, P < 0.0001, and P = 0.003, respectively) and stress, anxiety, and depression scores at time points of 1 month (P < 0.0001) and 3 months after delivery (P < 0.0001) were significantly lower in the study group compared with the control group.Conclusions:Inhaling the scent of lavender for 4 weeks can prevent stress, anxiety, and depression after childbirth.

Objectives: Pregnant women are among the most vulnerable groups for Helicobacter pylori infection. The infection may cause nausea, vomiting, anemia, fetal growth restriction, fetal anomalies and low birth weight of infants. H. pylori prevalence during pregnancy is vary widely between different geographical regions and given the importance of this infection in pregnancy, systematic review and meta-analysis has been done. Materials and Methods:The current study has been conducted based on PRISMA guideline. The time interval of the investigated studies was from the beginning of 2000 until March 2016. In order to achieve the related literature, databases sources such as Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane, Embase, Springer, Wiley online library, as well as Google Scholar search engine was used. The search was done using Mesh keywords. Furthermore, all the articles that met the inclusion criteria were evaluated. The data has been analyzed using the random-effects models for meta-analysis and the Stata 11.1. Results: In 24 studies, a total of 19426 pregnant women had been investigated. The worldwide prevalence of H. pylori infection in pregnant women was calculated to be 46% (95% CI: 38-54). The lowest prevalence of H. pylori infection was seen in Europe, 25% (95% CI: 9-40) and the highest prevalence in South America 62% (95% CI: 53-71 IntroductionThroughout the history of the world, the ones who had confronted the bitterest face of poverty and war had always been the women. As known poverty and war affects human health either directly or indirectly, the effects of this condition on health and status of women in the society should not be ignored. This study intends to cast light on the effects of war and poverty on the reproductive health of women. For this purpose, the face of war affecting the women, the problem of immigration, inequalities in distribution of income based on gender and the effects of all these on the reproductive health of women will be addressed.

Aim: Heart failure is a progressive, debilitating disease with exacerbated physical and psychological symptoms that reduces the quality of life of patients. Nursing intervention based on nursing theories could help in the adaptation of patients to the disease and improving quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an educational program based on Roy's adaptation model on the quality of life of patients with heart failure. Methods and Material: In this randomized controlled trial, 76 patients with heart failure were allocated to either the intervention or control group through a blocked randomization method. The data were collected between May and October 2017. The intervention group received oral and written educational programs for 4 weeks. Minnesota quality-of-life questionnaire and Roy's adaptation model-based evaluation form was completed at the beginning of the trial, and 1 month after the completion of the study. Results: Intervention patients showed statistically significantly improved scores on the physiologic, role function, independence-interdependence dimensions and the total score of Roy's adaptation model over time compared with control patients (p < .05). The mean score of all of the three quality-of-life dimensions and total score of quality of life increased significantly (p < .05). Conclusion: The study results help nursing staff detect the stimuli and the behaviors of patients with heart failure. Roy's adaptation model can be used as a standard practice to increase adaptation to the disease and improving quality of life. K E Y W O R D S adaptation, heart failure, quality of life, Roy's adaptation model

The results of this review indicate a high seroprevalence of T. gondii (about one-third) in Iranian blood donors and emphasizes the importance of screening the seroprevalence of T. gondii of donated blood in Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization.