Self-care in patients with CHF in Iran needs major improvement, and many determinants of self-care identified by other studies were not consistently associated with poor self-care scores in Iran. Further research considering a wide range of factors associated with self-care (eg, socioeconomic and health system-related factors) and application of culturally relevant interventional strategies is recommended.

BackgroundSexual desire and frequency of sexual relationships during pregnancy remains challenging. This study aimed to assess factors that affect women’s sexual functioning during pregnancy.MethodsThis was a cross sectional study carried out at prenatal care clinics of public health services in Iran. An author-designed structured questionnaire including items on socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history, the current pregnancy, and women’s sexual functioning during pregnancy was used to collect data. The generalized linear model was performed in order to find out factors that affect women’s sexual functioning during pregnancy.ResultsIn all, 518 pregnant women participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 26.4 years (SD = 4.7). Overall 309 women (59.7 %) scored less than mean on sexual functioning. The results obtained from generalized linear model demonstrated that that lower education, unwanted pregnancy, earlier stage of pregnancy, older age, and longer duration of marriage were the most important factors contributing to disturbed sexual functioning among couples.ConclusionThe findings suggest that sexual function during pregnancy might be disturbed due to several factors. Indeed issues on sexual relationship should be included as part of prenatal care and reproductive health programs for every woman.

A well-designed hybrid CRP can be a viable alternative for hospital-based CRP in low- and middle-income countries where there are no appropriate health facilities in remote areas.

In Malaysia, only 30% of the married women use modern contraceptive methods. Low usage of contraceptive methods, results in high rates of unwanted pregnancies and its consequence which includes; psychological problems physical health and unsafe abortion. The main purpose of this study is to understand the barriers of modern contraceptive practices among women in University Putra Malaysia. This study was carried out through two main research questions: 1.What is the women's perceptions of modern contraceptive methods? 2. Why women do not use modern contraceptive methods? A qualitative research method was used for exploring misconceptions and barriers to contraceptive use among married female staff in University Putra Malaysia (UPM). The data was collected using the non probability, purposive sampling method, from 6 women by face to face interviews, which was also audio-recorded. The records were then transcribed verbatim and analyzed consecutively. This study finding showed there were personal, cultural, and health system barriers to modern contraceptive use. The women have been surrounded by fears, and misconceptions which serve as obstacles to initiation and continuation of contraceptive use. Strong socio-cultural norms and health services barriers including negative response of service providers, and low male family planning activities influence contraceptive use negatively. This study suggests that the promotion of modern contraceptive methods should be considered in women and men educational programs. Further studies should examine health providers' views and quality of family planning services.

No abstract

The pSCHFI is a valid instrument with an acceptable reliability for evaluating self-care in Persian patients with heart failure.

BackgroundComplications and postoperative pain are major care problems that can affect the quality of health care plan.ObjectivesAccording to the use of multimodal therapy the current study aimed to compare the efficacy of gabapentin and celecoxib in pain management and complications after laminectomy at Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran, in 2015.Patients and MethodsIn this randomized double-blind clinical trial, 114 patients scheduled for elective laminectomy with simple random sampling design received gabapentin (n = 38, 900 mg/day), celecoxib (n = 38, 600 mg/day) and placebo (n = 38, capsule contain starch). Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to determine the intensity of pain. Complications after surgery, anxiety scores before surgery and patient’s satisfaction 24 hours after the surgery were recorded.ResultsThe mean pain intensity in the gabapentin group was lower compared to those of the placebo and celecoxib groups respectively at different time durations (P < 0.001). The means of morphine consumption were 11.9 mg, 22.8 mg and 30.1 mg in the gabapentin, celecoxib and placebo groups, respectively (P < 0.001). The prevalence of shivering, nausea, vomiting and pruritus were 10.5%, 12.8%, 10.3% and 18.4% in the gabapentin group vs 31.5%, 29.8%, 32.4% and 28.9% in the celecoxib group and 42.1%, 44.7%, 39.5% and 44.7% in the placebo group (P < 0.001). The mean anxiety score in the gabapentin group was 2.4 vs those of the celecoxib group 3 and placebo group 3.6 (P < 0.001). The frequencies of drowsiness were 42.1%, 13.2% and 5.3% in the gabapentin, celecoxib and placebo groups, respectively (P < 0.001). In the gabapentin group, patient satisfaction was significantly higher compared to those of the placebo and celecoxib groups (P < 0.05).ConclusionsAccording to the effect of gabapentin on pain management, complications after laminectomy and increased patients satisfaction, it can be regarded as an alter native in multimodal analgesia.

Background:In this study, the effects of SP6 and LI4 acupressure on the pain severity and length of labor are examined.Materials and Methods:This systematic review and meta-analysis study was performed on articles published in 2004–2015. The articles, published in the English and Farsi languages, related to the effects of acupressure on the SP6 and LI4 points on the length and pain severity of labor. Data were collected by searching medical databases, including PubMed, ISI, MagIran, Google Scholar, Iran Medex, SID, Irandoc, and EMBASE, for relevant material.Results:Women who received SP6 acupressure experienced less pain immediately after the intervention [−0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.77, −0.36] than women in the touch group and exhibited decrease in the length of labor (−0.99, 95% CI: −1.39, −0.39), the active phase (0.95, 95% CI: −1.30, −0.61), and the second stage of labor (−0.39, 95% CI: −0.74, −0.03). Women who received LI4 acupressure experienced less pain immediately after the intervention (−0.94, 95%, CI: −1.36, −0.53) than women in the touch group and exhibited shorter active phase (−0.91, 95%, CI: −1.18, −0.63) and second stage of labor (−0.55, 95%, CI: −0.95, −0.15) lengths.Conclusions:The use of SP6 and LI4 acupressure shows promise as a method for managing the length and pain severity of labor, but further study is required to establish its effectiveness along with other pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods.