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Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most frequent occupational health problems and accounts for a large number of losses in working days and disability for workers in modern industrialized countries. The aim of this paper was to investigate the prevalence of lower back problem and to associate risk factors among high school teachers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among high school teachers using self-administered questionnaires, which were distributed to randomly selected school teachers of 7 boys' and 10 girls' high schools across the city of Kerman and collected between October and November 2010. A total of 296 teachers returned completed questionnaires, yielding a response rate of 78.9%. The 12-month prevalence of LBP was 68.8%, which reporting with moderate disability. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that females [odds ratio (OR): 1.85, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.51-2.00] were positively correlated to LBP. Awkward arm posture (OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.24-2.62) and awkward body posture (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 0.87-1.49) were significantly associated with LBP. Psychosocial job demands and job dissatisfaction were also significantly associated with LBP. Smoking cigarette was three times more likely to develop lower back pain when compared with non-smokers. The prevalence of LBP was high among high school teachers. A wide variety of LBP risk factors were identified in the current study.

Traffic noise is a major environmental source of pollution in the whole planet, both in developed and in developing nations. The study being reported here has been carried out on one of the most busy and crowded streets in the downtown area of Kerman, located in south east of Iran, which have heavy traffic during the day. Total of 20 measuring points were selected along the main road and its 6 connecting streets. In this study the A-weighted continuous equivalent sound level values and statistical levels were manually measured at each site separately. The noise equivalent level varied between 66 to 79.5 dBA. The results of the study established the fact that noise levels are more than the acceptable limit of 60 dBA, which is the daytime governmentally prescribed noise limit for residential-commercial areas. This paper also describes the reaction of the environmental noise of the city of Kerman. A total of 250 questionnaires were processed. The results of the interview questionnaire revealed the following items; (I) the main isolated noise source was traffic (50%) and street noise (34%); (II) 70% of the people classified the noise in his/her street as "very high"; (III) 52% and 48% of the respondents answered that noise bother them more in morning and evening, respectively; (IV) 86% and 86.8% of the subjects answered that traffic noise produce physicsl and psychological annoyance to them; (V) the main outcomes of exposure to noise were: irritability (40.8%), insomnia (24%), difficulty in concentrating (16%) and conservation disruption (16%).

The objectives of this article were to identify the pattern of fatalities by age, belt use and time of day on road accidents of south-east Iran. A sample of over 3091 accident cases was considered from Kerman police forces, involving drivers of all ages, and covering a three-year period. Female drivers were found to be generally safer drivers than their male counterparts; male drivers not using a seat belt had a higher involvement rate in road traffic accidents, and also males within the age group of 26-33 had more involvement in accidents. Time of day analyses suggested that the problem of accidents in darkness is not a matter of visibility, but a consequence of the way drivers use the roads at night. The article ends with a number of recommended measures for the improvement of road safety in south-east Iran.

Musculoskeletal disorders represent one of the leading causes of occupational injury and disability in the developed and industrially developing countries. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among Iranian high school teachers was determined by using Nordic questionnaires as the diagnostic tool. Data on MSDs were analyzed in 231 high school teachers. The survey was performed four times, twice every year. The MSDs were defined using three definitions, based on the frequency, duration and pain intensity of the symptoms. Symptoms causing work interference in the last 12 months were reported by 35% male and 15% female participants at baseline. Low back symptoms were the most common cause of work impairment (male ¼ 69%, female ¼ 77%), followed by equality pain in the neck. Based on the participants report, during the last 24 months there were totally 35% male and 15% female days of sick leave due to MSDs. The study confirms that the high prevalence of musculoskeletal problems may prevent teachers from doing their jobs, resulting in work absenteeism, may decrease work productivity, and may incur direct and indirect costs. Future research will examine the impact of organizational of work.

The objective of this study was to investigate road traffic crash injuries and fatalities. Cases of 3902 road traffic injuries (1709 drivers, 891 passengers, 376 pedestrians and 926 motorcyclists) and 1564 road traffic fatalities (RTFs; 1222 males and 342 females) were collected from 2005 to 2008 using the database of the police forces and Department of Forensic Medicine in Kerman, respectively. Results showed that 66% of the injuries were related to car occupants (drivers and passengers) and men/women ratio was 5:1. The highest men/women ratio was (12.2:1) for drivers, while the lowest ratio (1.8:1) was for pedestrians. Most of the injuries had taken place at 16:01-20:00 h followed by 08:01-12:00 h. Highest numbers of injuries were found in male with the age groups of 18-24 years. The highest fatality rate of 79 per 100,000 population occurred in 2007-2008. Fatality ratio indicated higher male ratio, four times higher than females. The victims were 39% male between 30 and 55 years of age. Head injuries were present in 69% of the cases. In our series of forensic autopsy cases, head injuries were more frequent in motor vehicle occupants, pedestrians and motorcyclists. On average, two people died per day in RTFs in Kerman.