Background: Different aspects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children have not been well understood so far. Objectives: In this paper, we reported the clinical, Paraclinical, and epidemiological features of the hospitalized children infected with COVID-19 in the southeast of Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in six hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences. All children who were under the age of 15 years old hospitalized with acute respiratory infection from February 20 to May 14, 2020, were included in this study. Demographic characteristics, past medical history data, and disease-related data such as symptoms, signs, radiologic, and laboratory data were collected. Results: Of 97 hospitalized children with an acute respiratory infection, 13 cases (13.4%) had been diagnosed to be infected by COVID-19. The mean (standard deviation) and median of age of the patients with COVID-19 were 68.0 (55.9) and 60 months, respectively. Fever (n = 11, 84.6%), cough (n = 8, 61.5%), respiratory distress (n = 5, 38.5%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (n = 5, 38.5%) were known as the most common symptoms in patients with COVID-19. Frequency fever (84.6% vs 47. 6%, P = 0.016) and respiratory distress (38.8% vs 13.1%, P = 0.022) were significantly higher in patients with COVID-19 compared to non-COVID individuals. Frequency of admission in the intensive care unit (38.5% vs. 27.4%, P = 0.668) and death rate (15.4% vs. 7.1%, P = 0.291) were higher in patients with COVID-19 compared to non-COVID-19 subjects, but there were no significant differences between the two groups in term of these variables. Conclusions: A low proportion of children hospitalized with acute respiratory syndrome were infected by COVID-19. Most of the children with COVID-19 recovered with supportive care with no need for any specific treatment.
Background: Bladder cancer disproportionally affects the communities. While it is the ninth most common cancer in the world, in some parts of Iran including Kerman province it is the most common cancer among men. This study aimed to determine potential risk factors of bladder cancer in Kerman province, Iran. Methods: During February to July 2020, in this matched hospital-based case-control study, 100 patients with bladder cancer and 200 healthy individuals (matched in age and sex) were recruited. Socio-demographics status, occupational exposures, common diet, history of drug use and family history of cancer, were collected using a structured questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were applied and crude and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) along with their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated. Data were analyzed using Stata version 14 software. Results: Opium consumption, cigarette smoking and low level of income were associated with increased chance of bladder cancer. Compared to never use, use of opium up to 18000 Gram -year was associated with increased chance of bladder cancer (AOR: 6; 95% CI =2.3, 15.5). The chance was higher among those who used opium more than 18,000 Gram - year (AOR: 11.3; 95% CI =2.3, 15.5). In comparison with never smokers, the chance of bladder cancer increased among those who smoked up to 20 pack-year cigarette) (AOR: 3.4; 95%CI= 1.3, 8.9) and those who smoke ≥ 20 pack-year (AOR: 15.8; 95% CI= 5.9, 42.4).Conclusions: The observed strong dose-response association between opium consumption, cigarette smoking and bladder cancer highlights the need for extension of harm reduction programs especially in regions with high burden of disease.
Background Low access to HIV prevention, care, and treatment services among people living with HIV (PLWH) is a barrier to the control of the epidemic worldwide. The present study aimed to assess the barriers and facilitators to HIV services among PLWH in Kerman, Iran. Methods In this qualitative study, a convenience sample of 25 PLWH who had received HIV prevention, treatment, or care services, and six PLWH who had not yet received services were recruited between August-October 2020. Data were collected using a semi-structured, face-to-face interview. Data were examined by inductive content analysis using MAXQDA 10 software. Results Nine categories of facilitators and 11 categories of barriers to HIV services were identified. Facilitating factors included: maintaining health status, feeling scared, trust in the health system, how they were treated by service providers, provision of suitable hours by the service provider center, changing attitudes towards HIV in society, acceptance of the disease by the patient's family, hope for the future and feeling the need for consulting services. Barriers included financial problems, side effects and belief in efficacy, distance and transportation problems, fear of being recognized, stigma towards PLWH, organization of services, improper treatment by service providers, unsuitable hours by the service provider center, lack of trust in the health system, lack of family support, and inadequate or low-quality service. Conclusion Many facilitators and barriers to HIV prevention, treatment, and care are amenable to change and better management by healthcare and service providers. Addressing these factors is likely to increase the willingness to use services by those who have never previously accessed them.
Background: Although seasonal influenza vaccination decreases infection rate and associated complications, its coverage rate is suboptimal in healthcare workers worldwide. Objectives: The present study aimed at assessing the predictors of influenza vaccination and reasons for accepting or refusing it among nursing staff. Methods: The present study was conducted from February to March 2019 on nurses of three teaching hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in the Southeast of Iran. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire, including demographic data, knowledge, and attitude toward influenza and its vaccine, and reasons for accepting or refusing the vaccine. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 22. Independent samples t- and the chi-squared tests and the binary logistic regression were employed for data analysis. Results: The influenza vaccination coverage rate was 10.1% among the nursing staff. Male gender (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) =2.13 - 10.64), receiving a recommendation for influenza vaccination in hospital (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.06 - 3.26), influenza vaccination of the family members (AOR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.55 - 4.41), and a higher score of attitude toward influenza vaccination (AOR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03 - 1.07) increased the likelihood of influenza vaccination in the nursing staff. Fear of vaccine adverse effects (64.7%), lack of trust in vaccine manufacturers (36.0%), and being healthy (29.7%) were the most common reasons for refusing vaccination. Likewise, self-protection (79.6%), patient protection (73.0%), and family protection (72.4%) were the most common reasons for undergoing vaccination. The odds of influenza vaccine uptake was four times more among males than females (AOR = 4.77, 95% CI = 2.13 - 10.64), and odds of influenza vaccination was 1.86 times more among nursing staff receiving recommendations for influenza vaccination in hospital than the ones not receiving such recommendations (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.06 - 3.26). Also, odds of influenza vaccination increased 2.73 times in nursing staff whose family members received influenza vaccine (AOR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.55 - 4.41). Furthermore, the model showed that one unit increase in the attitude score increased odds of influenza vaccination by 1.05 units (AOR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03 - 1.07). Conclusions: The influenza vaccination rate was suboptimal among the nursing staff. Also, there were poor knowledge and improper attitude toward influenza and its vaccine among healthcare workers. Therefore, appropriate policies should be made at national and regional levels on increasing the rate of influenza vaccination.
This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and its association with HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Kerman province, southeast Iran. A convenience sample of 104 PLHIV was recruited. Data on QoL were collected using the HIV/AIDS-Targeted QoL instrument. Internal and external stigma were measured using an instrument developed by UNAIDS. The average QoL score was 52.5 (SD =13.9). In multivariable model, PLHIV who experienced higher external stigma score (B = −1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −2.6 to −1.1) and higher internal stigma score (B = −1.1; 95% CI: −1.5 to −0.6) had lower level of QoL. The low level of QoL among PLHIV in Iran indicates the need for initiatives to increase QoL among this population. Our data suggest that QoL in PLHIV could be improved by interventions aimed at reducing stigma in both community and health care settings.
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