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IntroductionHouseholds' dietary habits are affected by their environment and socioeconomic status (SES). This study aims to investigate eating behaviors and determine the factors affecting nutritional status in households in Fars Province in 2018.MethodIn this cross-sectional study, urban and rural households were selected using the multistage sampling method. A questionnaire was employed to interview the mother or householder to record the demographic, SES, and dietary habits of the family for major food items commonly used. A logistic regression model was used to analyze the data. The p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsIn total, 6,429 households participated in the study. The majority of households use traditional flatbread, low-fat milk, and liquid/cooking oil. Frying was the most prevalent method of cooking. Parents' level of education and SES were associated with type of consumed bread, milk and dairy, methods of food preparation, adding salt at the table, eating out, and fast-food usage. Parents' higher level of education was significantly associated with salt storage in optimal conditions and not using salt before tasting the meal.ConclusionMost of the households had healthy practices, especially in consumption of certain oils and methods of preparing their food as well as keeping salt in an optimal condition and using iodized salt. The most important unhealthy nutritional behavior was high consumption of fast food and outdoor food, especially in urban regions. Unhealthy dietary habits were more prevalent in households with low household and regional SES. Both households and regions with higher SES had better dietary habits.

Background: Because of the high prevalence and serious complications of malnutrition in children, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of malnutrition in children with food and nutrition insecurity in Fars Province, Iran. Methods: In this case-control study, all 6 - 60-month-old children living in Fars Province in 2015, whose weight-for-age curve was below the third percentile, were included as the malnourished group (case group). Also, 1000 sex- and age-matched children without any growth retardations were selected as the well-nourished group (control group). The children’s food and nutrition insecurity was evaluated using a questionnaire consisting of the child's feeding, household sanitation status, and food security, besides maternal knowledge and practice about child nutrition. Finally, the food insecurity status of the two groups was compared. Results: Based on the findings, 943 (47.1%) children lived in food-insecure households, with a higher percentage of malnourished children than well-nourished ones (57.8% vs. 36.5%; P < 0.001). The probability of malnutrition in children with unemployed fathers was twice as high as those with full-time working fathers (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.38 - 0.83). Malnutrition in children was significantly associated with their birth weight (P < 0.001), maternal body mass index (P < 0.001), maternal knowledge and practice about child feeding (P < 0.001 for both), and having sanitary latrines at home as an indicator of household sanitary status (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Malnutrition in children had significant associations with many aspects of food and nutrition insecurity. To decrease the prevalence of malnutrition, health systems, and other organizations should design policies to improve food insecurity, especially those focusing on family education and nutritional support for low socioeconomic families.

Background: Prevalence of risky behaviors among various classes of society, especially adolescents and youths, is a major social problem, which inevitably slows down the societal progress. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the mediating role of differentiation of self between parental bonding and risky behavior among adolescents and youths in Shiraz. Methods: This study included 560 adolescents and youths (aged from 15 to 35 years, average = 25.7, SD = 7.1; 67.7% males) with risky behaviors who were attending drop in center and Voluntary Counselling and Testing centers, those incarcerated, and those kept in the correctional and rehabilitation facilities 2013-2014. Questionnaires about parental bonding, self-differentiation, and risky behaviors were completed by the participants on a voluntary and confidential basis. Results: No significant correlation was found between parental bonding and risky behaviors in the adolescents and youths (t = 1.87). There was also no significant correlation between parental bonding and DS (t = 0.68). Moreover, there was no significant correlation between the differentiation of self and risky behaviors (t = 0.77). Conclusions: Differentiation of self hadn't a mediating role between parental bonding and risky behaviors among the adolescents and youths in our study.