Background: Meningitis is classified as a medical emergency where the identification and early treatment of bacterial meningitis can eliminate serious consequences, such as hearing loss, memory problems, learning disabilities, brain damage, seizures, and death. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and geographical distribution of meningitis using Geographic Information system (GIS) and to predict its incidence in Iran in 2021. Methods: This was a descriptive analytical study. Information on pertussis was obtained from the Center for Communicable Diseases Control during 2010-2015. In the next step, ArcGIS 9.3 was used to prepare geographic maps of the disease incidence and frequency. Then, the disease prediction map was drawn using the Raster Calculator tool. Results: The results showed that the highest incidence of meningitis during 2010-2015 was in Qazvin, Qom, and Kurdistan provinces. The incidence of meningitis in Iran increased from 9.77 in 2010 to 10.33 in 2015. Based on the modeling results for Iran, Qom, Qazvin, Kurdistan, Hamadan, and Mazandaran provinces with 78.89%, 74.68%, 70.07%, 43.97%, and 22.93% of their areas (Km 2 ) are at high risk for meningitis in the coming years, respectively. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that Qom, Qazvin, Kurdistan, Hamedan, and Mazandaran provinces are at risk of the disease. Monitoring vaccination in high-risk groups can partially prevent the incidence of the disease in these areas.
IntroductionIn the near future, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) will be the most significant cause of blindness in upper and middle-income countries. Due to the increasing survival chances for premature and low birth weight infants and the importance of the diagnosis and treatment of ROP, this study was aimed at determining the prevalence of ROP and its related factors in Sanandaj, Iran, in 2014.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed on 47 preterm infants, weighing less than 2000 g or with a gestational age of less than of 34 weeks. The sampling method was census. From the first examination to 1 to 4 weeks later, until retinal vascularization completion, examinations were performed by the same ophthalmologist. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and frequency, mean, SD and Chi-square tests.ResultsThe prevalence of ROP in the infants was 10.6%. Prevalence among girls was 16% and among boys it was 4.5%. The results showed that 23.5% of infants with ROP needed mechanical ventilation. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p = 0.031).ConclusionIn this study, the prevalence of ROP in the NICU and neonatal ward of Besat Hospital in Sanandaj was low. However, due to serious consequences of the disease in premature infants, timely screening, determination, and control of risk factors provided necessary support to manage the disease.
Background: Leptospirosis is known as a public health problem in developing and developed countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and geographical distribution of leptospirosis using the Geographic Information System (GIS) and to predict its incidence in Iran in 2021. Methods: This was a descriptive analytical study. Information on leptospirosis was obtained from the Center for Communicable Diseases Control during 2009-2015. In the next step, The ArcGIS 9.3 was used to prepare geographic maps of the disease incidence and frequency. Therefore, using the Raster Calculator tool, the disease prediction map was drawn. Results: The results showed that the highest incidence of leptospirosis during 2009-2015 was observed in Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan provinces, respectively. The incidence of the disease had an increasing trend from 2013 to 2015. Based on the results of the modeling in Iran, the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan, with 72.18%, 8.54%, and 4.95% of their area, respectively, have the largest areas at a high-risk for leptospirosis in the coming years. Conclusion: The prevalence of leptospirosis is affected by geographical and climatic conditions of every region; thus, the incidence of the disease is higher in the provinces located at the Caspian coastal side and in some regions in Semnan province. Hence, if health authorities pay more attention to developing health plans to prevent the disease, the risk of disease in these areas will be reduced in the future.
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