Social Determinants of Health

Background: Islamic Republic of Iran, as a country has undergone dramatic and rapid demographical and economic transition leading to increase mortality and morbidity of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Furthermore, the prevalence of risk factors of NCDs is at alarming range for the population. In response to this challenge, a number of different high level policies have been developed dealing with NCDs, directly or indirectly. However, the fragmentation of policies makes monitoring of NCDs control difficult. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to develop a comprehensive framework for monitoring and evaluating of NCDs control and prevention.

  Methods: A qualitative approach with content analysis method was conducted. Components of NCDs monitoring and evaluation framework were extracted and adaptation of components based on requirements of Iran’s health system was made.  

  Results: Based on the proposed framework, the three main components of NCDs surveillance are as follows; 1) monitoring outcomes (morbidity and mortality); 2) monitoring risk factors; and 3) assessing health care system response, which includes national capacity to prevent NCDs.

  Conclusion: The developed framework is a political tool to strengthen activities to control and prevention of NCD and making more effective inter-sectorial collaboration.

Background: Health is a key component of an individual's welfare and the standard of living. Social capital has attained a considerable attention in science and policy making since researchers have suggested that it may have a positive impact on the well-being of individuals and the society. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between social capital and self-rated health.

  Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals aged from 18 and older, who lived in Bandar Abbas city in 2017. The data used in this study obtained from a questionnaire with multi-stage random sample of respondents. The data were coded, computed, and analyzed by using SPSS software 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

  Results: A total of 255 respondents participated in the present study. Approximately 126 (49.4%) were male. The results obtained on age also report that the average age of respondents were equal to 30.08. Additionally, 126 (49.4%) of the respondents were married. The result of the correlation between self-rated health and socio-economic variables, such as income, education, and age confirmed that there was a statistically significant positive correlation between self-rated health and income (P<0.001) and age (P=0.043). The statistical analysis of t-test showed that the respondents who were married (P=0.01) and male (P=0.01) showed to be healthier compared to the single and female participants.

The results also showed that social trust and social participation were positively associated with desirable self- rated health. Moreover, higher levels of trust and social participation were both associated consistently with high levels of self-rated health. Social trust was also associated positively with desirable self-rated health, after adjusting for the individuals’ demographic factors and socioeconomic status (P=0.001).

  Conclusion: Income and social trust have the most significant influence on self-rated health. Social trust as an indicator of social capital had a significant impact on the self-rated health of respondents. Social trust increases social health and reduces stress and anxiety in individuals.

Background: After centuries paying particular attention to physical health, attention has been attracted to other aspects of human health meaning the psychological, social, and especially spiritual aspect in the past decades. Spiritual aspect of health is the coordinator of other dimensions and improves mental function. Spiritual well-being issues such as halal and haram and food purity should also be considered.

Method:  This was a cross-sectional study conducted among Shahid Beheshti university staff. Pearson’s correlations were used to calculate variable associations. Linear multiple regression analysis was performed to identify variables contributing to an explanation of different aspects of nutrition and health.

Results: 128 personnel participated in this study. Positive correlations were observed between education and total scores of nutrition aspects (r=0.049, p-value<0.05) and attention to physical aspect of nutrition for males (r =0.052, p-value<0.05). Also there is a significant correlation between attention to mental aspect of nutrition and social aspect of nutrition (r=0.740, p-value<0.01).

Conclusion: Age, sex and education, are among the factors that may affect the nutritional attitude. Therefore, using different methods to improve the nutritional practice of society considering its dimensions and taking the factors influencing it into account seems to be essential.

Background: Social capital includes a series of issues and values, which is potentially in relation with social groups and organizations. Due to the importance of social capital as a determining factor in the health, this study aimed to evaluate the social capital in the students of the Isfahan University of Medical Science.

  Methods: This survey was the first phase of a survey that was carried out in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences on 700 students. Students were selected by a stratified random sampling method. Data on social capital of students were collected using Bullen questionnaire. For data analysis, IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. software was used.  

  Results: The mean (SD) score of social capital of the students in this study were 62.11 (14.6), in which the lowest score belonged to the cooperation domain and the highest one belonged to the identity. The most important factors that related to the social capital of the students, included the gender (male: 58.82 (15.87) vs. female: 65.44 (15.87), P=0.028), residency (dormitory: 62.89 (14.3), live with family: 62.22 (14.27), personal home: 50.53 (20.63), P=0.006) and educational level (doctorate degree: 60.48 (13.79) vs. bachelor degree: 63.27 (15.07), P=0.019). 

  Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the social capital score of college students was in a moderate level and policymakers need to design interventions in order to improve students' social capital especially in the level of their participation in the society.

The developing world is going grey. These countries need to establish new care services according to the standards of Healthcare Improvement. The present report emphasizes on important management components of the elderly care which can facilitate the initiating and continuing the good practice in context of multidisciplinary team. The principle focus of this assessment is on the team activities. Some of the important features of this team approach include increase in quality of services provided, mutual respect, empathy, increased sense of responsibility, and accurate follow-ups. The aim of the present report was evaluation and review of educational programs, delivery of care services for elderly patients admitted to Western General Hospital to provide a module for developing countries.

Background: More than 20,000 people annually develop avascular necrosis (AVN) worldwide, most of whom aged 20 to 50 years, and should refer to orthopedic surgeons for treatment. The quality of life of such patients is low due to chronic pain and sometimes they are deprived of their occupation and social life.

Case Report: A 57-year-old male patient who developed AVN due to long-term treatment with corticosteroids and their complications was significantly recovered following EPT therapy in a three-year follow-up. Regarding the correlation between chronic diseases and SDH, to treat such patients, improve their quality of life, and help them back normal life, safe complementary therapies, such as bioresonance, are recommended.