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Introduction: Knowledge of the correct names of private parts is one of the main axes of children's personal safety programing and a first step in potentially preventing or disclosing sexual abuse in children. Parent–child agreement (shared terminology) on the correct names of private body parts is critical for effective communication and an important first step in child sexual abuse prevention. This study examined the words used by parents and children for private body parts to ascertain agreement. Methods: This was a prospective descriptive and quantitative study conducted during early to mid-2021. Parents and their preschool children in Gorgan, Iran (N = 134) were individually interviewed about the names of the private body parts to determine the level of agreement between them. Conducted at community health centers for convenience, parents were shown a schematic drawing of a child and asked to provide the names they had taught their children for their private parts while separately using the same drawing, children were asked to provide the names they have been taught. Results: Sixty-nine percent of all parents stated that they have taught their children names for their private parts (i.e., breast, buttocks and genital area). Twenty-six percent of parents taught the correct names of all three private parts to their children, while 34% of children knew the correct names for all three private parts. The frequency of agreement between children and parents in correctly naming all private parts was 20.7%. Conclusion: The results show that children and parents have limited knowledge about the correct names of private body parts resulting in low agreement among them. More children knew correct names for all three private parts than their parents. This finding may be related to children being educated in spaces other than their family environment and parents' reluctance to teach the correct names. Since parents, especially mothers, play an important role in protecting their children from sexual abuse, their key role in socializing children and educating them about CSA is undeniable. Policy Implications: This empirical evidence can contribute to the development of education and child sexual abuse prevention programs for both parents and children, tailored to Iran or other countries with similar cultural mores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alexithymia, defined as a deficiency in consciousness or expression of emotions. The relationship between alexithymia subscales and self-consciousness components has rarely been investigated. So, the present study was designed and implemented to determine the status of self-consciousness and alexithymia as well as their relationship among Iranian adolescents. The present cross-sectional study was conducted using a descriptive-analytical approach on 480 14-19-year-old adolescent Followed by random sampling. They were asked to complete the demographic form, self-consciousness, and 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Statistical analyses were conducted using the K-2 Pearson, U-Mann-Whitney, Spearman correlation coefficient, and simple multiple linear regression tests. About one-third of the participants were suffering from alexithymia but no significant difference was observed between the two genders. Higher scores were achieved by girls in the subscale of difficulty in identifying feelings (20.07 ± 6.26 girls, 18.26 ± 4.97 boys, P = 0.001). However, boys (21.67 ± 3.60) received significantly higher scores in externally oriented thinking than girls (23.19 ± 3.21) (P ≤ 0.001). The mean of public and private subscale and the total score of self-consciousness skill (56.22 ± 9.32 for girls, 51.82 ± 10.00 for boys and significance level ≤ 0.001) were higher in girls than boys. However, the area of social anxiety (14.60 ± 6.50 for girls, 14.60 ± 5.72 for boys) had no statistically significant difference between the two sexes. Considering the observed gender differences in the areas of alexithymia and self-consciousness, it is necessary to carry out necessary screenings based on gender-based programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to identify Iranian preschool children's (N = 318) knowledge of genital and non-genital body parts. Assessment consisted of children naming selected external body parts in drawings of same-sex counterparts. Results indicated that almost all children knew the correct terms for their non-genital body parts, but few knew the correct terminology for their genitals. Many used slang terms and some appeared embarrassed or reluctant to reply (girls were more likely than boys not to respond). No statistically significant difference between the sex of children in knowledge of correct names of all genitals emerged. Boys knew the correct name of their genitalia (penis) significantly more than girls. Results indicated children are learning the names of their body parts but not their genitals, perhaps indicative of a lack of sexual health education that may be representative of the conservative culture in Iran. It is critical for young children to learn about their genitals as this knowledge provides the foundation for subsequent sex education and facilitates discussion about bodily safety to prevent sexual abuse. When children learn these names, it can facilitate disclosure of abuse and can assist those working with young children in medical settings, child protection and legal arenas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The university entrance exam or Konkoor is a determining event for the Iranian adolescents and their families. It is considered as the most important opportunity for adolescents for creating their ideal futures. Hence, regarding the importance of this exam and its accompanying pressures during the critical and stressful adolescence period, this study describes adolescents' perspective about what make them worried about the university entrance exam. Methods: This study is based on responses of 500 high school female students to an open-ended question completed in their class. In total 482 adolescents wrote down their answers. Using quantitative content analysis, these statements were analyzed. Results: The findings showed that three categories including "individual" category (87.90%) with three subcategories; Konkoor's outcome, readiness for Konkoor, self-blame, and "family" category (7.12%) with three subcategories; consequences of failure, family expectations, family conflicts, and "religious- socioeconomic" category (4.98%) with three subcategories; religion, financial status, educational policies as the main adolescents concern sources about the university entrance exam. Conclusion: Considering the high concerns of female adolescents about the university entrance exam and the pressures that they receive from their families, society, and even themselves, modifying the educational policies, applying some measures to promote knowledge, and gaining required skills to deal with different aspects of such concerns are necessary for adolescents and their parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In recent years, high-risk sexual behaviors due to their negative consequences both for the individual and society have received more attention than other high-risk behaviors. Objective The aim of this study was to review the influencing factors of high-risk sexual behaviors among young people from an ecological point of view. Methods This review was conducted through searching databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library with keywords such as sexual risk-taking behavior, high-risk sex, unprotected sex and unsafe sex. The relevant papers published between 1995 and 2016 were extracted. After reviewing the abstract and full text of the articles, 45 papers were used to write this article. Results From an ecological theory approach, factors which influence high-risk sexual behaviors are divided into three categories - the microsystem, the mesosystem and the macrosystem. The microsystem includes factors such as age, gender, race, marital status, place of residence, religion, level of education, personality traits, psychological problems, childhood experiences, body image and coincidence of high-risk behaviors; the mesosystem includes factors such as family structure, peers and sex education; in the macrosystem, the impact of culture and traditions of the society, economic status and the media are presented. Conclusion Given that high-risk sexual behaviors often have multiple causes, it seems that health policymakers must consider multi-dimensional interventions to influence high-risk sexual behaviors based on the ecological approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent health concerns are an important source of information that should be considered when planning school and community health promotion policies, programs and services. Adolescence is a critical period of human development and the health concerns of adolescents can point to important issues that may be eclipsed by epidemiologic and other clinical sources of information. This study aimed to assess the health concerns of adolescents living in Tehran, Iran and to examine associations between selected demographics and the health concerns reported by participants.Methods: This study was a population-based cross-sectional survey in 2011. Data were collected from a stratified random cluster sample of 915 adolescents, aged 14-18 years, living in Tehran, using the Persian version of the Adolescent Health Concern Inventory (AHCI-P). The data were analyzed using the χ2, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests and logistic regression analysis.Results: The mean numbers of health concerns in girls and boys were 48 (±27.6) and 44.5 (±27.4) respectively. The highest ranking health concern subscale for both girls and boys was The Future, and "being successful" was endorsed as the most prominent concern in the subscale. Female (OR: 1.42, CI 95%: 1.08-1.87), mother's educational level (OR: 2.23, CI 95%: 1.07-4.65) and living in northern (OR: 1.76, CI 95%: 1.13-2.74) and western (OR: 2.02, CI 95%: 1.30-3.16) regions of Tehran were significant predictors of a higher level of health concerns.Conclusion: Findings can be used to inform school and public health promotion policies, programs and supportive services designed to improve the overall health and well-being of adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents are developmentally normatively interested in information about sexuality and other health-related issues. In the absence of available health programming, identifying the sources of information that youth are currently accessing will help adolescent health researchers understand where youth 'are,' thereby informing where and how future interventions can be targeted. This is particularly important in resource-limited settings, such as Iran, where funding for public health programming is scant. This study aimed to examine primary and preferred sources of adolescents' health information queries and identify health topics in which they are most interested. Methods: In 2011, a random sample of 915 adolescents, aged 14-18 years, completed anonymous, self-administered questionnaires. Results: Mothers (51.11%) and same-sex friends (40.11%) were both the primary as well as the preferred source of health information for adolescents. More than one in three adolescents identified media information sources, including books (39.6%) and the Internet (37.9%), as their primary and preferred sources. The most common topic adolescents sought information about was sexuality issues. Younger adolescents preferred receiving information from parents, whereas older adolescents preferred friends as sources for information [X2=9.3, p=0.009]. No age differences were noted in using media sources (p>0.05). Conclusions: These findings indicate future interventions should integrate some if not all of these sources [both people (mothers, same-sex friends) and media (books, the Internet)] to deliver evidenced-based health information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It is important to consider the health concerns of adolescents before developing and implementing public health promotion or health education curriculum programs aimed at ameliorating priority health problems experienced by adolescents. The aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the original Adolescent Health Concern Inventory (AHCI) for use with an Iranian population . Methods: This was a methodological study in which 50 adolescents with age range of 14-18 years were selected using convenience sampling. The translation and cultural adaptation process of The AHCI followed recognized and established guidelines. The face and content validity was established by analyzing feedback solicited from teenagers and professionals with expertise in health, sociology and psychology. Reliability was examined using test-retest and Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency reliability. Kappa and McNemar tests were used to examine test-retest reliability for each item. Results: Minor cultural differences were identified and resolved during the translation process and determining the validity of the checklist. Results from Kappa and McNemar tests indicate a high degree of test-retest reliability. Internal consistency reliability as measured by Cronbach's alpha for the subscales were between 0.68 and 0.87 with total instrument reliability of 0.96 indicating considerable overall reliability . Conclusion: The Persian version of the AHCI appears valid and reliable. Hence, it can be used for filling a gap in identifying the adolescents' health concerns in the research and community settings and school health education programs in Iran to design appropriate interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]