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There is no valid and well-established tool to measure fatigue in people with chronic hepatitis B. The aim of this study was to translate the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) into Persian and examine its reliability and validity in Iranian people with chronic hepatitis B. The demographic questionnaire and MFI, as well as Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire and EuroQol-5D (to assess criterion validity), were administered in face-to-face interviews with 297 participants. A forward–backward translation method was used to develop a culturally adapted Persian version of the questionnaire. Cronbach's α was used to assess the internal reliability of the scale. Pearson correlation was used to assess criterion validity, and known-group method was used along with factor analysis to establish construct validity. Cronbach's α for the total scale was 0.89. Convergent and discriminant validities were also established. Correlations between the MFI and the health-related quality of life scales were significant (p< .01). The scale differentiated between subgroups of persons with the hepatitis B infection in terms of age, gender, employment, education, disease duration, and stage of disease. Factor analysis indicated a four-factor solution for the scale that explained 60% of the variance. The MFI is a valid and reliable instrument to identify fatigue in Iranians with hepatitis B.

To assess women's attitudes, beliefs, characteristics, the perception of risks, and their relationships with not utilizing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing services.

Overweight and obese children continue to be a growing problem, and differences exist, especially among racial and ethnic groups. Even though a poor diet and lack of physical activity are attributable factors to being overweight among children, indications exists that geographic location may also be important. In rural areas in the United States, childhood obesity is often higher than the national average. This study analyzed dietary, physical, activity, and lifestyle behaviors of rural African American children and their risk for becoming overweight. This study is a cross-sectional convenience sample of 98 students from a rural county in South Carolina in 2002. Findings showed rural female children were significantly more likely than rural male children to engage in physical activity for at least 20 minutes per day (odds ratio, 5.57; p = .0056). Given the increase in the prevalence of obesity especially among minority populations, the need exists to develop culturally appropriate nutrition and exercise interventions to assist children in a healthy weight loss attempt. Increased prevalence of obesity and other diseases among African Americans warrants aggressive interventions to reduce risk factors in this vulnerable population.

Asthma is a chronic illness among children. Minority children may be vulnerable to asthma complications since more than half are from households that are poor or near poor, and some have no health insurance. Asthma management plans are important for the long-term treatment of asthma and beneficial for self-management. This study analyzed insurance type and the relationship between having an asthma management plan among children across all races with asthma. This study utilized the 2002 and 2003 National Health Interview Survey. Findings showed that whites were significantly more likely than Non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics to have an asthma management plan (OR, 1.66; p= .0031). In this study, children who reported Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage were twice as likely to have an asthma management plan (OR, 2.67; p= .0004). Mandating all insurers to provide an asthma management plan to children with asthma may reduce the race-based inequities and differences in asthma management plan status.