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Background: An unhealthy diet, including low in fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, and high-fat, high-sugar foods and beverages, increases the risk of non-communicable diseases. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the economic inequality of the different food groups in school aged Kurdish children in Iran. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 in 10-12 years old students in the west of Iran. The eating diet was evaluated using Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Thelogistic regression was used to assess the relationship between food groups and the determinants. The concentration curve and concentration index)CI (were used to measure the inequalities. Results: Our findings showed that consumption of milk and dairy products, meat and protein rich foods, vegetables, fruits, and fish was higher among people with high SES. On the contrary, Consumption of fast-food and soft drinks was lower in people with high SES. Our study also showed that girls consumed less milk and dairy products, fruits, vegetables, fast food and soft drinks and more meat and protein rich food and fish than boys. The regression results showed that mother’s high level of education was associated with higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products, meat and bean, and fish. Therefore, mother’s level of education was protective factor in consuming fast food and soft drinks. We also observed a decrease in fast food consumption as a result of increasing mother’s age while consuming foods with saturated fat was related to the same variable. CI for consumption of dairy products (PConclusions: The consumption of healthy diet e.g., milk and dairy products, meat and protein rich foods, vegetables, fruits, and fish were low in school aged children and it was concentrated in low SES children. Taking action by the national and local governments to reduce inequality in unhealthy choices is necessary.

Awareness of HIV/AIDS is very important in women at the age of fertility and it is one of the indicators of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study aimed to investigate the awareness status of HIV/AIDS and socioeconomic inequalities in the lack of awareness of HIV/AIDS in 15–54-year-old women in Iran. This was a cross-sectional study. Randomized multistage cluster sampling was used in this study. A total of 35,305 women 15–54 years old were enrolled in the study. Data were analyzed in two stages. Socioeconomic inequalities were investigated using the methods of concentration index and concentration curve in the first stage, and the multilevel method was used to identify the role of determinants in the second stage. Of the total participants in the study, 5017 (18.55%) had an inadequate awareness of HIV/AIDS. The concentration index was −0.06 [95% confidence interval (CI) (−0.08, −0.04)], indicating the lack of awareness among the low-class people of society. The results of the multilevel analysis showed that there is a relationship between the education, marital status of the individuals, age over 35 years, occupation, economic class, and lack of awareness of HIV/AIDS. The prevalence of the lack of adequate awareness of HIV/AIDS is more prominent among the low-class people of society, and this inequality varies in different provinces. The socioeconomic determinants such as age, place of residence, marital status, and economic status should be considered to reduce these inequalities.

Background: Nowadays, children spend a lot of time during the day in front of the television(TV) and using their phones. We aimed to evaluate screen time and phone use in Iranian children and their relation to the socioeconomic status of children's families.Methods: This descriptive analytical study was done on 10-12-year-old children from Kurdistan, Fars, and Markazi provinces. Cluster sampling was used for sampling. Date collection included completing demographic questionnaires, calculating BMI of children and phone & tablet use, screen time, and socioeconomic status. We used linear and logistics regression to estimate the final model and decomposition method of the Oaxaca. The concentration index and the concentration curve were used to measure and illustrate socioeconomic inequalities. All analysis was conducted with the Stata / SE 14.0 software.Results: 1590 children (52.58% boys) were enrolled in our study, 594 (74%) of boys and 420 (56%) of girls had daily Screen Time activities for more than two hours, and 388 (48.20%) of boys and 211 (28.20%) of girls use mobile phones and tablets for more than two hours a day. Screen Time activities were significantly higher in boys, older children, higher BMIs, more educated mothers, and 35

Background This study aims to determine the prevalence of physical inactivity in Iranian adolescents aged 10–12 years and the impact of socioeconomic inequality on it. Methods In this descriptive study, the study population consisted of 10–12 years old adolescents from an Iranian population from Kurdistan, Fars and Markazi provinces in 2018. The sample size was 1590 individuals. The sampling method was cluster sampling. Data was collected using demographic questionnaire, modifiable activity questionnaire (MAQ) and socioeconomic questionnaire. Cut points on the MAQ for light activity, moderate activity and heavy activity were MET 6, respectively. Linear and logistic regression were used to estimate the final model and the Oaxaca analysis method was applied. All analyses were performed in Stata/SE 14.0. Results Of the 1590 participants, 52.82% were male. The results showed that 25.79% of the subjects were physically inactive and 7.30% engaged in moderate physical activity during the week. The average physical activity during 1 week was more in boys than in girls (P-value Conclusion One-fourth of the study population had physical inactivity in this age group. Socioeconomic levels, parental literacy, and sex of adolescents were associated with the level of physical activity.

Background: Physical inactivity (PI) is a public health concern around the world that has been growing with the advent of technology. It has often been studied in adults. This study aims to determine the prevalence of physical inactivity in Iranian children aged 10-12 years and the impact of socioeconomic inequality on it.Methods: In this descriptive study, the study population consisted of 10-12 years old children from an Iranian population from Kurdistan, Fars and Markazi provinces in 2018. The sample size was 1590 individuals. The sampling method was cluster sampling. Data was collected using demographic questionnaire, modifiable activity questionnaire (MAQ) and socioeconomic questionnaire. Linear and logistic regression were used to estimate the final model and the Oaxaca analysis method was applied. All analyses were performed in Stata/SE 14.0.Results: Of the 1590 participants, 52.82% were male. The results showed that 25.79% of the subjects had physical inactivity and 7.30% had moderate physical activity during the week. The average physical activity during one week was more in boys than in girls (P-valueResults: One-fourth of the study population had physical inactivity in this age group and required serious interventions. Socioeconomic levels, parental literacy, and children’s sex were factors affecting the level of physical activity. Raising parental awareness, designing specific programs for girls, such as increasing access to sports facilities, are strategies to reduce physical inactivity in children.

Background: The prevalence of obesity is an increasing public health problem. Objectives: The present study aimed at estimating the prevalence of unhealthy diet among children aged 10 - 12 years in Kurdistan, west of Iran and assessing the association of unhealthy diet with socioeconomic inequality. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 2506 children living in Sanandaj city, west of Iran in 2015. The subjects were selected from the schools by multistage sampling method. The required data were collected using the food frequency questionnaire. The socioeconomic status (SES) was calculated by measuring household asset by using principal component analysis technique. The inequality was measured using concentration index, and Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method was utilized to determine the proportion of different determinants causing inequality. Results: The prevalence of unhealthy diet was 50.75% (95% confidence interval (CI): 48.79 - 52.71). The concentration index for unhealthy diet was -0.14 (95% CI: -0.18, -0.09), indicative of concentration of unhealthy diet in the group with low SES (P < 0.001). The Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis showed that the poor-rich gap in the prevalence of unhealthy diet was 27.77%, while 59.41% of the observed gap attributed to the explained component. The major causes of inequality were mother’s level of education and place of residence, respectively. Conclusions: The obtained results showed that the prevalence of unhealthy diet was higher in children with low SES. Increasing mothers’ awareness of health literacy and performing place-based interventions can be effective in decreasing socioeconomic inequalities in unhealthy diet and prevention of chronic diseases in children.

Here we report the consumption of traditional cottage cheese (Koupé) in western Iran, as a new way of transmission of botulism. All the patients (a nine member family) had at least two specific symptoms of botulism. Given the clinical symptoms and contact history, anti-toxins were injected in the early hours of hospital admission. On Jan 27, 2017, three patients clinically suspected of foodborne botulism were referred to the hospital in Sanandaj, western Iran from their local hospital in Baneh, western, Iran. Because of the worsening of clinical conditions, a 34-yr-old man with both gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms was admitted to the ICU, while other family members were treated in the infectious diseases ward of the hospital. The disease was diagnosed through isolating toxin A from the cheese and testing the serum sample of one of the patients. This case of botulism showed that traditional Koupé cheese could cause foodborne botulism. Hence, it is necessary to train and inform people about how to process and keep the cheese to prevent similar cases.

The aim of this study was to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in obesity and overweight in children aged 10 to 12 yr old.A cross-sectional study.This study was conducted on 2506 children aged 10 to 12 yr old in the city of Sanandaj, western Iran in 2015. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Considering household situation and assets, socioeconomic status (SES) of the subjects was determined using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Concentration Index was used to measure inequality and Oaxaca decomposition was used to determine the share of different determinants of inequality.The prevalence of overweight was 24.1% (95% CI: 22.4, 25.7). 11.5% (95% CI: 10.0, 12.0) were obese. The concentration index for overweight and obesity, respectively, was 0.10 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.15), and 0.07 (95% CI:0.00, 0.14) which indicated inequality and a higher prevalence of obesity and overweight in higher SES. The results of Oaxaca decomposition suggested that socioeconomic factors accounted for 75.8% of existing inequalities. Residential area and mother education were the most important causes of inequality.To reduce inequalities in childhood obesity, mother education must be promoted and special attention must be paid to residential areas and children gender.

Background: Screen time (ST), including watching television and playing electronic games are the leading cause of a growing obesity epidemic. This study aimed to evaluate ST and its association with physical activity, overweight and socioeconomic status (SES) in children 10 to 12 years of age in Sanandaj. Methods: This study was designed as a cross-sectional study, which was conducted in Sanandaj in 2015. ST and physical activity data were collected using the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire (MAQ). Overweight indices are defined based on BMI age- and gender-specific percentiles, as proposed by WHO criteria. Considering household assets data, SES was calculated using principal component analysis (PCA). The relationship between ST and different determinants was assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results: Based on the results obtained in our study, 47.28% (95% CI: 45.33-49.24) of the participants spent more than two hours a day on television and video watching and electronic games playing. People who spend greater time on ST activities, independent of their physical activities, are more susceptible to overweight and obesity (p=0.002). People in higher socioeconomic groups spent more time on watching TV and video and playing electronic games (p=0.001). There was a direct relationship between the residential area and ST (P=0.052). ST in male was found to be greater (p=0.033). In addition, ST was also lower in school-aged children whose mothers had a greater education (p=0.56). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to increase the education level and knowledge of mothers and design interventions consistent with children gender and residential location so that to reduce ST and its associated outcomes in children.