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Background: Sharing of injecting paraphernalia is known to contribute to hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission amongst people who inject drugs. Objectives: In this paper, we identify the variables correlated with paraphernalia sharing among male drug injectors in Kermanshah city, western Iran. Methods: We enrolled 606 male drug injectors using snowball sampling in a cross-sectional study. Serological testing for HCV, HIV and HBV infections were performed after the completion of a bio-behavioral questionnaire. To identify variables associated with paraphernalia sharing, logistic regression analysis was completed. Results: The respondents were aged 18–65 years (mean±SD age of 36.7 ± 8.5). Approximately half of those surveyed (55.3% 335 individuals) reported sharing of injecting paraphernalia in the month prior to interview. Serological testing showed 54.8% (CI 50.8–58.7%), 6.4% (4.4–8.3%) and 2.9% (1.6–4.3%) positive result for HCV antibody, HIV antibody and HBs-Antigen, respectively. Being unemployed P <.001, single P <.001, having a history of drug overdose P <.001, having a previous positive HCV test P <.001, less than weekly attendance to needle/syringe programs P <.001and alcohol consumption P <.001 were all significant in the final model. Conclusions: With over half the participants reporting injecting paraphernalia sharing, providing more accessible harm reduction programs together with HCV testing and treatment programs may help to reduce the transmission of HCV among networks of drug injectors in Kermanshah city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that determined the prevalence of blood-borne infections and risk behaviors among male prisoners in Kermanshah, Iran. Topics include the use of multivariable logistic regression to assess the link of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV infections with related risk factors, HIV infection's association with same-sex relationships, and risk factor distribution by HBV, HCV, and HIV biomarkers in male prisoners.

Introduction: Nowadays, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has turned into a major health predicament worldwide, varying from country to country, and geographic studies performed in Iran on HIV are limited. So, the present study aimed to use spatial patterns analysis and analyze hotspots of HIV over the period 1994-2013. Material and methods: The research method was descriptive, analytic, and cross-sectional. Additionally, the recorded data on HIV-stricken patients based in the Kermanshah County over 1994-2013 were used, and the spatial trends of HIV were analyzed by Arc/geographic information system (GIS). Results: Nearly 3318 inhabitants based in Kermanshah were proven to be infected with HIV over 20 years, of whom 92% were male and 8% were female. Moreover, intravenous drug users had the highest percentage of being infected with HIV (85%). Studying the spatial trends of HIV demonstrated that the majority of infected people were based in Kermanshah County (88%). Conclusions: During the past 20 years, the number of HIV-stricken women has had an upward trend, and the possibility of being infected through intravenous drug injection and sexual intercourse was reported the same in 2013. HIV prevalence increased in Kermanshah Province and three hotspots were identified there. Managers can use the results of the present study when planning for health-related practices such as those related to HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationships that age and gender share with risk factors (RFs) of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) were assessed among a large-scale employ in Western Iran. Methods: In this epidemiologic cross-sectional study, 7129 employees from Kermanshah Province were assessed using a census method in 2012. Data on RFs of NCD were collected using a standard questionnaire. Demographic information, diet, physical activity, tobacco use, and history of hypertension, history of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and cancer were studied. Results: The proportion of ≥ 5 servings of fruits and vegetables consumption per day was lower in higher ages (P = 0.001 ), and this proportion was greater in females than males (72.1 % vs. 47.8%; P < 0.0001). Tobacco use was more in higher ages and was higher among males than females (13.3% vs. 0.6%; P< 0.0001). Overweight and obesity prevalence increased in higher ages and was more prominent among males than females (67.8% vs. 55.3%; P< 0.0001). Overall, the prevalence of having 3-5 RFs was greater among those with ≥55 years and among males than females (20.4% vs. 6.6%; P< 0.0001). Conclusions: The prevalence of major RFs of NCDs was greater among older persons and male participants. More preventive programs such as health education on employees of Kermanshah are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identifying the pattern of tobacco use and its related factors in employees is crucial. This study aimed to investigate the pattern of tobacco use and its related factors in employees of Kermanshah Province, Iran. Methods: In 2012, 7129 employees were investigated in a cross-sectional study using the census method. Data on tobacco use and on several chronic diseases obtained using a standardized questionnaire on noncommunicable diseases risk factors of the World Health Organization through face-to-face interviews. Statistical analysis was performed based on the Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression. Results: In general, the prevalence of tobacco use, smoking cigarettes, and smoking waterpipe was 9.9%, 8.9%, and 1.2% among the employees, respectively. Tobacco use was significantly higher in the age group over 40 (14.0%), in male gender (13.3%), in married individuals (10.8%) and in those with diploma and lower degree (16.4%), (P < 0.001). At the individual level, the odds ratio of tobacco use was 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-1.8) in hypertensive, 1.8 (95% CI: 1.2-2.6) in diabetic employees and 1.7 (95% CI: 1.3-2.3) in those with heart diseases, compared to healthy individuals. After adjusting for age, gender, marital status and educational level, there was not any significant relationship between tobacco use and health complaints and only the demographic variables remained significant. Conclusions: Preventive public health policies are mandatory especially in younger ages and male employees to promote their knowledge on disadvantages of tobacco use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was conducted to explain the trend of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in Kermanshah Province, western Iran from 1991- 2012. Methods: In this analytical-descriptive study, all of the patients suspected to CL in Kermanshah Province were studied. Smears were prepared from most of them, stained with Giemsa, and examined microscopically for Leishman bodies. A few of the patients were diagnosed according to physician diagnosis and response to glucantime. Questionnaires were completed for all of them. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS-21 and Spearman and Kendall tests. Results: From 1991 to 2012, 1684 cases of CL were recorded. In the years 2011- 12 the frequency of CL in the province reached to 7.4/100,000, which showed a remarkable increase in the frequency of new cases CL in the province. In the years 2011-12 about 47% of total cases of CL in the province, was seen in Ghasr-e-Shirin district,which the frequency of CL in this district reached to 264.5/100,000. Frequency of CL in males and females was 57% and 43% respectively. The most cases of CL were seen in housewives (32.1%) and age groups of 20 to 29 years old (19.9%). In addition, the most cases of disease were seen in winter (41.8%) and fall (28.9%). Conclusion: CL is increasing remarkably in warm climates of the province, and Ghasr-e-Shirin must be of particular interest, as the most infected district in the province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited research on the role of lifestyle in people living with HIV (PLWH). This study investigated the health-promoting lifestyle among PLWH in Kermanshah-Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 321 PLWH patients referred to the Kermanshah Behavioral Diseases counseling Center between 2017 and 2018. Patients were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data was collected using a standard health promotion lifestyle profile (HPLP-II) questionnaire. Regression and T -tests were used in SPSS 21 and Stata software to analyze the data. The mean age of patients was 41.07 ± 9.14 years. The mean HPLP score of patients in stress management had the lowest mean score (19.44 ± 4.22), and health responsibility had the highest mean score (22.22 ± 4.57). Comparisons between women and men also showed that women had a lower mean score than men in stress management. In addition, significant differences in their HPLP were observed only in the area of physical activity. The final model had significant influence on the PLWH ( P  < .001), in which the main predictors were housing status, family members, and feelings of happiness. These variables had a negative effect on HPLP in PLWH's. An appropriate education and training has improved the PLWH health-oriented lifestyle. Given that the housing situation affected health responsibility, nutrition, spiritual growth, interpersonal relationships, and stress management, may have caused severe anxiety and confusion in PLWH. Addiction also had a negative effect on patients' spiritual growth. Relatively simple lifestyle changes such as nutrition and stress management can significantly improve PLWH.

Background and objective: Stomach cancer is the second common and the most deadly type of cancer in Iranian populations. The pattern of this cancer varies in different populations; demonstrating association with environmental, racial, and geographical factors. The focus of this study was to identify the clustering and the high-risk and low-risk regions for stomach cancer by using spatio-temporal analysis in Kermanshah province during 2009-2014. Method: All new cases of stomach cancer were studied by census method in 2009 to end 2014 in Kermanshah province. The required information and statistics (address, age, and sex) of patients were extracted from the cancer registry system of Vice-Chancellor in health affairs, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. Also, with having the location, diagnosis time, and counting information of all age groups of stomach cancer patients, the spatially and temporally abnormal places of clustering were identified with the use of saTScan and GIS. Results: the total number of stomach cancer subjects during the period of study was 1040, with a mean age of 66.5± 1. in addition, 11 regions (located in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd municipal districts) demonstrated abnormal Spatio-temporal pattern of stomach cancer incidence (hot spots) and clustered disease, with 5 regions (in 4th and 5th districts) representing lower chance of clustering (cold spots, p value˂0.05). Conclusion: Given the growing rate of stomach cancer incidence in specific geographical areas and, its high potential of mortality, and the possible relationship with environmental variables (e.g. climate variables); the efforts need to be focused on the identification of hot/cold spots, the predisposing factors, and the possible clusters in the affected areas., (Creative Commons Attribution License)