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Background: Obesity is a chronic disease and threatening factors of public health. Obese people have negative body image, and low self-confidence can lead to sexual dysfunction. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between obesity and sexual function in women referred to health centers of Birjand in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 126 married women who were selected via a multi-stage sampling method from Birjand Health centers in 2014. The participants were categorized into three groups according to BMI (normal (BMI: 18.5 - 24.9), overweight (BMI: 25 - 29.9), and obese (BMI ≥ 30)). Then, demographic and female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaires were completed in the groups by the self-administrative method. For data analysis, STATA version 14.1 software was used in this study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics tests, and multiple linear regression models. The significance level was considered 0.05. Results: The study showed a significant difference between the three groups in total score of sexual function (P < 0.001). In addition, a statistically significant difference was observed in desire, arousal lubrication, orgasm, and sexual satisfaction scores between the groups (P < 0.001). The results of the regression model showed that the sexual function score of obese people was lower by 15.87 units than normal people. Moreover, the sexual function score of overweight people was 4.67 units lower than normal people. Also, the variables of age, salary, duration of marriage, and the age at first pregnancy are effective factors in female sexual function (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Obesity can affect female sexual function. Therefore, efforts to promote sexual function in obese women are considered as one of the most important topics in women’s health care. This requires more attention to identifying various aspects of sexual life and finding effective ways to promote and improve these persons’ sexual function.

Background: In medical sciences, commitment to lifelong learning has been expressed as an important element. Today, due to the rapid development of medical information and technology, lifelong learning is critical for safe medical care and development in medical research. JeffSPLL is one of the scales for measuring lifelong learning among the staff of medical sciences that has never been used in Iran. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the factor structure and reliability of the Persian version of JeffSPLL among Persian-speaking staff of universities of medical sciences in Iran. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study, methodologically, that was conducted in 2012-2013. In this study, 210 staff members of Birjand University of Medical Sciences were selected. Data collection tool was the Persian version of JeffSPLL. To investigate the factor structure of this tool, confirmatory factor analysis was used and to evaluate the model fit, goodness-of-fit indices, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), the ratio of chi-square to the degree of freedom associated with it, comparative fit index (CFI), and root mean square residual (RMR) were used. To investigate the reliability of tool, Cronbach's alpha was employed. Data analysis was conducted using LISREL8.8 and SPSS 20 software. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis showed that RMSEA was close to 0.1, and CFI and GFI were close to one. Therefore, four-factor model was appropriate. Cronbach's alpha was 0.92 for the whole tool and it was between 0.82 and 0.89 for subscales. Conclusion: The present study verified the four-factor structure of the 19-item Persian version of JeffSPLL that included professional learning beliefs and motivation, scholarly activities, attention to learning opportunities, and technical skills in information seeking among the staff. In addition, this tool has acceptable reliability. Therefore, it was appropriate to assess lifelong learning in the Persian-speaking staff population.

BackgroundThe current study was conducted to investigate the relationship between unwanted pregnancy based on couples’ opinions and infant nutrition type in women referred to the health centers in Mashhad city and their husbands.Materials and MethodsIn this analytical-descriptive study, unwanted or wanted progenies were studied from the viewpoints of 366 women referred to the health centers in Mashhad city, Iran and their husbands, and also their relationships with infant nutrition type at the age of 4 months. The data were collected through questionnaires. The validity and reliability of the method and instruments were confirmed by content validity and test-retest. Moreover, data analysis was done using SPSS-16.0 software.ResultsThe average age of women in wanted pregnancy was 26.43±4.57 years and 27.57±5.22 years in unwanted women. The results showed a statistically significant relationship between unwanted pregnancy from the viewpoints of couples and infant's nutritional status (P=0.03). The prevalence of unwanted pregnancy in women with lower education (middle and high school) was higher than those with higher education.ConclusionOur results showed a significant association between baby’s nutrition and unwanted pregnancy. Furthermore, an increased use of non-exclusive breastfeeding in unwanted pregnancy is necessary. Hence, proper use of contraceptive methods, preventing the adverse consequences of unwanted pregnancy such as non-exclusive breastfeeding, useful educational strategies, counseling and health services are necessary to be taken into account.

Introduction: Nowadays breast cancer is the most important factor concerning the women’s health which can affect the quality of life (QOL). This study was performed with aim to investigate the QOL and the related factors in Iranian women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014-2015. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 94 women with breast cancer who were selected by convenience sampling in Mashhad, Iran from 2014-2015. The data were collected through Demographic and Clinical Questionnaire and EORTC QLQ-C30.V3 Standard Questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS software (version 18) and also descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis. P

Since the breast is strongly relevant to sexual desire, and physical and sexual attractiveness, the high prevalence of breast cancer (BC) in Iran and longterm survival of patients experiencing side effects means that measures to identify associated sexual problems are necessary. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess sexual function and affecting factors in women with BC.This crosssectional study was performed on 94 women with BC, referred to Imam Reza (AS) Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, in 2014. The data were collected through demographic and clinical questionnaires and also a sexual function questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 16.The total score of women's sexual function was about 24.3±4.41. Of the total, 63 (71.3%) reported sexual dysfunction, for example reduced satisfaction or more pain. Age was the only significantly related factor.Breast cancer can adversely affect women's sexual function and decrease quality of life. Thus, taking measures to overcome women's sexual problems are necessary.

To assess postpartum sexual function in mothers using different infant feeding methods.The comparative cross-sectional study comprising women referred to health centres in Mashhad, Iran, was conducted from July 7 to December 11, 2011. Sexual function and infant-feeding method of the subjects were assessed four months after childbirth. Data was collected using the standard Female Sexual Function Index and baby's feeding method questionnaire. SPSS 11.5 was used for statistical analysis.There were 366 women in the study with a mean age of 26.70±4.70 years who were using four methods of infant-feeding: exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding plus complementary feeding, formula milk, and breastfeeding plus formula. There was a significant difference between women's sexual function score and infant-feeding method (p=0.04). The highest score 6.23±3.5 belonged to women who had exclusive breastfeeding.There was a difference in women's sexual function between different groups of infant feeding methods. The highest score of sexual function was found in breastfeeding women. Women need to be educated about exclusive breastfeeding and its positive effects on sexual function.