Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Abstract Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the most common cause of mortality and
morbidity in women. Intervention programs aimed at improving the lifestyle can reduce the
incidence of these diseases and their factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate
the difference of the interventions impact on CVD risk factors and the women’s physical
and biochemical indicators based on education levels. Materials and Methods: As part of
Isfahan Healthy Heart Program after identifying the status of women over the age of 18 and
over five years, a large educational or environmental intervention was performed in different
methodologies and in order to improve the lifestyle. Some organizations such as health care
centers and the Literacy Campaign Organization have cooperated for low educated women.
Demographic data and risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes and serum lipids
were investigated and compared during the first and last phase. Data were entered in SPSS‑15
software and were analyzed by using T‑test in two independent samples, Chi‑square test
and Fisher exact test. Results: Findings of this study showed that performing the five years
interventions could reduce physical and biochemical indexes such as nutrition, lipid profile,
waist circumference and waist‑to‑hip ratio in both groups (P < 0.005). In the pre‑intervention
phase, 6391 subjects and after the intervention 4786 women participated. After Interventions,
women with higher educational levels were showed significant decrease in Body Mass
Index (BMI) (P = 0.01) and dyslipidemia (P = 0.02). Conclusion: The present study showed
that the community-based interventions even in low‑literate women could cause effective
changes on improving lifestyle and CVD risk factors. Due to the greater impact of interventions
in literate women, effective interventions should be considered in the society to decrease the
prevalence of Non‑Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Abstract Introduction: Obesity is a growing problem in all countries which leads to various physical,
psychological, and social problems. The present study aimed to assess depression
in children and adolescents aged 10-18-year old compared with the control group.
Materials and Methods: In a case-control study, from among the 10- to 18-year-old students
of the five education districts of Isfahan, 100 people (50 girls and 50 boys) were selected as
obese children with the Body Mass Index (BMI) of greater than 95th percentile for their age
and gender and 100 others (50 girls and 50 boys) as the control group with the BMI of 5th to
85th percentile. The case and control groups were matched for age, gender, and socio-economic
status. After calculating BMI based on weight (kg)/height2 (meter), subjects were interviewed
based on DSM IV criteria to diagnose clinical depression. The severity of children’s depression
was measured using standardized questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the case group
was 12.2 ± 1.86-years old and that of the control group 13.06 ± 2.25. They were, respectively,
diagnosed with depression of 7% and 6%. The mean depression score of the case group
was 11.7 ± 5.3 and that of the control group was 10.6 ± 6.03 with no statistical significance.
Discussion: Given our findings, the Jolly fat hypothesis applies to the case group. It seems
that health policy-makers need to make intervention plans to change behavior; attitude, skill,
and knowledge (BASK) of the public toward obesity and its long-term side-effects.

Abstract Background: Health volunteers can have a great effect by training the population about prevention
of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and lifestyle modification. This study evaluated the health volunteers’
knowledge following the “Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP)” that was performed between 2000
and 2006. Materials and Methods: In this study, 491 females were selected among health volunteers
in the Isfahan and Najafabad districts as intervention areas and Arak as a reference area through
2000-2001 until 2006. They participated in training courses on CVD, its complications, methods
of prevention of risk factors control as well healthy lifestyle promotion. The health volunteers’ level
of knowledge was assessed before and after training. Results: Before intervention, there was no
significant difference between the scores of health volunteers in the intervention and the control
regions in terms of knowledge about recognizing the symptoms, complications and prevention
of CVD and relevant risk factors and healthy lifestyle. However, their knowledge scores increased
significantly in the fields of CVD (β = 0.13, P = 0.04), hypertension (β = 0.18, P = 0.009), healthy
nutrition (β = 0.19, P = 0.007), appropriate physical activity (β = 0.17, P = 0.01) and dealing with
stress (β = 0.16, P = 0.02) after trainings. Conclusion: The 6 year interventional program of IHHP
showed that training health volunteers on prevention of CVD, their risk factors and modification of
lifestyle continued to be effective even in a long time.

Abstract Context:Studies on the World Health Organization Frame‑work Convention on Tobacco Control(FCTC)
are scarce in Iran and the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR). Aim: This study was conducted in
2007‑2008 in Iran to design a practical evaluation model of the implementation of FCTC with the
potential to be adopted in the EMR. Given that, the findings of this evaluation can be useful in increasing
political and public support for enforcing the implementation of legislations, testing their feasibility, and
maintaining sustainability. The viewpoints of tobacco growers as part of stakeholders in this regardwould
have an influential role. Settings and Design:This study was a qualitative one to investigate the tobacco
growers viewpoints about thestrengths/weaknesses of FCTC implementation in Iran. Materials and
Methods: In this study, we conducted semi‑structured in‑depth individual interviews with 5 tobacco
growers. All interviews were carried out with their permissionwere recorded and were assured that
their interviews will be kept confidential. All questions were related to different FCTC articles, then
written transcripts were prepared and the basic concepts were extrapolated. Statistical Analysis:After
transcribing the recorded interviews, we extracted first level codes and main concepts from them.
Results: The findings suggested that although tobacco growers agreed with FCTC implementation,
however, subjects like the necessity to support tobacco growers and obtaining insurance from the
government, the necessity of the enforcement of national tobacco control law and planning to decrease
access to tobacco by policy makers were the most key points that tobacco growers pointed to them.
Conclusion: Our results showed that tobacco growers agreed with the implementation of FCTC but
they worried about their job and the expenses of their daily life. Therefore, it seems that policy makers
have to design a plan to support tobacco growers for changing tobacco with a safe cultivate.