Hospital authorities should conduct a broad review of medical waste management, including improved employee training. This step should have a positive effect on local health, as well as the environment. Improvement is also needed in the infection prevention performance of hospital healthcare workers. This approach should reduce additional production of infectious waste and costs associated with healthcare.

Background:The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and related factors of low birth weight (LBW) in the Southeast of Iran.Methods:This cross-sectional study was carried out in Kerman province. Data were collected from Iranian Maternal and Neonatal Network at public and private hospitals. All live births from March 2014 to March 2015 considered as the source population. The risk factors including maternal age, gravida, parity, abortion, pregnancy risk factors, maternal nationality, maternal education, maternity insurance, place of living, consanguinity, neonate sex, preterm labor, place of birth, delivery manager, and delivery type were compared between LBW and normal birth weight groups.Results:The prevalence of LBW was 9.4% in the present study. Preterm labor (odds ratio [OR]: 22.06; P < 0.001), neonate female sex (OR: 1.41; P < 0.001), low parity (OR: 0.85; P < 0.001), pregnancy age <18 years (OR: 1.26; P = 0.012), pregnancy age >35 years (OR: 1.21; P = 0.001), delivery by cesarean section (OR: 1.17; P = 0.002), pregnancy risk factors (OR: 1.67; P < 0.001), maternal illiteracy (OR: 1.91; P < 0.001), living in the rural area (OR: 1.19; P < 0.001), consanguineous (OR: 1.08; P = 0.025), and delivery by obstetrician (OR: 1.12; P = 0.029) were identified as significant factors associated with LBW in this study.Conclusions:Prevention of preterm labor, consanguineous marriage, pregnancy age <18 and >35 years old, and maternal medical risk factors are some critical interventions to reduce its burden. Increasing the access to high-quality health-care services in rural and deprived areas is another effective strategy for the prevention of LBW.

Background: Happiness is considered an index of the development of human society and well-being in the world. Aims: The aim of this study was to measure the level of happiness (LoH) in a middle sized Iranian city (Kerman) using 2 instruments and the predictor factors. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 1000 adults were questioned using multi-stage cluster sampling in 2016. The LoH was assessed using the Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI) and a self-report questionnaire. The level of physical activity and the religion index were assessed using standard questionnaires. Results: The results of 2 questionnaires had a statistically significant correlation with measuring LoH (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.69; P-value < 0.001). Around 90% of participants stated that they had moderate to high LoH, but the mean happiness score based on the OHI was 43.2 (43.7 in men, 42.7 in women). Illiteracy, unemployment, divorce, living in deprived areas, high level of stress, weak religious beliefs and practice, lower income, and poor health significantly 1 / 13 WHO EMRO | Levels and predictors of happiness in the south of the Islamic Republic of Iran decreased the LoH score. Conclusion: LoH is relatively low in Kerman. There are effective evidence-based interventions that might promote the LoH of the population, including promoting the level of community health, educating for stress management and improving access to urban facilities in deprived areas.

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Excessive use of cytotoxic drugs owing to a dramatic increase in malignancy incidence leads to the production of high amounts of cytotoxic wastes. In Iran, management of hazardous wastes has been neglected in recent decades. The aim of this study was to determine the amount of intravenous cytotoxic drug wastes, their collection and disposal status in chemotherapy wards, and to compare the current status with standard guidelines in Shiraz, Iran. This cross-sectional study was performed using data collected during 2 consecutive months, from 22 June to 22 August 2011, in all 13 chemotherapy wards in Shiraz. The amount of prescribed drugs, drugs waste, collection and disposal status of cytotoxic drugs were recorded. We then compared the current status of waste collection and disposal in our samples with our national guideline. The prescription of cytotoxic drugs and the amount of total drugs waste reached approximately 6 and 0.2 kilograms respectively. Total vials volume was calculated to be approximately 1000 l in order to estimate the volume of containers required for the encapsulation method. The results demonstrated that the current status of cytotoxic waste collection and disposal is inappropriate, and none of the facilities under study followed our guidelines perfectly. The adherence to all recommendations and guidelines was poorer in private wards than in government-run ones. The management of cytotoxic wastes is inappropriate and our existing national guidelines are lacking. Suggestions for the best management of cytotoxic waste are revising the existing guidelines, allocating a sufficient budget, training healthcare workers, providing multiple administration options of cytotoxic drugs and accomplishing a surveillance system.