Objectives Elder abuse is one of the major social health problems in communities which has significant effects on decreasing their health and safety. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of elder abuse by family members and its related factors in Gonabad, Iran. Methods & Materials This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 on 401 elderly people in Gonabad, Iran. Who were selected using cluster random sampling. Data collection tools were a two-part questionnaire including a demographic form and the questionnaire of elder abuse by family members. The questionnaires were completed in a community health center. Data were analyzed in SPSS software version 23, using descriptive and inferential statistics. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results The mean age of participants was 68.53±6.75 years. The prevalence of elder abuse by family members was 44.6%. The highest prevalence of elder abuse was related to care negligence and the lowest prevalence was related to rejection. The educational level (P=0.03), history of hospitalization (P<0.001), sleep quality (P<0.001), income level (P<0.001) and level of dependency (P<0.001) had a statistically significant relationship with the prevalence of elder abuse by family members. Conclusion Given the high prevalence of elder abuse in Gonabad city, it seems necessary to have programs to increase the awareness of the elderly, their caregivers, and health personnel to prevent and reduce elder abuse.

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for longevity and survival traits from birth to yearling in Moghani breed of sheep. The data set comprised of 4580 lamb survival records collected during 1994 to 2012 in the breeding station of Moghani sheep. Traits studied were cumulative lamb survival from birth up to 3 (S1), 6 (S2), 9 (S3) and 12 (S4) months of age, and corresponding longevity of lambs (L1, L2, L3 and L4, respectively). The linear and threshold animal model analyses were run using a restricted maximum likelihood method and average information algorithm (AIREML) of the WOMBAT software and MATVEC program, respectively. Also, cumulative survival traits were analysed using the sire model through the Weibull proportional hazard function of the MATVEC program. Direct heritability estimates obtained from different linear models varied from 0.004-0.021, 0.014-0.023, 0.058-0.069 and 0.006-0.061 for L1, L2, L3 and L4, respectively. Also, heritability estimates on the logarithmic scale for S1, S2, S3 and S4 obtained from the Weibull sire model were 0.57, 0.40, 0.08 and 0.03, respectively. Medium to high estimates of heritability for survival traits, employing proportional hazard models, suggest that lamb survival could be improved through direct selection within the flock. ARTICLE HISTORY

Objective: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease and a major global health-related issue. Knowledge, attitude and behaviours associated with this disease are being developed. Infected animals and consumption of contaminated foods are probably the main sources of this viral infection. Adhering to a healthy diet is effective in preventing patient affliction and recovery. Thus, the present research aims to determine the nutritional knowledge, attitude and behaviours associated with COVID-19 among Residents of Gonabad, Iran. Design: The present online cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2020 on 389 people selected through convenient sampling method. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire developed by the present researchers comprising four sections: demographic information, knowledge, attitude and nutritional behaviour. The collected data were analysed statistically in SPSS. Setting: Gonabad city in Khorasan Razavi in the Northeast of Iran. Participants: All people at or above 18 years of age. Results: The present results revealed that the mean age of the participants was 37·3 ± 11·3 years. The mean scores for knowledge, attitude and nutritional behaviour were, respectively, 9·7 ± 1·4, 14·3 ± 3·5 and 29·6 ± 4·2. The mean scores for nutritional knowledge and attitude showed no statistically significant correlation with age, education, occupation, marital status and economic status. However, the mean nutritional behaviour score was significantly higher among women than men (P = 0·004). Conclusions: Participants’ nutritional attitude and behaviour regarding COVID-19, at its early stage in Iran, were average and above average. The public education provided with this regard can have affected this result.

Objectives: Low quality sleep is one of the most common problems in old age. The present study aims to determine the effect of a sleep hygiene education program using Telephone Follow-Up (TFU) method on the sleep quality of the elderly. Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 80 eligible elderly people aged 60-74 years who were selected using a systematic random sampling method and were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received a one-hour face-to-face education session on sleep hygiene. The TFU were carried out two times per week in the first month and once a week in the second month after intervention. The control group received routine care. The data collection tools were a demographic form and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. The PSQI was completed for both groups immediately after the second month. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the mean PSQI score before intervention in the intervention (8.02) and control (7.47) groups (P=0.32), but after the intervention, the mean PSQI score in the intervention group (5.42) was significantly reduced compared to the control group (7.67) (P<0.001). Conclusion: Sleep hygiene education program based on TFU improves the sleep quality of the elderly. It is recommended that health care providers use this method to improve the sleep quality of the elderly.

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