Risk factors associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection in blood donors in Iran: A case-control study.

Background: Despite setting the stringent criteria for the selection of safe donors, some human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive volunteers manage to give blood. Considering the window period of screening tests, this could endanger the safety of blood supply.

Materials And Methods: A frequency match case-control study was conducted on HIV-positive and negative blood donors in Iran from 2007 to 2008.

A country-wide comparison of cost recovery and financing systems of blood and blood products.

Background: As blood is a scarce and expensive resource, irrational blood usage places huge burden on health expenditures. In response to this challenge, governments and health care providers are developing different strategies to optimize blood utilization. Among these strategies is trying to raise the public awareness on the actual costs of the blood production and changing the cost recovery systems of blood and blood components.

Meeting the Challenges of International Crises: The Experience of the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization.

ABSTRACTCrises require a timely and well-prepared response by health services, especially those that are directly engaged with the lives of the patients such as blood services. The Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization as a single national authority of blood transfusion has left many crises behind. In this study, we examined the main international crises that the blood transfusion organization has faced during its 44-year history and objectively evaluated the methods for crisis risk reduction, both administrative and operational, all of which have led to fundamental advances in the organization.

When Health Diplomacy Serves Foreign Policy: Use of Soft Power to Quell Conflict and Crises.

Objective: Health diplomacy has increasingly become a crucial element in forging political neutrality and conflict resolution and the World Health Organization has strongly encouraged its use. Global turmoil has heightened, especially in the Middle East, and with it, political, religious, and cultural differences have become major reasons to incite crises.

Methods: The authors cite the example of the human stampede and the deaths of over 2000 pilgrims during the 2015 annual Haj pilgrimage in Mecca.

Comparison of Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood Selenium Levels in Low and Normal Birth Weight Neonates.

Objective: To compare the maternal and umbilical cord serum selenium concentrations in Low and normal birth weight neonates.

Materials And Methods: A case-control study was carried out in Vali-Asr and Akbarabadi Hospitals (Jan. to Dec.

The effects of two different breastfeeding workshops on improving knowledge, attitude, and practice of participants:a comparative study.

Health professionals play crucial roles on the self-confidence of nursing mothers and their knowledge of breastfeeding. The aim of this study was a comparison of two different breastfeeding workshops on participants' knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) and related factors. A cross-sectional study took place in Fetal and neonatal Research Centre (2011- 2012).

The status of blood safety in ECO member states.

Background: Access to the information concerning blood safety is essential for managing problems and overcoming the challenges that are faced in any given region. Information on the availability and safety of blood in countries of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) is largely lacking. To address this problem, the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organisation, in collaboration with other ECO member states, initiated a research project in 2009 to collect, analyse and compare statistics on blood safety in the region.

Iron deposition in duodenal mucosa; a review and report of three cases in pediatric age group.

Background: Ferrous sulfate drops are routinely used in Iran in infants older than 6 months of age. Effect of ferrous sulfate drops in preventive or therapeutic doses on gastrointestinal mucosa of infants is not studied as yet. Upper gastrointestinal complications due to acute iron poisoning are well known in this age group.

Blood donor incentives: A step forward or backward.

Dramatic increase in blood usage and critical seasonal blood shortages are faced by various countries. Countries which previously reached 100% voluntary nonremunerated donation have been led to offer different kinds of incentives to recruit blood donors and meet their blood demands. In some cases, these incentives are considered monetary and are in complete contrast with International standards like World Health Organization (WHO).