Identification of Reproductive Health Monitoring Indicators in Iran

Introduction As a result of recent demographic changes, Iran has revised its reproductive health programs. To respond to the essential need for monitoring the new programs and policies, this study aimed to identify tailored, appropriate, and measurable RH indicators in the Iranian context, using available evidence and international indicators.Method This is an applied mixed-methods research, which was conducted in four phases: Identification of goals of RH policies and programs, scoping review of the RH indicators in the literature, developing and ranking the identified indicators, and finalization of indicators. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the textual data of the documents and policies. We analyzed the studies in the scoping review by narrative synthesis. The final indicators were selected through the consensus of experts, with a cut-off point of 75%. Result We identified 689 indicators through document analysis and scoping review. After three round of screening, a total of 37 RH indicators were finalized. The first five indicators with the highest score were: total fertility rate, population under 15 years, total population, population aged 65 years and older, and age-specific fertility rate.Conclusion: The nature and number of indicators for monitoring and evaluation of reproductive health programs might vary at different organizational levels; hence the need to develop specific indicators for each level is pivotal. In addition, the need for collection, processing and dissemination of reliable data for evaluation of these programs is essential.

Navigating and resisting the compulsory military service in Iran: embodied experiences of non-heterosexual Iranian men

In the homosocial space of the all male military service, (hetero)masculinity and gender normativity are promoted and bravery and warrior mentality are highly valued. On this basis, policing gender and sexuality is a relevant issue, aiming to reward heteronormativity and hyper masculinity and marginalize non heterosexuality and gender nonconforming performances. In the Iranian context, since the Iran Iraq war (1980–1988), military service has produced a feature of militarized (hetero)masculinities through the cult of martyrdom. It enforces soldiers to stand up against the enemy, be willing to seek martyrdom and sacrifice themselves in order to protect the Islamic Iranian homeland. It is a symbol of entering adulthood and during that time young men are expected to embody the official ideology which revolves around heteronormativity and strict gender norms. In this context, the focus of this paper is the embodied experiences of those young conscripts who do not embody the (hetero)masculine ideal, because they are either non heterosexual or do not fit into the strict regime of gender. Drawing on ethnographic data, and policy documents, this paper shows how the idea of the (hetero)masculine ideal has been translated into practice through the dispositif of the sarbazi and how some young Iranian non heterosexual men try to resist conscription while others try to find ways to carve out a liminal heterotopic space during their military service.

Developing a Study Protocol for Analyzing Policies to Promote Physical Activity Among Urban Middle-Aged People: A Case of a Metropolitan City in Iran

Background: The level of physical activity (PA) among middle-aged Iranians is less than optimal. This study will be carried out to analyze and recommend policy options to promote PA among urban middle-aged adults in Tabriz, one of the metropolitan cities in Iran. Methods: This multi-method policy analysis study will include the following four phases: First, a qualitative content analysis to explore the reasons for lack of PA. Second, a comparative study of successful PA programs and policies in Iran and other similar developing countries. Third, a qualitative thematic analysis based on the policy triangle to analyses PA promotion policies using the key informants’ views. Fourth, analysis and prioritizing the policy options suggested by a panel of experts using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) techniques. Conclusions: Prospective policy analysis promises the systematic process of selecting potentially effective policy options to promote PA in metropolitan settings of developing countries. The results of this study will provide a comprehensive vision of the most appropriate policy options based on the criteria of acceptability, effectiveness, and feasibility for addressing PA at the local and national levels. Considerations on the challenges of PA policymaking cycle and the barriers to the implementation of current policies in the Iranian context will also be identified.

Outcomes of community-based suicide prevention program in primary health care of Iran

Background Suicidal management and prevention in communities, especially in its first stages, is an effective intervention for the health systems. However, in numerous societies most cases go undetected. Primary Health Care (PHC) is an effective place for the management of Suicide Prevention Programs (SPP). In Malekan County, a health community assessment found suicide as the most important health problem. A regional SPP was performed for suicide prevention during 2014–2017. Methods This study was carried out in six steps: (1) Establishing a research team, (2) Improving a registry for suicidal behaviors (SBs), (3) Identifying local determinants of SBs, (4) Training healthcare providers, (5) Follow-up and monitoring of SBs, and (6) Public awareness campaigns. Our ultimate goal was to lower the rates of suicide, and suicide attempt (SA) by 15 and 20 %, respectively. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios and the 95% confidence intervals. Results A total of 821 SAs and 32 suicides were identified. The gender distribution for suicides was 70% males whereas SAs were 64% among females. The majority of suicides occurred in spring 18 (56.25%) while summer was the most common season among SAs 288 (35.8%). Almost 62 and 75% of suicides and SAs have used hanging and poisoning methods, respectively. Hanging increased suicide risk significantly (OR: 8.5, 95% CI 2.9–76.99). During the study, 93 life-skill and parenting education sessions were held. The incidence rates of suicide and SA decreased from 11.22, and 203 per 100,000 in 2013 to 2.63, and 157 in 2017, respectively. Similarly, the re-attempt to SAs ratio decreased from 12% to 2013 to 6.7% in 2017. Moreover, more than 8% of SBs were collected from adjacent Counties. Conclusions At the study end, suicide, SA, and re-attempt were lowered by 75%, 22%, and 42%, respectively. The practical framework that achieved in this study could be used as a basis for developing future SPPs and suicide researches in the Iranian context. Furthermore, the various socio-economic and socio-cultural challenges highlight the need to consider a wide range of contextual factors when developing an SPP.

Collaborative Governance, a Tool for Enhancing Compliance with COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines. A Study in Iranian Context

Background: Since the spread of COVID-19 disease around the world, several practitioners have sought to the ways that hasten control of the pandemic. There is a gap in contemplation of governance system’s effect on compliance with prevention guidelines targeting decrease in the disease’s consequences. This article is aimed to clear this gap. Methods: A model of collaborative governance was chosen to examine the effect of governance elements, composing of starting condition, institutional design, facilitative leadership and collaborative process. The SEM method was applied using PLS software and the survey was held among 220 people all around Iran. Results: Findings showed that collaborative process has a significant effect on compliance with prevention guidelines. Also, facilitative leadership and institutional design have positive impact on compliance variable. Conclusion: Examining the effect of collaborative governance model on compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines is a novel idea, especially because it is held on Iran with its complex cultural conditions. Based on the results, it is strongly suggested that policy makers in Iran consider joint actions and collaborative measures in controlling the disease. The measure can also be useful in other countries or other upcoming pandemics with regards to their socio-cultural context.

THE IMPACT OF CORRECTIVE FEEDBACK ON IRANIAN EFL LEARNERS’ WRITING COMPLEXITY, ACCURACY, AND FLUENCY

Background/Purpose: Recently, corrective feedback (CF) has gained considerable importance in language teaching research. Up until now, there has been less attention to the use of CF in an Iranian context. This current study aims at investigating the impact of corrective feedback on Iranian intermediate EFL learners’ Complexity (C), Accuracy (A), and Fluency (F) in their writing production. Methodology: After administering an Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT), the researcher selected 30 Iranian intermediate learners at a private English language institute in Isfahan, Iran and divided them into two groups of 15 randomly. An Oxford placement test was run to make sure that the two groups were homogenous. A series of writing tasks were developed to examine the participants’ performance in writing. The experimental group attended the class in which CF was performed where they received feedback from the teachers and also their partners in the class (by crossing out and explaining) during the writing tasks on how to use the correct forms of the words and tenses. The control group attended the class in which CF was performed briefly. At the end of the study, all subjects participated in paragraph writing. To compare the group means for the study, a test analysis was performed. The difference between the experimental and the control group was considered to be important. Findings: The results of Independent and samples t tests revealed that the participants in the experimental group outperformed the ones in the control group in writing production. The results clearly indicated that the participants who received CF did better than those who did not. Therefore, the findings generally revealed that CF had a significant effect on Iranian intermediate EFL learners’ writing complexity, accuracy, and fluency. Contributions: This study has multiple benefits for language learners and teachers. Utilizing CF in writing classes can be a practical way to improve students’ proficiency and writing skill. In addition, this study draws attention to the Complexity, Accuracy, and Fluency (CAF) of written production. Keywords: Corrective feedback, complexity, accuracy, fluency, Iranian Intermediate EFL learners. Cite as: Ghahderijani, B. H. (2021). The impact of corrective feedback on Iranian EFL learners’ writing complexity, accuracy, and fluency. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(2), 250-272. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss2pp250-272

Foreign language learning and identity reconstruction: understanding of interaction of the self

This study focuses on the processes & relationships between foreign language learner's identity and interaction foreign language proficiency associated with learning English in private language institutes in Iranian context, especially, participants' beliefs about languages & participants' views about the language question are analyzed. This analysis integrates the speaker's practices and beliefs to issues of identity construction and negotiation that are observable in two contexts. Some English as a foreign language learners from 3 language institute in Tehran were picked to participate in the study, based on stratified sampling. The instrument were a 30-item likert-scale questionnaire on motivation types & social responsibility, individual development, information medium, ... 24 likert-scale questionnaire on self-identity changes, such as, self‌-confidence change, subtractive change, productive change, results reveal that how language practices in human interaction display and construct identity and correlation analysis indicated that motivation types of self-identity changes and signal participant's negotiations of their own identities of these or others. Instrumental orientations related with learner's self-confidence change.

Reintegration of Ex-Offenders Convicted of Violent Crimes into the Community in the Iranian Context: A Qualitative Study

Community reintegration of ex-offenders is a main issue for reducing recidivism. This article aims to explain the process of reintegration into the community based on the experiences of people who have been convicted of violent crimes in Iran. A qualitative study based on grounded theory was conducted in 2020 in Tehran/Iran. Data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 26 participants. An institutional review board approved the study. Results indicate that the “worry trap” is the main challenge that those convicted of violent crimes face upon reentry into society. If these individuals are provided with governmental and non-governmental services and support, they can move toward “restoring their lost social capital.” The “redefinition of an independent identity” is a consequence of released individuals’ struggle to restore their lost social capital. Further research exploring the causality of social capital and improved outcomes after release from prison and reentry to community is needed.

Measuring universal health coverage to ensure continuing care for older people: a scoping review with specific implications for the Iranian context

Background: To measure progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) in the context of ageing, it is necessary to develop suitable monitoring frameworks. The global UHC monitoring framework is focused on priorities for younger populations and does not adequately address issues relevant to ageing populations. Aims: This study aims to propose a framework to measure UHC in a way that is relevant to health systems responding to population ageing. Methods: Based on a search strategy focusing on measures of UHC in relation to older people’s care, we searched electronic databases and screened the records to qualitatively analyse the data. We also conducted 2 rounds of expert panel consultations to discuss the findings and examine the feasibility of the recommended indicators using the case of the Islamic Republic of Iran as an example. Results: We identified main themes and classified core indicators under each theme. Besides 25 indicators for quality of care, there were 22 indicators for financial protection. Ten indicators were retrieved measuring coverage and access to long-term care. Some indicators were excluded owing to limited data availability or absence of related programmes and some alternate indicators were proposed. Conclusions: We identified several indicators which could be used to measure progress toward UHC in the context of population ageing. However, not all of these indicators are feasible in context of low- and middle-income countries. This study could offer useful general guidance on how to define the exact set of measures in a specific country context.