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 The International Journal of Hygiene

Current Issue

Vol. 265 No. 44-66 (2025): 4/2/2025
View Vol. 265 No. 44-66 (2025): 4/2/2025

The rising occurrence and growing intensity of humanitarian emergencies—such as armed conflict, mass displacement, natural disasters driven by climate change, and emerging infectious diseases—continue to present formidable challenges for public health infrastructure worldwide. These situations often result in the breakdown of critical services, mass migration, and serious disruptions in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems. Such disruptions significantly increase the risk of infectious disease transmission and weaken disease detection and control mechanisms.

This special issue seeks to investigate the convergence of epidemiological science, environmental risk factors, and humanitarian crisis contexts, with an emphasis on:

  • Patterns and burden of diseases in displaced and high-risk populations
  • Environmental factors including contaminated water, inadequate sanitation, and air pollution
  • Use of epidemiological tools, modeling, and rapid-response surveillance in unstable environments
  • Psychological and mental health consequences of displacement and environmental adversity
  • Strategies to strengthen the adaptability and functionality of public health systems in crisis-prone regions
  • Data-driven interventions and health policy approaches aimed at reducing disease risk during emergencies

We welcome original research articles, systematic reviews, case reports, and policy-focused papers that present novel insights and practical frameworks for managing health challenges in emergency contexts. Submissions from conflict-affected and resource-limited regions are particularly encouraged to foster inclusivity and global relevance in the public health dialogue.

Core Areas of Interest Include (but are not limited to):
  • Transmission dynamics and outbreak patterns in internally displaced populations and refugee communities
  • Sanitation and hygiene practices within zones affected by conflict or disaster
  • Public health outcomes stemming from climate-induced environmental crises
  • Development and deployment of integrated disease monitoring and alert systems
  • Multisectoral coordination in emergency response and humanitarian health management
  • Application of One Health methodologies in fragile and emergency-affected settings


Published: 2025-03-20

Articles

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Causes of Death and Disease Burden in Iran- Across sectional Study 

 

Abstract

       Healthcare providers and policymakers require reliable, up-to-date data on causes of death (COD) to improve healthcare infrastructure, guide primary prevention, allocate resources, and enhance public health initiatives. In Iran, the leading causes of death and their overall burden remain insufficiently identified. Previous studies in this area have been local, outdated, or lacked comprehensive national representation. This study aims to evaluate the major COD and their burden in Iran.                

Introduction       

Healthcare professionals and policymakers need accurate, up-to-date information on mortality causes to enhance healthcare infrastructure, guide preventive measures, allocate resources, and improve public health initiatives. However, in Iran, comprehensive national data on major mortality causes remain scarce. Given the global shift in mortality patterns, where non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are projected to contribute to 70% of all deaths by 2030 (WHO), reassessing mortality trends in Iran is crucial.           

Methods     

A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2014 on graduate students and their families. Using a two-stage random sampling method, data from 11,315 individuals were collected. Information on age at death, gender, and year of death was obtained. Causes of death were classified into nine categories, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, motor vehicle accidents, unintentional injuries, intentional injuries, stroke, lower respiratory infections, diabetes, and other causes. The disease burden was assessed using Years of Life Lost (YLL) and person-years of life lost (PYLL) as primary indicators.

                

Results       

Among 360 reported deaths, 66.9% were male. The leading COD were cardiovascular diseases (26.4%), motor vehicle accidents (17.8%), cancers (11.4%), and injuries (both intentional and unintentional, 12.5%). The average YLL for all COD was 34.4 ± 18.5 years, with motor vehicle accidents and injuries contributing to the highest YLL (p < 0.001). PYLL was highest for motor vehicle accidents (2613.1 years), followed by cardiovascular diseases (2159.4 years) and cancers (1321.0 years).

                

Conclusion       

The findings highlight cardiovascular diseases, motor vehicle accidents, cancers, and injuries as the major causes of death in Iran. Motor vehicle accidents account for the highest years of life lost, followed by cardiovascular diseases and cancers. These results emphasize the urgent need for targeted public health interventions, road safety improvements, and preventive strategies to reduce premature mortality and improve life expectancy in Iran.

                Keywords: Cause of death, mortality, life expectancy, cardiovascular diseases, traffic accidents, public health policies
   

 

Table 1: Cumulative Incidence of Death in the Studied Population

Cause of Death Frequency in Dead Cases (n=360) Cumulative Incidence in Dead Cases (%) Cumulative Incidence in Samples (n=11315)
Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total
Cardiovascular diseases 65 30 95 18.1 8.3 26.4 0.57 0.27 0.84
Motor vehicle accidents 52 12 64 14.4 3.3 17.7 0.46 0.11 0.57
Cancers 25 16 41 6.9 4.4 11.4 0.22 0.14 0.36
Unintentional injuries 14 9 23 3.9 2.5 6.4 0.12 0.08 0.20
Intentional injuries 20 2 22 5.6 0.6 6.1 0.18 0.02 0.19
Stroke 8 2 10 2.2 0.6 2.8 0.07 0.02 0.09
Lower respiratory infections 5 3 8 1.4 0.8 2.2 0.04 0.03 0.07
Diabetes 4 2 6 1.1 0.6 1.7 0.04 0.02 0.05
Other 48 43 91 13.3 11.9 25.2 0.42 0.38 0.80
Total 241 119 360 66.9 39.8 100 2.13 1.05 3.18