Mental health of Iraqi adolescents

To estimate the prevalence of flourishing and the association of mental health status with the socio-demographic characteristics and conduct problems of adolescents. A total of 8807 adolescents were included in this study. Data were obtained from knowledge, attitudes and practices household survey carried out in 2004. Each adolescent was interviewed by a trained team and a specially designed questionnaire was filled. Emotional, psychological and social well-beings were assessed through a series of measurements. Conduct problems were measured by self-reporting of school skipping, smoking, alcohol drinking, inhalant use and arrestment. The prevalence of flourishing, moderate mental health status and languishing were 5.6%, 20.3% and 74.1%, respectively. The prevalence rates of school skipping, smoking, and other conduct problems [alcohol drinking, inhalant use, and arrestment] were 60.1%, 62.8% and 59.2%, respectively. Mental health was significantly associated with age, educational level, and various conduct problems [p<0.001]. No significant sex variation was demonstrated. Flourishing was significantly decreasing with advancing age [p<0.0001] and it was significantly lower among smokers [p<0.0001], and those with other conduct problems [p<0.0001]. The low rate of flourishing among adolescents was associated with a high rate of conduct problems which could be a psychological response to the stressful condition prevailing in the country during the last 3 decades

Low birth weight an Baghdad, Iraq

Many reports demonstrated an increase in low birth weight in the past three decades. This work was carried out to study the prevalence of low birth weight and its determinants among neonates delivered in Baghdad, Iraq. A total of 400 singleton newborns delivered at two hospitals in Baghdad city during 15[th] June to I5[th] Nov. 2003 were included in the study. Half of the neonates were born with low birth weight. Out of the low birth weight neonates, there were 83% preterm neonates. Prevalence of low birth weight neonates was significantly associated with maternal age, age at marriage, parity, and anaemia. This study indicates that the most appropriate approach for prevention low birth weight and prematurity in newborns is through improvement of nutritional status and health services