Assessment of infectious diseases surveillance system in Mosul, Iraq

There is a growing international awareness that coping with infectious diseases threat relies on effective and efficient epidemiological surveillance system. To evaluate the infectious diseases surveillance and response system in Mosul, Iraq. This study examined the structure and performance of the core activities, response and supportive functions of infectious diseases surveillance system. Data were gathered via sets of questionnaires that cover both interviews and certain observations at local, sectors and regional health levels within these institutions in Mosul city, Iraq. There is an acceptable registration, reporting activities and passable supervisory visits for the disease specific surveillance systems at health facilities level, while all poor for monthly passive surveillance. Obvious lack of standardized case definitions with limited ability for laboratory diagnosis at health facilities surveyed. Feedback activities were the weakest issue in the surveillance at all levels. Nonexistence of essential activities required for the system to act as an early warning system for epidemic detection at health facilities and sectors levels. There is poor reporting facilities, although 76.5% of health facilities have computers, none of them use this equipment for compiling and reporting surveillance data. Special attention required for the improvements in supervision, standardized case definitions and quality of reporting, analysis and feedback of monthly passive surveillance, with a continuous support for the disease specific surveillance systems activities

Risk markers in cholelithiasis

To determine the size of the problem of cholelithiasis and identify the responsible risk factors. Case-control study. Al-Zahrawi Teaching Hospital in Mosul. A total of 218 subjects were enrolled in the study to compare 109 cholelithiasis cases with 109 controls. Odds ratio and 95% Cl interval were used, x[2] test, Z-test between two proportions were computed. Backward logistic regression module was also used. From the anesthesia records the fraction of cholelithiasis operation formed 6.5% and 40.4% for the years 1990 and 2000 respectively. Adjustment of the results with backward logistic regression analysis reveals several significant risk factors [female sex, urban residence, body mass index, positive family history of cholelithiasis, eating fried food, butter and solid fat, smoking]. Significant risk factors should be taken into consideration during the campaign of health education conducted early in life

Pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and subsequent pregnancy outcome

That aim of the present study is to identify the adverse effects of various severity groups of pre-eclampsia on pregnancy outcomes. To achieve the aim of the present work, a total of 354 pregnant women were enrolled in a case control study design to compare 177 cases with 177 controls selected according to the method of paired sampling with individual matching from the two major maternity hospitals in mosul during a six months period. Results show that pre-eclampsia carries a high risk to the mother and even higher risk to her fetus, where pre-eclampsia is significantly associated with giving birth to dead or low birth weight baby and baby of APGAR score at one minute <7 who needs admission to neonatal intensive care unit. Early detection of such conditions in order to prevent obstetrical crisis is mandatory. The aim of the present study is to identify the adverse effects of various severity groups of pre-eclampsia on pregnancy outcomes. To achieve the aim of the present work, a total of 354 pregnant women were enrolled in a case control study design to compare 177 cases with 177 controls selected according to the method of paired sampling with individual matching from the two major maternity hospitals in mosul during a six months period. Results show that pre eclampsia carries a high risk to the mother and even higher risk to her fetus, where pre-eclampsia is significantly associated with giving birth to dead or low birthweight baby and baby of APGAR score at one minute <7 who needs admission to neonatal intensive care unit. Early detection of such conditions in order to prevent obstetrical crisis is mandatory

Community medicine diploma in Mosul university: a competency-based curriculum

This study presents an example of the cooperation between higher education and health services. It describes the curriculum of professional diploma in community medicine in College of Medicine, Mosul University

Community based growth monitoring

To increase efficiency of utilization of the growth chart through community participation. Design: Health manpower training; task-based training of mothers and local community health worker in monitoring of children body weight, utilizing the growth chart. Setting: Sherikhan village and it's primary health care [PHC] center. Participants: A trained local village worker monitored a total of 100 under five years' children for their body weight. Their own mothers monitored another group of 50 children. The physician in the PHC center also monitored 100 children as a part of her routine work. Main outcome measure: The following items were used in the assessment of the growth charts filled by the local village worker, mothers and the physician in the PHC center: Child's calendar filling; years registered against birth month; size, position and linking of weight marks made correctly; administrative information; frequency of visits and identification of risk factors. Each item was given a score of [2] except the frequency of visits for which a score of [6] was allocated. The total rating was [16]. Z tests for the difference between two proportions and t-test for the difference between analysis of the results were used for data evaluation. The growth charts filled by the local village worker were better than those filled by mothers and both were superior to those filled by the physician in the PHC center. The loss rate of growth charts was significantly reduced after instituting the training program. Conclusions and recommendations: A task-based training of local community workers and mothers would practically promote the desired level of growth chart's utilization. This type of community involvement with trainees of limited size would encourage others to have similar responsibilities

High risk approach in materinty care

During four years period, from 1989 to 1992, 113 cases with tumors or tumor-like lesions of the jaws were reported in Mosul. Based on histogenesis and behavior, the lesions were divided into 11 groups, with 89 cases epithelial odontogenic cysts formed the largest group. Other lesions were trailing well behind. The nearest were benign fibro-osseous lesions of six cases followed by giant cell tumors of five cases and ameloblastoma of four cases. Benign lesions with relative frequency of 97.3% were far more common than malignant tumors, which formed only 2.7% of the total. Throughout the study, fifteen pediatric cases were encountered forming 13.3% of the total