Factors associated with fatigue in patients attending a family medicine health center in Erbil city

Fatigue, is a common presenting symptom in primary care which negatively impacts work performance, family life, and social relationships. The aim of this study is to determine the causes of fatigue and to explore the relationship between fatigue and physical, mental, social and demographic factors among patients with special reference to gender. A cross sectional study was carried out at the Brayati Family Medicine Center in Erbil city from 1st of July to the 31st of October 2011. We studied 320 patients of both genders attending the center for various reason complaining from fatigue. Formal consent was obtained. Demographic data in addition to two questionnaires were completed, Lowa fatigue scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. 86 males [26.88%] and 234 females [73.12%]. The age of the subjects varied from 16-74 years .The mean age was 29.2 years, 39.69% were in the age range 30-44 years. 58.12% were illiterate or read and write only; 65.63% were married and 57.19% re-ported their economic level as medium. 38.44% were fatigued according to lowa fatigue scale. Higher level was detected among older age group, singles, and low economic and minimum educational status [51.16%, 45.31%, 41.80%, 41.18 and 42.57% respectively]. Depression was significantly associated with fatigue, 70% of patients who were depressed complained from fatigue. Findings indicated that, in addition to increasing anxiety among the study sample, higher levels of fatigue were detected in 61.36% of them. Fatigue as a symptom is very common both in community and health care settings but remains medically unexplained. The most important confounders in our studied population were depression and anxiety

Women's satisfaction about MCH care services provided to pregnants attend antenatal care units in Erbil city

Quality of antenatal care services and client satisfaction are interrelated concepts. Measuring quality of care conceptualized in such a broad manner represents a true challenge Studies have revealed positive correlations between patient satisfaction and health care utilization. The present study aimed to determine the level of satisfaction for pregnant women in Erbil society for provision of services and health care utilization. Cross sectional study was carried out on 300 pregnant women attending [MCH] maternal and child health unit of three primary health care center [PHC] in Erbil city [nazdar bamerni, mala-afandi, azadi] from 1st of March 2008 to the 5th of September 2008. The variables included were socio-economic state, age, occupation, address, educational state, religion, satisfaction with overall care provider, drug provision, tetanus vaccine, waiting time, and health education regarding family planning and breast feeding programs. About two third of the sample at age group 21-30 year, majority of women 76% was housewives, 43.3% with primary school education, most of them 77.7% from moderate socioeconomic status,89.7% satisfied with care services available, 91.4% were satisfied with adequate medicine supply, 88.7% satisfied with tetanus vaccine supply, 84% of the sample satisfied with waiting time in less than one hour, while access of session in female health education talking about important family planning and birth spacing method were19.4%, and information of benefit breast feeding 42.3%.The study revealed that majority of women satisfy with health care services but Erbil need to improve in the program of health education regarding family Planning and benefits of breast feeding