ABSTRACT
Background and objective: Rotavirus gastroenteritis is the most common cause of acute dehydrating diarrhoea among children younger than five years and globally the most important cause of severe diarrhea in this age group. Most children acquire rotavirus infection before they turn two years of age. Rotavirus vaccination can prevent rotavirus infection. This study aimed to assess healthcare providers' knowledge regarding rotavirus vaccine
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 100 healthcare providers at four healthcare centers [Azady, Tayrawa, Mala Fandi and Zhyian], during July to August 2014. Data were collected through the use self-reporting questionnaire format, which was developed for the purpose of the study. A socio-demographic sheet was also constructed to determine characteristics of the subjects
Results: Most of the healthcare providers were in the age group 33-42 years old [31%], 51%, were male, 80% were married, 56% were graduated from the institute, half of them had work experience between 2-11 years and 29% were working in vaccination room. Fifty -four [54%] of healthcare providers had average knowledge while 24 [24%] and 22 [22%] of them had a poor and good knowledge, respectively
Conclusion: More than half of healthcare providers had average knowledge regarding rotavirus vaccine
ABSTRACT
Thalassaemia is a heredity blood diseases characterised by decreased synthesis of one of the two types of polypeptide chains [beta or alpha] which form the normal adult human hemoglobin molecule [HbA, alpha2,beta2], resulting in decreased filling of the red cells with haemoglobin, and cause anaemia. The study aimed to improve mothers' knowledge and practices of Thalassaemic children who are using Desferal therapy. A quasi-experimental study was carried out at Hawler Thalassemia Center in Erbil City from the 1[st] of March to the end of May 2010. One hundred mothers were selected and divided into two groups, 50 mothers exposed to the educational programme [study group] and a second group of [50] mothers were served as control. Pre and post test of subject of interest were done during the two occasions. The results revealed that mothers' knowledge and practices in the study group were improved. There is no significant association between mothers' knowledge and practices with socio-demographic characteristics at pre-test which became significant at post-test. Yet, most of the mothers in the study group have gained benefit from implementation of this educational programme