Physical violence against school children

To find out the prevalence of violence against children in Iraq through a sample of primary school children, and to throw light on some of the associated factors. Sixty primary schools were surveyed. A total of 4528 students [2396 boys and 2132 girls age between 8-11 years] were interviewed to collect information about age, gender, number of sisters and brothers, father's and mother's occupation, in addition to information about exposure to violence [source, frequency, reasons for violence, sequel of violence, reaction and feeling of the child towards violence]. The results showed that 64% of the sample children were exposed to violence. The main source was the mother [62.5%] followed by the father [59.2%]. Quarrels were the main reason for violence [74.9%]. Regarding gender; 75.5% of the boys and 52.5% of the girls were exposed to violence. The most common reaction of the child was silence 38.6%, crying 33.6% and violence 14.1%. While 44.7% agreed that violence was not good, 29.3% take it as a natural norm. The results also showed that 93% of children living in families with domestic violence were exposed to violence. Two thirds of the children are subjected to violence at home, school, or street. The perpetrators are mainly the parents. Some of children tolerate violence and consider it as normal. There is a link between domestic violence against women and that against children. There was a highly significant association between large family size and violence

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