Prevalence of self-medication among university students in Baghdad: a cross-sectional study from Iraq

The objective of this study is to find out the prevalence and determinants of self-medication among college students in Baghdad, Iraq. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Al-Mustansiriyah and Al-Nahrain universities, Baghdad, from January to April 2015. A multistage random sampling technique was adopted to collect data from 1435 college students using a questionnaire form. The mean age of the joining students was 19.8 years. Females form 53% of the sample. Self-medications use was prevalent among 92.4% of students. Antipyretics and antibiotics were the most used medicines. Self-medication was higher among urban residents [OR= 7.99, P < 0.001]. Students living with their families practiced self-medication more than others [OR= 2.501, P = 0.037]. Students at health-related colleges showed greater resilience to self-medication [OR=0.455, P = 0.001]. Despite free access to healthcare institutions, nine out of ten college students from Baghdad universities have practiced self-medication. Education of students about the safe use of medications and supervision of pharmacies are effective ways to control this malpractice

Physical violence against women and its effect on child morbidity

To assess the prevalence of physical domestic violence against women in Mosul city and to investigate the relationship between domestic violence and the extent and severity of children illness. A cross-sectional population-based study with a face-to-face structured interview was conducted, 800 married women [each of whom should has at least one baby] were interviewed. The results showed that 22.3% of the women in Mosul city are exposed to physical violence. Episodes of physical health problems were significantly higher among children of mothers who are abused by their partners than in children of non-abused women. Those mothers [with violence] are at double risk of having children with more severe and numerous attacks of various morbidities [RR= 2.4, CI= 2.36-2.43]. Domestic physical violence against Iraqi women is currently present, and relatively common. The physical abuse against women inside their homes is positively associated with a significant high risk [frequency and severity] of various diseases affecting their children

Trend of childhood cancers in Iraq after the two gulf wars

This study was conducted to find out the rates of childhood malignancies in Baghdad hospitals, and to study the changes in the trend of these diseases in three periods of time after the first and the second Gulf war. This hospitAl based record study was conducted during the period from February through June 2007 in the two main centers of childhood oncology in Baghdad; Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, and Child's Central Teaching Hospital. All the records of patients [age between 0-15 years and diagnosed as having malignant diseases during the following three periods] were included. The first period includes the years [1990, 1991], the second period [1997, 1998], and the third period includes the years [2004, 2005]. The total sample was 2013 patients; 1172 males and 841 females; 462 patients were diagnosed in the first period, 688 in the second and 863 patients in the third period. The study showed a slight increase in the rate of childhood malignancies over the three periods [3.46, 3.52, and 4.04] /100000/ year respectively. There was an increase in the number of cases in all age groups especially patient's age less than 5 years. The male: female ratio was 1.4:1 with no significant change through the 3 periods. Leukemia was the most common childhood malignancy followed by lymphoma and solid tumors [1202, 421, and 332] patients respectively. The majority of patients live in the middle region of Iraq with the highest frequency from Baghdad. There is an increase in the survival percentage [9.9%, 25.5%, and 32.4%] and decrease in fatality percentage over the three periods [41.3%, 32.4%, and 27.9%] respectively. There is an increase in the rate of childhood cancer in Iraq during the studied period, with no detectable changes in the trend regarding the type, and geographical distribution

[Evaluation of the PHC system in Iraq]

Description of the availability and operation of infrastructure, workforce, equipment, and supplies at the primary health care level of the health system in Iraq, and suggesting a renovative plan for Iraqi health system reform. A cross-sectional national survey conducted during the period from February 2004 to September 2005 that evaluates 30 primary health centers from 8 governorates. Thirty primary health care centers were selected from 8 provinces by an adjusted sampling Eleven objective convenience criteria were selected for evaluating buildings structure and infrastructure; signs and label guides, state, look, and healthiness of the health care building, presence of a garden, waiting place convenience, adequate furniture, presence of AC generator, air-conditioners, examining rooms' suitability, and overall convenience of the building. Health centers' buildings are unsuitable; a prediction model of six variables is built for buildings' suitability, using logistic regression. The average catchments population is high [60977]. There is one doctor for each 10.429 citizens. Professional workforce means are: 7.6 doctors, 6.6 dentists, and 0.8 pharmacists in each primary health care center. Health centers' paramedics are deficient with poor skill-mix, especially for medical assistants, nurses, sanitarians, and dental hygienists. The infrastructure of the health centers in terms of buildings and furniture is poor, so as the manpower skill-mix especially for nurses and medical assistants. The mean catchments population is high while there is an under-doctoring and maldistribution of medical personnel. Health information records system is primitive

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

Quality of life of patients on hemodialysis

The measurement of health related quality of life yields important information about patients' health, helps to assess treatment effectiveness, and may also identify those patients who need special care because of their increased risk of death and hospitalization. The aim of the study is to examine the lifestyle of patients with renal failure [on hemodialysis] as pre-requisite to designing a future health care program. A consecutive sample of 90 patients was pooled from all the hemodialysis centers in Baghdad, Iraq. Several aspects reflecting quality of life were studied through an interview. Only 32% of the patients studies were able to work; 68% were anxious; 34% possessed an aggressive attitude; 76% felt sad; 59% hated themselves; 96% had good relations with their parents, while 60% had poor relations with friends. With respect to the marital relationship, 66% claimed that they had a good marital relationship; 34% said that they had an acceptable one. Sexual relationship was good in 19%, acceptable in 19% and bad in 62%. With regard to meals, 74% were eating with their families and 62% were restricting food. Hemodialysis patients have significant changes in quality of life that are imposed on the due to their chronic disease and partial disability

Childhood obesity in Iraq: prevalence and possible risk factors

Childhood obesity is increasing in prevalence in developing countries. We conducted this study to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in primary school children age 7 to 13 years in central Iraq and to identify possible risk factors. The study was conducted in Babil governorate from October through March 2002. Eight thousand three hundred pupils [4100 girls and 4200 boys] randomly chosen primary schools were included in the study. BMI was measured and compared to standard tables. Information on possible risk factors was collected by questionnaire. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 6% and 1.3%, respectively. Significant associations were found between overweight and age, residency [urban - rural], birth rank, breast-feeding and certain dietary and lifestyle practices. The prevalence of obesity and overweight is relatively high in children in central Iraq. Modern dietary habits are an important influence in the development of childhood obesity that should be watched carefully and controlled

BCG-immuno therapy in patients with alopecia areata

Alopecia areata [AA] is a common systemic disease of autoimmune origin associated with abnormal circulating T-lymphocytes and negative tuberculin test. Different modalities of treatment had been used to induce hair re-growth but BCG vaccine has not been tried before, so this study aimed at testing the effectiveness of this new therapy. A total of 100 patients with Alopecia areata 43[43%] females and 57 [57%] males with a mean age of 24 years were studied. Tuberculin test in these patients was negative in [96%] even in already BCG vaccinated patients. The response to BCG vaccination was very encouraging and helpful and this response increased after the second and third dose of BCG. The response was much higher in patients with ordinary AA compared with those with Alopecia totalis [AT] and Alopecia universalis [AU]. In conclusion, BCG immunotherapy is an effective new mode of treatment and as effective as other modalities of treatment and can be recommended alone or in combination with other treatments to increase the success rate especially in severe cases of AA