Blood lead level among children in Basrah

A cross sectional study to assess Blood Lead Levels [BLLs] among children in Basrah was carried out during July 2005. The study included children 1-6 years old attending three selected primary health care centres located at different socioeconomic areas in Basrah [representing both rural and urban communities]. Two of the health centres are located in the city centre, one in a relatively high socioeconomic area [Al-Razi health centre] and the second in low socioeconomic area [Al-Seef health centre]. The third health centre included in the study is located in Abul-Khasib district. The questionnaire method was used in collecting information regarding socioeconomic factors that may be related to environmental exposure to lead, and a blood sample was taken from each child to measure the blood lead level. The BLLs among children in this study ranged between 1 and 65 microg/dL [mean +/- SD, 11.59 +/- 9.1 microg/dL]. Overall, 40.4% of children had elevated blood lead levels >/= 10 mg/dL]. The mean BLL was significantly higher for children who live in rural or in urban low socioeconomic area than that for children living in urban high socioeconomic area. Age above 2 years was significantly associated with elevated BLLs

Work-related allergic disorders among flour mill workers

A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out to study the prevalence of occupational allergic disorders among flour mill workers. In this study the flour mill workers from three major flour mill industries in Basrah [study group] were compared to non exposed group from diary products and pepsi cola industries [comparative group]. The results showed that the prevalence of work-related allergic conditions as reported by workers and diagnosed by one of the investigators was significantly higher among the study group than that in the comparison group

Cancer mortality in Basrah

This study aimed at determining the burden of cancer as a cause of death in Basrah over three selected years; namely 1989, 1997 and 2005. All death registries in Basrah city, Districts and sub districts were used as sources of information for data compiling. Every death recorded in the three years was checked for cause of death and all cases for which any type of cancer written as the cause of death were identified. Data related to age, sex, place of residence, type of cancer, place where death was certified and year of death were obtained. In addition, the numbers of total deaths due to all causes in each year were also recorded. The results indicate a total of 297 deaths in 1989, 499 deaths in 1997 and 649 deaths in 2005 could be attributed to cancer. Regarding sex distribution of deaths, slightly more deaths occurred in males [53.8%] than in females [46.2%] with significant rise of cancer in females in 2005. Cancer as a cause of death represents about 5% of all deaths with some degree of increase in 1997 and 2005 as compared to 1989, but no major change in the cancer specific death rates among different years. Geographically, the distribution shows significant but not substantial variation with years. The mean age of dead persons was similar in the three years. The leading cancer deaths were those of lung, urinary bladder, blood, breast, lymphomas and CNS. The overall risk of death is not much different in different years except for a slight increase in 1997 and 2005 in comparison to 1989. Most cancers show stable or slightly fluctuating level of risk of death with time. Slight rise in the risk of death may be noticed in cancers of CNS, blood [leukemia], Bones, lymphomas and Colon-rectum. The researchers suggest that the stable level of mortality could reflect some improvement in treatment based on early diagnosis of many cancers. A study covering at least ten years is highly recommended to establish more sound time trend in cancer mortality

Haematological changes among divers

Diving as a job, exposes individuals to a variety of environmental stresses not often encountered in other types of activities. These stresses lead to changes in many organ systems in the body of divers including haemopoietic system. No previous study was carried out in Iraq to examine the changes in haematological parameters among divers and the association between the diving environmental factors and these changes. This is a cross-sectional comparative study with a practical component. Eighty divers and 160 non-divers from the Iraqi Navy Force were included. Twenty-five divers were exposed to 2.5 ATA [Absolute Atmosphere] pressure for 15 minutes in a hyper baric chamber. All the studied haematological parameters, which were evaluated, including WBC count, RBC count, Hb concentration, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, platelet count, MPV, and ESR were found to be different in divers as compared to non-divers. The MCV, PCV, MCH, platelet count, were significantly lower in divers. While Hb, and MCHC values were lower in divers but without a statistical significant difference, In addition, the mean RBC count, MPV, and ESR were significantly higher in divers. While WBC count was not significantly higher in divers. The study confirmed the previous findings of other studies, which indicate that diving has an effect on the haemopoietic system. The need to introduce haematological investigations as part of the pre employment check-up of divers, as -well as periodic investigations of divers are recommended

Breast feeding during pregnancy and child's growth

This is a cross-sectional study carried out to study the effect of nursing during Pregnancy on the growth and nutritional status of breast-fed children. Two groups of children under two years of age were included in the study. The first group was breast fed children of pregnant mothers [124], while the second group was breast fed children of non-pregnant mothers [159]. According to weight for age, it was found weight for length, the prevalence of acute malnutrition [weight for length < -2Z score] among children of pregnant mothers was 34.7% compared to 26.4% among children of non-pregnant mothers. The prevalence of both under nutrition and acute malnutrition [wasting] increased with the increase in the duration of pregnancy. Stage of pregnancy significantly and independently affected the prevalence of wasting. Careful growth monitoring of breast-fed children of pregnant mothers with special attention to dietary supplementation was recommended

Falls among elderly people in Basrah

To estimate the incidence of falls among elderly and to study its determinants. This is a cross-sectional, household survey carried out in two areas in Basrah Governorate [namely Hay-Al Khalig "A1" and Shatt-Al Arab "A2"] for the period 1998-2000, involving elderly people [60 years and above]. The study involved 240 elderly from A1 and 211 from A2, special questionnaire used and filled by one of the investigators. The overall incidence of falls was 223.9/1000/year, with a higher incidence in A2 [270/1000/year] than A1 [183/1000]/year]. The incidence in females was nearly twice that of males [M: F ratio 1: 1.9], and was increasing with age. About one-third [34.0%] of falls needed medical intervention and [14.0%] required hospital admission. Nearly [13%] of falls associated with fractures at different sites, which was increasing with age. A significant inverse relationship was found between functional ability and the incidence of falls. Visual problem contributed to 30.7% of falls. Abnormal gait and balance significantly predisposed to falls. The prevalence of fear of fells was higher among females than males and was increasing with age. The results of this study indicate that, the incidence of falls among elderly in Basrah was relatively high, particularly among elderly females [286.9/1000/year], therefore, prevention of falls in elderly should be urgently adopted to control the increasing burden of the age-related fractures or other injuries

Functional ability of elderly people in Basrah/Iraq

This is a cross-sectional household survey, carried out in two areas in Basrah Governorate [namely Hay-Al- Kahlig "Al" and Shatt- Al Arab "A2"], to study the functional ability [Personal Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living] of elderly people and to study the factors affecting it [age, sex, health problem and it's duration, previous occupation, perceived health and Moral index. The study involved elderly people [60 years and above], 240 elderly individuals from "Al" and 211 elderly individuals from "A2". Special questionnaire was used and filled by one of the authors. The study showed that only one-third of the studied elderly were completely independent, the other two-thirds admitted having different degrees of dependency, with a significantly higher rates among females. Functional ability was significantly and inversely related to age. Functional disability, was higher among those who were skilled workers and housewives. CVA was the most disabling illness, followed by heart failure and hypertension. The duration of the health problem was significantly and inversely related to functional ability. The presence of functional disability showed a significant association with poor health perception and bad Moral index. The elderly had more difficulties in performing instrumental activities of daily living [I-ADL] than personal activities of daily living [P-ADL]. The study recommended modification of risk factors and may have association with functional ability

Pattern of services utilization in two communities in Basrah: a household survey

A household interview survey was carried out in Basrah during the period March-April 1995. It was planned to provide indicators on selected aspects of population health. In this paper, selected indicators on services utilization are presented and discussed. The study revealed relatively low coverage rates by antenatal care for pregnant women [47.4%] with primary health care centers being the main source for such care [78.4%]. However, the percentages of women who were hospital delivered and supervised by medically qualified personnel were fairly high: 65.5% and 75.4% respectively. The same was true for immunizations despite the clear drop out of infants from successive doses. Primary health care centers seemed to be the main source of curative care [29.7%] but doing nothing or practicing self-medication were prevailing in this population

Risk factors of acute respiratory infection among hospital listed children in Basrah: the results of a case control study

A case control study was carried out to investigate the role of selected presumed risk factors in the occurrence of acute respiratory infection [ARI] among hospitalised children below five years in Basrah City, south of Iraq. Controls were children of similar age range attending for routine immunization schedule. The main factors which were found to be associated with significant risk of ARI were parental illiteracy, presence of a sibling with ARI during the month prior to admission of the child, admission of a sibling below five years, use of kerosene for cooking and mother's employment. Father's smoking, crowding and use of kerosene for heating were not to be significantly associated with ARI among children

Risk factors of acute respiratory infection among hospitalised children in Basrah: a case control study

A case control study was carried out to investigate the role of selected presumed risk factors in the occurrence of acute respiratory infection [ARI] among hospitalised children below the age of five years in Basrah, Iraq. Controls were children of similar age range attending for routine immunisation schedule. The main factors which ere found to be associated with significant risk of ARI were: parental illiteracy, presence of a sibling with ARI during the month prior to admission of the child, admission of a sibling below the age of five years to hospital for ARI during the previous year, use of kerosene for cooking and mother's employment. Father's smoking, crowding and use of kerosene for heating were not found to be significantly associated with ARI among children