kufa Journal for Nursing sciences

Background: Globally, over 40 million people were displaced as a result of wars and violence due to religious and ethnic conflicts in 2015 while 19.2 million were displaced by natural disasters such as famine and floods. In Iraq, 4 million people were displaced by military process and terrorist violence. These events have potentially negative impact on the health of these populations.
Objectives: The present study aims to assess the effects of internal displacement on the mental health among displaced persons. It also aims to determine the social and demographic characteristics of the displaced persons, such as in age, gender, level of education, monthly income and duration of displacement their relationship to the level of psychological distress.
Methodology: A descriptive analytical study was conducted from 1/October /2014 until 15/January/2015 to realize the psychological distress of the displaced persons who were living in displacement camps. The research sample was conducted on (110) displaced persons, the ages ranging was from 20 to more than 50 years old who are living in displacement camps in Baghdad city, As they were chosen by depending on an intentional method by systematic random technique. Questionnaire was designed by the researchers for achieving the objectives of the study, which consisted of two parts; included both parts the combined information and demographic characteristics and psychological distress scale. Total of items of the questionnaire was estimated (17) items. Determination of the stability of the validity for the resolution was done through the inductive study. On other hand, data were analyzed by descriptive statistical and deductive analysis method, which included redundancy, frequency, percentage, mean and the coefficient correlation of Pearson and chi square.
Results: The results indicated that the majority of the displaced persons were male and aged 50 and more years old, most of them persons who had primary level of education and have somewhat sufficient in income level and family type is unclear, the vast majority of persons who were had a job before displacement. The persons with internal displacement had significantly moderate level of psychological distress. A significant effect has been found of gender, level of education, monthly income, and family type on mental health. There are significant relationships between psychological distress and age, level of education, occupation, monthly income and duration of displacement variables.
Conclusions: Internal displacement and is a prominent problem within many developing countries and emerging democracies such as Iraq. Our results suggested that internal displacement might be related to higher internalization mental health problems.
Recommendations: The researchers recommend is especially important to identify rights and guarantees relevant to the protection of displaced persons. This is likely to focus attention and provide much needed assistance for the appropriate resettlement and future reintegration of those persons within their countries.

Background: For thousands of years, and in many places around the world tattoos have been practiced, while it comes into existence spontaneously and practiced in cultural, geographic and climatic conditions completely.
Aim of the study: The study objected to assess perception of health-related risks and attitudes toward tattooing among institute students and faculty members in Mosul.
Methodology: Descriptive-Analytical study design was depended throughout the period "4th of March till 30th of April / 2018" among a female convenience sample of (283) students and faculty members from Technical Institute of Mosul. The researcher collected the intended information related to the topic of the study via an interview with each subject of the study by using structured anonymous questionnaire composed of three parts; demographic characteristics of the subjects, perception of health-related problems associated with tattoo and the attitudes toward it. The instrument was validated through opinions of (5) experts from the nursing field, while its reliability was measured through test-retest on (15) university female students, its result was (r=0.83). Data were presented through descriptive-analytical statistic.
Results: The sample had a weak level of perception with respect to health-related risks associated with the practices, from another side; religious obligations were the main limitation of being away from tattooing.
Conclusions: The study concluded that there was a clear ignorance of infectious diseases that could be transmitted through this practice. The study also concluded that the motives for the practice were very weak.
Recommendations: The study recommended on the need to raise the level of perception among the society about the health risks associated with the practice through the mass media. Also, in the event of its occurrence, obligations and commitments towards values, traditions, and religious beliefs must be respected.

Background: Injection is routinely administered by nurses in healthcare facilities and in the community. There for, improving the knowledge base for the best practice techniques of injections administration among nurses limit risk of undesirable complications among patients.
Aim of the study: The current study tends to assess the effectiveness of interactive workshops concerning parenteral methods of administration of medications on nurses knowledge toward best techniques.
Subjects and Methods: A pre-posttest quasi-experimental study was carried out starting from 1\ February \2016 to the 30\ July \ 2016. The subjects consisted of 30 nurses from Al-Hilal Hospital for Health Insurance in Sohag governorate as part of the in-service training program. The number has been changed during the study period to only 27 participants during the follow-up procedure. A questionnaire was used. It had two parts. (The first part): collects the nurses personal data (socio-demographic data part, and (the second part): measures nurses' knowledge of the right techniques of injections along 3 stages: before, immediately after, and during follow-up phase. The questionnaire has 20 MCQs revolving around the best techniques of parenteral administration such as 10 patient rights, injections sites, and side effects, the time and places of heparin injection, the uses of central venous catheter, and the risk factors of phlebitis with its symptoms and preventive procedures of extravasation. The data were analyzed by using the SPSS, version 19.
Results: The mean score of nurses knowledge concerning the best techniques of injection in pre-intervention phase was noticeably poor. It improved in posttest phase; and such improvement continued in the follow-up phase in spite of the slight knowledge shortage during this stage. The success of the interactive workshop has been highlighted by higher immediately posttest and follow-up scores (16.3 ±1.4, 10.5 ±2.2) respectively, compared with the scores obtained prior to training on parenteral administration (6.6 ±2.10), with statistical significant differences (p<0.00). The study indicates that the more a nurse is young; the more she is able keep knowledge and information in both the pre-intervention or follow-up phases, with statistical significant differences among group before the application of the program. The study also finds that those who have about 11 years experience and more are less knowledgeable compared to other group. The study also finds that graduates of secondary schools and technical institutes are more able to keep information during the follow-up phase compared to other group of nursing specialists, with statistical significant differences exists among groups in post intervention phase. The study indicates that there is a statistical relation between nurses age, years of experience and levels of acquiring knowledge.
Conclusion: The implementation of an interactive workshop concerning the best parenteral methods of administration of medication on nurses knowledge leads to, the improvement of nurses knowledge immediately after the intervention and for 3 months after the workshop.
Recommendations: The study recommends that more emphasis should be put continuous on interactive educational in order to provide high quality nursing care. A protocol about the best techniques of injection should be distributed among nurses, with intensive studies in this regard on a large scale of nursing specialists.

Background: Today's smartphones have become like the shadow of life. Many of us cannot give up or reduce their use despite awareness of side effects of it.
Aim of the study: To find out relationship of smartphone addiction among Kirkuk nursing undergraduate students with variables underlining in the study.
Methods: Quantitative study (descriptive design) was implemented on undergraduate students in University Kirkuk College of nursing from all four years of study, during the period from (10 March 2017 up to 1 April 2018). To measure the variables underlying the present study, cluster sampling (probability sampling) is executed to select 204 students. The Smartphone Addiction Scale questionnaire had used in this study. The Data was analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 and the analysis included descriptive (Frequencies and Percentages) and inferential procedures (t- test and ANOVA).
Results: by using t- test the finding shows highly significant differences between gender and type of the study in compare with Smartphone addiction at p value (=0.007) and (=.001) consequently, and non-significant relationship with having chronic disease at p value (= 0.49). On the other hand by using ANOVA, the result find-out that the age was significant in comparing with Smartphone addiction and Self-report of Smartphone addiction was highly significant in comparing with Smartphone addiction. On the other hand, marital status, Years of Study and Economic Status were statistically nonsignificant.
Conclusion: The present study figured out that Smartphone addiction in male students was higher in compare with female students, and Morning students were less addictive on smartphone. Moreover, Smartphone addictions showed significant relationship with Student age's and Self-report of Smartphone addiction.
Recommendations: Customizing seminars or debates about Smartphone addiction for students in universities. And performing other studies on Smartphone addiction in associated with the physical and psychological problems

BACKGROUND: Stomach cancer refers to any malignant neoplasm that arises from the region extending between the gastro esophageal junction and the pylorus. Approximately 95 % of stomach tumors are epithelial in origin and designated as adenocarcinomas. Adeno-squamous, squamous, and undifferentiated carcinomas are however rare.
Aim of the study: Assessment of the factors contributing to gastric carcinoma among patients at Baghdad educational hospitals.
METHODOLOGY: A descriptive design of study was carried out from the period of 1st October 2015 until, the end of May 2016, to a purposive random sample consist of (30) patients with gastric carcinoma. The instrument questionnaire tool consist of two parts, First part consist of (8) items & second part consist of (12) items. The study was conducted in (4) setting; Digestive system teaching hospital, Al-Emamain teaching hospital, Al kindy teaching hospital and Baghdad teaching hospital. The data have been analyzed through the application of: descriptive and the inferential analysis, and the researcher used the SPSS version 20 to analysis of data.
RESULTS: the characteristics of present study were male, their age group was 50 - 59 year old most of them were married. The study indicated that patients with changes factors complained of (using too many anti-inflammatory, stress and anxiety, complaining of stomach ulcers, high consumption of hot food or spicy and salty food, and consuming junk food). Smoker or patients with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancer were at high risk and a large proportion of them had no family history of stomach cancer, while other factors (such as working with chemicals in places related to health hazards such as rubber and coal, or patients with overweight, or alcohol consumption) were low risk.
CONCLUSION: The study concluded that the risk factors among patients with gastric cancer more common age group of (50 to 59) years old and the study showed that risk factors among patients with gastric cancer are associated significantly more frequently with low educational level.
RECOMMENDATION: The study recommends coordination with specialists from the Ministry of Health to establish centers for cancer of the stomach for the early detection of cancer and treatment and for the purpose of follow-up and equipped with all new technological machinery to examine cancer and motivate further studies in this aspect.

Objectives: Effect of some physiological and morphological characteristics of pregnant women (such as ABO blood groups, first baby movement, food craving, behaviors, abdomen shape, nipple color and face appearance) to determine baby gender have been investigated.
Methods: Total (766) pregnant women (visit primary health care centers and medical clinics at Al-Najaf city from the period of april 2015- april 2016) using special questionnaire. SPSS .ver.21 statistical software for window was used to analyze data.
Results: The results of the present study show that the percentage of the male sex was (50.91%) whereas about (49.086%) for female sex represented a normal sex ratio was 104-100. The results indicate that a significant association between first baby movement, food craving as well as nipple color of pregnant with baby gender, while there is no significant correlation between the othercharacteristics and baby sex ( blood groups, behaviors, abdomen shape and face appearance).
Conclusions: some characteristics of pregnant mothers may be used in determination of baby gender.
Recommendations: studies are needed to make a comprehensive assessment of the correlation between other characteristics and baby sex.

Background: Overweight and obese persons are at increased risk for heart failure. A direct effect of isolated obesity on cardiac function is not well established.
Objective: To assess the independent effect of increased body mass index on the left ventricular diastolic function. Methodology: cross sectional study to measure of the left ventricular diastolic function was carried out on (175) apparently healthy persons from both sex (68 female and 107 male) aged between 26-49 years (37.5±9.5). Personnel without any other pathological condition were studied. The study sample was divided into 3 groups according to their body mass index (kg/m²): [normal (18.5-24.9), overweight (25-29.9) & obese ( % 30)]. Echocardiographic indices of left diastolic function were obtained, and dysfunction was assumed when at least two values differed by % 2 SD from the normal weight group.
Results: Diastolic dysfunction was significantly higher in overweight and obese groups compared to the normal body mass index group. The deceleration time was with significant P-value (<0.01) and left atrial diameter (p< 0.01) was more in obese persons, while other diastolic variables were unchanged. No differences were found between obesity subgroups. Body mass index correlated significantly with indices of left ventricular diastolic function.
Conclusions: Subclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was noted in all grades of obesity which correlates with body mass index, and more significant in males than females.
Recommendations: people who are suffering from obesity are recommended for follow up and assessment, also they are in need for encouragement to active participation in weight reduction programs.

Objectives: this study aims to assess Demographic Characteristics like (age, level of nursing education and nurse\'s experience in the intensive care unit), and to assess quality of nursing care and to detect the association between the quality of nursing care with Demographic Characteristics like (age, level of nursing education and nurses experience in the intensive care unit).
Methodology: A descriptive quantitative design is carried out at Intensive Care Unit in AL- Nasiriya City Hospitals include Bent Al-Huda Teaching Hospital, Muhammad AL-Mawsawi pediatric Hospital and Al-Hububi Teaching Hospital, the study period from 19 Dec, 2016 to 16 Feb, 2017. A non-probability (Purposive) of (100) nurses at intensive care unit to provide care for neonate with respiratory distress syndrome.
To achieve the objective of the study the researcher has established the constructed questionnaire, which consists of two part 1: which include sociodemographic data form that consist of 8-itemsand part 2 include quality of nursing care that consist of three domains. Reliability of this determined by using Cronbach reliability rate (0.81), also through a pilot study and the validity through a panel of (18) experts. The data were described statistically and analyzed through use of the descriptive and inferential statistical analysis procedures.
Results: The findings of the present study indicate that assessment quality of nursing care in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome for nurses at intensive care unit, since their relative sufficiency (75%) were under cutoff point (1.5), There was significant relationship between quality of nursing care and demographic characteristics like (age, level of nursing education and nurses experience in the intensive care unit by P value < 0.05).
Recommendations: The study recommended to providing educational program for nurses for improving quality of nursing care of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and Providing updating booklets, pamphlets and boosters for nurses to upgrading their knowledge about neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective: To assess the psychological stressors and some socio-demographic variables among psychiatric patients.
Methodology: A descriptive study was done from 1st of November 2015 to 10th may 2016 to achieve the objectives of the study. A non- probability (purposive) sample consist of 130 patients from the outpatients department of psychiatry in Azadi teaching hospital. Developed questionnaire was constructed for the purpose of the study which was consisted of three parts: the socio-demographic characteristics, medical data, data related to psychiatric disorders, the data were collected through the useof interview. The data was analyzed through the application of descriptive statistical analysis (frequency, percentage %).
Results: the findings of the study indicated that (29.2%) were within the age group (30-39) years, (51%) of them were female, while the male formed (49%) and (52.3%)were married and (23.8%) of the sample were primary school graduated, (43.4%) were barely sufficient and (70.7%) were from urban and (41.5%) had no children.
Conclusion: The most of the study sample were complaining of depression more than other psychiatric morbidities exposed to chronic stressors, and those within the age group of (32-49 years) in female gender.
Recommendation: providing educational programs for the populations by the mass media about positive management of life stressors and to identify the source and the adverse effects of stressors on the psychological wellbeing