kufa Journal for Nursing sciences

Objective: To assess nurses' awareness working in the primary health care field towards preventive measures for infection control in primary health care centers in Ramadi city.
Methodology: A descriptive study was conducted during the period from 10 April to 15 August 2021. The instruments was constructed by the researcher to reach the aims of the study using a non-probability sampling: purposive sample consist of (60) nurses working in the field of primary health care. A two-part questionnaire was used in the study, the first part contains information about the demographic data of nurses in healthcare centers and the second part contains selected questions about their awareness and knowledge regarding infection control procedures. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test and correlational statistics) using SPSS software.
Results: The study found that the majority of the study sample (70 percent) were male, (50 percent) were in the age groups (30-39 years), (53.3 percent) were in the preparatory nursing, (50 percent) were about (16-20) years of the employee, and (76.7 percent) did not have a special training course, indicating that most nurses working in the healthcare field have a low level of infection control practice. The study concluded that nurses' awareness of preventive measures for infection control was at a low level.
Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, the majority of nurses working in primary health care centers had a poor level of awareness toward infection control.
Recommendation: In order to ensure compliance with infection control measures by nurses working in basic health care, the current study advocated the establishment and execution of a comprehensive infection control program in primary health care centers.

Background: The evaluation of routine childhood immunization program for under five years are important for global health.
Objectives: The study aims at evaluating the Routine Childhood Immunization Program Process at Primary Health Care Centers in Salah Al-Dean City
Methodology: A descriptive design, which is using the evaluation approach, has been conducted at Primary Health Care Centers in Salah Al-Dean City in order to evaluate the Routine Childhood Immunization Program Process from January 10th to November 1st, 2021. A multistage sample "non -probability" convenient sample of (32) primary health care centers (16 main and 16 sub main) distributed in Salah Al-Dean Health Directorate. An instrument is developed of the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization for the purpose of the present study (PAHO &WHO, 2013). The study instrument is consisted of the evaluation of Routine Childhood Immunization Program Process at Primary Health Care Centers. Instrument content validity is determined by a panel of (18) experts. Internal consistency reliability is determined through Cronbach alpha correlation coefficient. Data are gathered throughout the utilization of the study instrument and the structured interview technique as data collection method. The Data of the study have been analyzed by the utilization of descriptive statistical data analysis approach which includes (frequencies, percentages, total scores and ranges).
Results: The study results indicate that all of the main primary health care centers and majority of the sub primary health care centers have good level of overall evaluation of the Routine Childhood Immunization Program process (100%) (81.25%) respectively.
Conclusion: The study concludes that the Routine Childhood Immunization Program process is well sufficiently and efficiently implemented at all of the Main Primary Health Care Centers and most of the sub primary health care centers in Salah Al-Dean City.

Background: The transradial approach has emerged as an attractive alternative to the femoral approach for coronary angiography. In the hands of experienced operators, transradial coronary angiography offers improved patient comfort and decreased access-site complications.
Objectives: To evaluate the immediate clinical & procedural outcome of transradial approach for coronary angiography.
Methodology: This is a descriptive cross sectional study carried out in a tertiary cardiac center .The transradial approach was attempted in patients with a good radial pulse and normal Allen test. This study enrolled 70 patients who underwent coronary angiography during the period from October 2012 to April 2013.
Result: The transradial approach was attempted in 70 Patients. The preferred side for transradial approach was the right side in all cases. The procedure success was 91.4%. Failure of puncture or canulation of the radial artery was the main cause of failure rate, followed by subclavian tortuosity and radial artery spasm. No minor or major vascular complications due to the procedure apart from one patient (1.4%) who got small superficial hematoma in the forearm. The average time for successful canulation was 4.8± 3.9 min (range 3.3 to 8.1 minutes), and that of the catheterization procedure was 33.12 ± 11.2 minutes (range 20-60 min.).
Conclusion: The transradial approach for coronary angiography is a safe and effective alternative to femoral approach.

Objectives: Study objectives to discover collision scenarios status through studying the most properties of specific health related-quality of life (SHR-QoL) of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients, as well as to find out relationships among redistribution of overall evaluating the contents of specific questionnaire with some related anthropometric variables concerning studied patents, such as, (BMI, and WHR), as well as socio-economic status of the studied patients.
Methodology: Specific development questionnaire of (PCOS) for women are applicable. A descriptive study of patients with PCOS are conducted, and it was starting data collection from the 6th December 2020 up to 10th May 2021from the "Maternity and Children Teaching Hospital" in Diwaniyah city–Iraq". Convenient sampling of (100) patients who were visiting to that hospital during the data are collected. In addition to that, (Alpha Cronbach-α) for the internal consistency are accounted high reliable (α = 0.8499), which indicating that (Specific) questionnaire could be applicable for the sampling population, and this confirms indirectly the sufficiency of the sample size that are selected to study the phenomenon. Pilot study has shown high reliabilities are accounted by inter and intra examiner (s).
Results: The findings of the study indicated that (SHR-QoL) for the studied patients are assigned that the observing responses were at a moderate response generally, and they are accounted for contents of studied questionnaire's main domains (Moderate, High, (Emotions, Body Hair, Weight, Infertility, and Menstrual Problems). In addition to that, relationships are accounted between an overall (SHR-QoL) redistributed by (under/upper) cutoff point regarding percentile global mean of score (PGMS) and anthropometric variables (BMI, and WHR), as well as socio-economic status of the studied patients.
Conclusion: A (PCOS) are formed a truly health problems associated with patients "Emotions, Body Hair, Weight, Infertility, and Menstrual Problems" aspects, so that patients having go down concerning (SHR-QoL), since all of studied items regarding SHR-QoL are accounted a moderate border to low evaluation, with (PGMS=51.47%), as well as weak relationships with no significant at P>0.05 are accounted between SHR-QoL and some unrelated variables, such as: anthropometric variables and socio-economic status, and according to that, it could be conclude that studied questionnaire could be take a broad view on studied target population even though differences with patients unrelated variables indeed.

Abstract: Maternal obesity is a major risk for both the mother and the fetus, and it is considered an obstetrical risk factor that leads to a high incidence of complications, as well as an increased risk of many adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Objectives: To assess the impact of overweight pregnant women upon pregnancy complication at Al-Nasiriya city.
Methodology: A descriptive analytic study was conducted from January11th, 2021 to march 18th, 2021 at Al-Nasiriya city Hospitals for Maternity and Children on (88) pregnant women who are attending Al-Nasiriya city Maternity Hospitals, (44) were overweight and (44) normal weight pregnant women. A non–probability (Purposive sample) was used to select the participants of study sample, a questionnaire was used as a tool to collect data content, validity was determined through reviewing it by (16) experts in different fields. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.
Results: The result of study revealed that (34.1%) (36.4%) of study sample aged (26-30) years in normal, and overweight pregnant respectively. The study results clarifies the previous and current body mass index among normal weight pregnant women (100% & 95%) respectively, while in overweight (63.6%) overweight previously and (65.9%) obesity class (I) at current. the impact of weight upon pregnancy outcomes; the findings indicates that weight has significant impact up on outcomes related to pregnancy, at p-value= 0.007, while there is no impact has been reported among group of normal weight pregnant women.
Conclusion: The study concluded that overweight impact upon outcomes related to pregnancy, while there is no impact has been reported among group of normal weight pregnant women.
Recommendations: Increased physical activity and knowledge of healthy eating habits among pregnant women as part of primary health care center initiatives to reduce obesity in women.

Objectives: the study aimed to identify the causes of wound infection occurrence of post cesarean section and to find out the relationship between causes and some socio-demographic data.
Methodology: A descriptive study was conducted on women who suffering from wounds infection after caesarean section at Al-Batol Teaching Hospital in Baqubah city, for the period from 20 of December 2020 to the 15 of April 2021. A purposive non-probability sample of (110) women suffer from wounds infection after caesarean section. The data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed through using the Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS version 22.0) performed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis procedure.
Results: Results of the study shows that no significant relationships between mothers' responding and their socio-demographic data where shows that weak relationships are a proved were accounted at P>0.05. Most of the women reproductive variables had no significant relationship with causes except "Parity" with the cause's main domain.
Recommendation: that the need to pay attention to the follow-up of pregnancy women in primary health care center especially younger women with primigravida, resident in rural areas and to focusing on treating disease such as anemia as step toward reducing complication of CS. Also, raising awareness would be able to prevent and/or reduced SSI, by providing women who have undergone cesarean section a published instruction manual.

Objectives: To find out the relationship between interpersonal communication skills and job satisfaction among nurses working in psychiatric wards, to find out the relationship between interpersonal communication skills, and demographic characteristics among nurses working in psychiatric wards.
Methodology: A descriptive study, was used for the present study. That was carried out from the 13the October, 2020 to 15th march, 2022. in order to determine relationships between use of interpersonal communication skills and job satisfaction among nurses working in psychiatric wards at teaching hospitals in Baghdad city. A convenient (non-probability) sample was used in this study that composed of (70) nurses are working in psychiatric ward, at teaching hospitals in Baghdad City.
Results: The results of this study show no significant correlation between interpersonal communication skills and job satisfaction among nurses working at psychiatric wards. While no significant relationship has been reported between use of interpersonal communication and demographic characteristics among nurses who are working at psychiatric wards, except Social Status and Qualifications of Nurses show significant relationship (reverse correlation).
Recommendations: The study recommended Continuing education through, communication skill training programs, attending conference to nursing staff in general and psychiatric hospitals for teamwork collaboration to enhance communication skills within health institution, are recommended for nurses, and Suggested to Ministry of Health and Finance for improving the payment and incentives for nurses through develop a new salary scale strategy for male and female nurses commensurate with the high cost of living.

Background: The effect of physical exercise on hypothyroidism exists argumentative and require more ferrets. Poor knowledge of the patients with hypothyroidism regarding physical exercise and Activity Daily Livings (ADLs) can change in their lifestyle, deteriorate symptoms and complications.
Objective: The main objective of the present research is to evaluate the effectiveness of an instructional program on hypothyroidism patients’ knowledge toward physical exercise and ADLs.
Methodology: one group study (pretest– posttest) a pre experimental design study was used to conduct this study at Baghdad teaching hospitals from 2th March, 2021 to 30th Jun, 2021. A purposive sampling non probability was applied to select 50 patients with hypothyroidism were coming to Baghdad teaching hospitals. The validity of the questionnaire was verified by 20 experts. The reliability was determined the knowledge questionnaire by using (test and retest) approach. Statistics were used to analyze the results of the study using (SPSS) version (22).
Results: Statistically significant differences found between the scores of the patients’ knowledge in two levels of measurements (pre- test and post-test) at (p<0.01), where the statistical global mean of score (GMS) for knowledge of patients regarding the physical exercise in pre-test was (0.195), while GMS .
becomes (0.880) in post-test. Furthermore, there is no relationship among age, gender and level of education variables and hypothyroidism patients’ knowledge toward physical exercise and ADLs at (p>0.05) in pre and posttest.
Conclusion: Poor knowledge of hypothyroidism patients’ toward physical exercise and Activity Daily Livings (ADLs) in (pretest) and clear improvement in their knowledge of the patients after applying the instructional program in (posttest) and there is no relationship between Socio- Demographic variables(Age, Gender and Level of education) with knowledge of hypothyroidism patients’ regard to physical exercise and ADLs.
Recommendations: The study recommends conduct further large cross- sectional studies on big populations to develop the knowledge of the patients and achieving the well-being of the society.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the latest pandemic with a high rate of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Crises like these can harm the academic functioning and psychophysical health of students. Students have an important role in controlling the spread of infectious diseases by pursuing prophylactic measures and this quantitative study.
Objectives: the study aims to explore how students perceive the COVID-19 crisis and what their personal experiences were while studying during the global pandemic.
Methodology: It is a descriptive study on Preventive measures pursued by college students for the prevention of Coronavirus, where the sample was collected from twenty-five universities, were collected (427) among students who are studying in a different field, and the majority of them was studied at the University of Kufa (53%), the samples were collected by a questionnaire prepared and designed in two parts, the first part consists of demographic information (7 items) and the second part Preventive measurement pursued by college students (18th item).
Results: The study showed that the means of scores of satisfaction of the preventive measurement (high), and also there is a no relationship between the demographic information and preventive measures, the overall total assessment is also high.
Recommendations: Overall, the researcher was able to prove that college students have sufficient knowledge and awareness of COVID-19, and the majority are willing to apply safety measures in the prevention of the coronavirus Continued access to online health information resources like free courses, clinical management guidelines, and webinars on COVID-19 offered internationally.

Nosocomial infections, also called health-care-associated or hospital-acquired infections, are a subset of infectious diseases acquired in a health-care facility. Historically, Staphylococci, Pseudomonas, and Escherichia coli have been the common known as nosocomial infection bacteria. Moreover, nosocomial pneumonia, surgical wound infections, and vascular access-related bacteremia have caused the most illness and death in hospitalized patients; and intensive care units have been the epicenters of antibiotic resistance.
Acquired antimicrobial resistance is the major problem, and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is the pathogen of greatest concern. The shift to outpatient care is leaving the most vulnerable patients in hospitals. Aging of our population and increasingly aggressive medical and surgical interventions, including implanted foreign bodies, organ transplantations, and xenotransplantation, create a cohort of particularly susceptible persons. Moreover, renovation of aging hospitals increases risk of airborne fungal and other infections.
To prevent and control these emerging nosocomial infections, we need to increase national surveillance, "risk adjust" infection rates so that inter hospital comparisons are valid, develop more noninvasive infection-resistant devices, and work with health-care workers on better implementation of existing control measures such as hand washing.
In this review we aimed to review the previous projects which study incidence of hospital infection among delivery women with caesarean section in hospitals. Also, to discuss about the nosocomial infections and its types. We will also review the most common way a nosocomial infection is acquired, and the most common cause of nosocomial infection. In order to the modes of transmission of infection. In addition to a way to prevent nosocomial infections in hospitals.

Background: professional quality work-life, as one of the most important issues in the nursing profession, can negatively affect the healthcare system.
Objectives: To examine the professional quality work life.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study a non-probability sampling method used and total sample collected was (126) of ICU nurses.
Results: Burnout, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and, Compassion Satisfaction among intensive care units nurses were moderate.
Conclusion: Nurses in ICUs suffered from moderate Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress, and the result can be negative effects on the quality of care. Although nurses' Compassion Satisfaction, it is still an important issue that nurses may face in intensive care units.
Recommendations: Increased cooperation, nurse autonomy, and multidisciplinary respect are likely lead to a greater appreciation of nursing input and improve quality of work. It is recommended to develop strategies to reduce CF and improve nurse satisfaction, consequently, and patient care.

Background: Coronaviruses are a huge group of viruses that cause illnesses in animals or humans. Coronavirus disease 19 discovered in Wuhan, China. CDC recommended following and applying infection prevention and control (IPC) practices since it concerns about avoiding risks for patient and staff, minimize the financial burden of health systems and decrease period of hospitalization.
Objectives: The study aims to evaluate the practices of nursing staff regarding the prevention of coronavirus disease.
Methodology: A quantitative design (descriptive study) conducted at Isolation Ward in Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital from (13 October, 2021 to 4th March, 2022) on a non-probability (purposive) sample consisting of (34 nurses). The study instrument consists of two parts: first part is demographic data for study sample. Second part is the observation check-list tool which consists of 5 domains and 29 items.
Results: The results of the study indicated that the practices of nursing staff in the domains related to the prevention of corona virus disease were weak with a mean score (M = 1.51 at p value of 0.0001).
Conclusion: The level of nursing staff practices was not as required (poor) to fit with the nature of this ward.

Background: Proper hand hygiene was identified as one of the simplest most cost-effective Covid-19 prevention measures. However, there is no available evidence indicating that hand hygiene is fully practiced by health care workers.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the barriers regarding hand hygiene practice among the nursing staff at intensive care units special for covid-19 patients.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional design was carried out in three hospitals' Intensive Care Units from the period (20th December 2021 to 30th January 2022). A non-probability sampling method consists of (130) nurses who were selected purposively based on the study criteria.
Results: The main barriers cited for not observing hand hygiene practices consistently were as heavy workload (93.1%), infrastructural deficit (90.8%), skin irritation (85.4%), and insufficient time (76.2%), respectively.
Conclusion: There were an overall high proportion of participants who had barriers to hand hygiene. These barriers can harm hand hygiene compliance for nursing staff which may lead to an increase the infectious diseases in hospitals.
Recommendations: There is a need for optimizing hand hygiene practices by addressing the barriers, conducting continuous training programs, and providing the necessary supplies for hand hygiene to improve the attitude toward compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. Also, it is recommended to conduct future research to investigate the practices of nursing staff toward hand hygiene.

Background: Soft tissue expansion is a common procedure in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. This technique has several advantages in the head and neck area it provides tissue with similar color, texture, thickness, and no need for the donor site. In recent year’s intraoral mucosal expansion used to allow sufficient volume to receive bone graft and direct closure in tension free manners.
Objectives: Our study aimed to evaluate the use of Silicone Foley Catheters as tissue expanders (intraorally in the management of alveolar ridges deficiency).
Methodology: Six patients with alveolar ridge deficiencies were included in this study. The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 37. Between September 2019 and January 2022, the study was done in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department at Alwasity Teaching Hospital. Silicone Foley Catheter with normal saline inflating material used as tissue expansion to form new oral mucosa.
Results: For all cases, expansion was continuous between 4 to 6 weeks depending on the needed volume for bone graft, then the iliac bone grafting procedure was performed simultaneously during the removal of the Foley catheter. All patients followed up for 18 months, and we revealed sufficient bone available vertically and horizontally.
Conclusion: Silicone Foley Catheters are a simple, available, low cost device, with the simple surgical application used effectively in the area with soft and hard tissue deficiencies to reconstruct the oral cavity.

Objective: Assess parents' knowledge up on dietary patterns for children with picky eating behavior before providing instructional program.
Methodology: To achieve the aims of this study, this quasi-experimental design was conducted on children suffering from picky eating behavior assigned to study and control groups is used to study the effectiveness of instructional program on parents' knowledge toward dietary patterns for children with picky eating behavior at Al-Zahra Teaching Hospital. Questionnaires were developed to determine the effectiveness of the instructional program on parents' knowledge toward dietary patterns for children with picky eating behavior. The final instruments consisted of (4) parts First: concept of picky eating behavior in children (Includes four questions) Second: causes of picky behavior and dangerous factors (Includes eight questions) Third: symptoms of picky behavior (includes six questions) Fourth: importance of a child's picky eating behavior diet (consists of seven questions) Fifth: ways to deal with the child picky eating behavior in food (contains seven questions) Sixth: therapeutic and guiding measures for picky eating children (has thirteen questions).
Results: there is a non-significant difference in the study sample knowledge according to their residency, gender, child's age/years, and child's order in the family.
Conclusion: Parents in the study group who received the dietary instructional program different views and experiences on overall behaviors and attitudes about mealtime and daily food, demonstrating that the dietary instruction had a positive impact on child behavior.
Recommendation: Develop techniques to influence children's eating and general lifestyle habits while taking into consideration the environment and their family.

Syngnathia (congenital union of the maxilla and mandible) is uncommon and can range in severity from mucosal bands (synechiae) to complete bone fusion (synostosis). Most of them appear as unilateral, incomplete fusion. Bony fusion (syngnathia) without any other systemic disease or congenital abnormality is extremely uncommon. Oro-mandibular limb hypogenesis syndrome, which includes syngnathia, is an extremely rare disorder characterized by variable degrees of congenital abnormalities involving the tongue, jaw, and limbs.

Background: Pain management is a compelling and universal requirement in nursing care; despite significant progress, untreated pain's adverse physiological and psychological effects are still largely unresolved, especially for acute myocardial infarction patients.
Objectives: This study aims to assess the nurses' knowledge and the effectiveness of the educational program on chest pain management for patients with acute myocardial infarction in the coronary care unit.
Methodology: A pre-experimental design (one group, pre-test, and post-test) was used to conduct this study in the coronary care unit at Al-Diwaniyah Teaching Hospital from (15th November 2021 to 28th April 2022). A non-probability (purposive) sample was used to test (30 nurses/e) working in the coronary care unit.
Results: The results of the study showed that there were highly statistically significant differences between the nursing staff's knowledge scores in two levels of measurements (the pre-test and the post-test) with a probability value of (0.000), as the statistical average of the nursing staff's total knowledge scores in the pre-test was low (1.5) and after implementation of the educational program the results showed that there were statistically significant differences in the knowledge of nurses in the post-test.
Conclusion: The study concluded that the educational program positively affects nurses' knowledge of chest pain management for acute myocardial infarction patients in the Coronary Care Unit.
Recommendations: The study recommended the necessity of activating the work of the Continuing Nursing Education Unit properly to give training courses to nurses working in the coronary care unit related to chest pain management using pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods for acute myocardial infarction patients, in addition to establishing a written and updated protocol on pain management to confirm the adequacy of Standardized and safe nursing knowledge and practices.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 is the third fatal coronavirus that has emerged in the past two decades, following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-1 and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
Objectives: To investigate the correlation between COVID-19 infection and patient’s descriptive data such as gender, age, and to observe the association of IL-6 and D-dimer, CRP, Serum ferritin in COVID-19 patients.
Methodology: A study is conducted during the period from 1st October 2021 to 1st March 2022, 110 samples are collected from COVID-19 patients, Who attended to AL-Amal Specialized Hospital for Communicable Diseases at first week of infection. Their age range between 15-90 years old, and compared them with 50 healthy individuals as control group. The diagnosis of each case was established using clinical diagnosis and confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR). 7 ml of fresh venous blood samples were collected from COVID-19 infected patients for serological and immunological assay for measuring the levels of IL6, D-dimer, serum ferritin, and C-reactive protein.
Results: In the current study, the prevalence of severe COVID-19 infection according to age are increased in older aged patients, the highest one appeared at the (71-90) age group in 100% followed by (51-70) age group 87.2%, then the low prevalence frequency was recorded at (36-50) age group in (37.5%), and the low prevalence 28.6 % at the age group (15-35). From total patients, 79(71.8%) of them were males and 31(28.1%) were females. The mean serum level of ferritin show a significant differences in sera of patient with COVID-19 as compared with control groups (392.4 vs. 131.6 µg/l), as well as, the mean serum level of CRP show a highly significant difference in sera of patient with COVID-19 as compared with control groups (59.26 vs. 7.61 mg/L), also the mean serum level of D-dimer show a highly significant difference in sera of patient with COVID-19 as compared with control groups (1104 vs. 220 ng/ml). The mean serum level of IL-6 show a highly significant difference in sera of patient with COVID-19 as compared with control groups (130 vs. 9.2 pg/ml), also it show a highly significant differences in severe and severe with death cases when compared with control groups, in addition, COVID-19 patients show a significant positive correlation of IL-6 with CRP, Ferritin, and D-dimer by their r values.
Conclusion: The prevalence of severe COVID-19 infection according to age are increased in older aged patients, the male show high infected percentage than female. An elevated serum level of IL-6, CRP, D-dimer, and ferritin are associated with a poor outcome in COVID-19 patients.
Recommendations: This type of study need more cooperation between the authors, special physicians and medical laboratories because such study very useful to the patients and physicians to evaluate the exact role of COVID-19 drugs that can be control the cytokine storm and the level of D-dimer, serum ferritin, and CRP leading to save the lives of patients.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a life-threatening and highly infectious disease. It impacts several body organs for example the lungs, kidneys, blood texture and contents, digestive cannel, and heart. The first case emerged in China and rapidly spreading and affirmed a global pandemic. COVID-19 is a major threat and a pandemic all over the world. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus2, the cause of coronavirus disease 19, connects to its target cells utilizing (ACE2), Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2which can be stated via epithelial cells of numerous organs. Corona Virus can basis reasonable or harsh kidney damage with signs involving proteinuria, hematuria, eminent urea nitrogen, and creatinine. The kidney cell contain ACE2 receptors that allow to Corona Virus 2 to join it, attack, duplicate and potentially destroy all tissue.

Objectives: To identify nurses’ perception of using Dexamethasone for COVID-19 patients and how the medical, hospital, and community aspects interfere the use of this medication.
Methodology: It is a cross-sectional study that conducted among nurses in Duhok City/ Kurdistan region/Iraq. The questionnaire was developed by the authors for the purpose of this study, and it was composed of two main parts. Part one is related to demographics and part two is divided to three subscales which asking for the medical, hospital, and community aspects. The data analysis was conducted by using SPSS (Version25). Descriptive analysis was conducted using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. To identify the relationship between the aspects, Chi-square test was conducted.
Results: The study revealed that the nurses know the importance and effectiveness of using dexamethasone for COVID-19 patients and its role in decreasing the need for mechanical ventilation and oxygen administration. The community has an impact on nurses’ work and intervention regarding the use of dexamethasone (Decadron) for COVID-19 patients.
Conclusion: The study highlighted essential points regarding the use of dexamethasone (Decadron) for COVID-19 patients. The health care providers included nurses need to ensure that dexamethasone (Decadron) is one of the effective medications for COVID-19 patients despite the impact of community on their implications.
Recommendations: the authors recommended more study to be conducted to identify COVID-19 patients’ knowledge and perception regarding the use of Dexamethasone and other medications that are used for COVID-19. Also, increasing community orientation and knowledge regarding this disease by television programs, seminars, and group works.

Background: Smoking is a common risk factor for chronic diseases, including cancer, lung diseases and cardiovascular disease. The adverse effects of tobacco smoking on oral health are well documented. This includes common and rare conditions, from benign to life-threatening diseases such as bad breath, discoloration of teeth and dental restorations, taste and smell disorders , periodontal disease , oral mucosal lesions such as smoker's melanosis and smoker's palate, potentially malignant lesions and oral cancer .
Aim of the Study: To verify associated of the smoking with systemic dissase among patients seeking for dental health care
Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study performed at the dental and maxillofacial unit in AL-Sader Teaching hospital, Al-Najaf city the data were collected during a period of four months, starting from 1st March to the 1st June 2019.
Target population: study participants were selected by systemic random sampling from patients attended Al Sader Teaching hospital at maxillofacial unit according to special criteria.
Results: A total of 400 participants were enrolled in this study , their age ranged 18 – 65 years, no significant difference had been found regarding the age distribution between smokers and non-smokers sub groups, (P>0.05).
No significant association was found between smoking and residence, (P>0.05). A significant association was found between occupation and smoking status , where unemployed were the dominant among smokers, contributed for 52.9%, compared to other occupations, (P = 0.001).
Conclusions: Significant associated with observed between oral disease and cigarette smoking among patient seeking oral health care.

Background: The protozoa parasite Entamoeba histolytica is an essential cause of human morbidity and mortality around the world other than malaria and schistosomiasis. Prevalence of E. histolytica in Sulaimani province, KRG, Iraq has been scantily studied and risk factors associated with this parasite are unavailable in Iraq.
Aims: A cross-sectional study was pointed to supply the primary information on the prevalence and epidemiological risk factors related to E. histolytica infection among school children in Sulaimani, Iraq.
Materials and methods: A total of 450 stool samples randomly were collected (during period from September 2021 to February 2022) from children in Sulaimani pediatric hospital in Sulaimani province, KRG, Iraq, and examined by direct smear microscopy (in normal saline and iodine smears) for the detection of E. histolytica infection.
Results: The Prevalence of E. histolytica infection in Sulaimani province was (19.3%), and significant association was recorded between the infection and economic status of the child family ( p value = 0.005), family who consuming raw vegetable (p value= 0.006) and children’s parent education level ( p value = 0.05).
Conclusions: Prevalence of E. histolytica among children is low and this parasite may play a minor role in causing morbidity in these populations in Sulaimani city, Iraq. Besides, more studies are necessary to provide information on epidemiological risk factors of E. histolytica to improve health education and environmental sanitary conditions to protect children from the infection of this parasite in Iraq.

Background: Vaccines in general are save lives of population, it is providing strong protection against serious illness and death. COVID-19 vaccine could decrease mortality rate caused by infection. WHO reports that unvaccinated people have at least 10 times higher risk of death from COVID-19 than somebody who has been vaccinated.
Objectives: The study aimed to assess post vaccine side effect to identify its safety on the community health, and to identify the relationship between post vaccine side effect and sociodemographic characteristics of vaccinated people attending AL-Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Baghdad.
Methodology: A cross-sectional design was employed to achieve the objectives of the study for the period from 15 May to 15 March 2022. A purposive sample of (224) individual is vaccinated at Al- Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Baghdad. The data for this study was collected by using assessment test scale, which consists of two parts, were designed to measure post vaccine side effect of vaccinated people. First Part was designed to measure the participant’s socio-demographic characteristics, and clinical history. Second Part was developed to measure post vaccine side effect. It contains 28 items divided into 14 items for each dose of vaccine first and second. Each question scored into four levels (1) for never answer, (2) for mild answer, (3) for moderate answer and (4) for sever answer. A good validity and reliability in a number of studies. The validity of the questionnaire was tested by presenting it to (10) experts in medical field. The reliability of the instrument was tested by using data for 10 vaccinated individuals who were excluded from the study sample. Cronbach's alphas test was calculated to determine the internal consistency of the study instrument. The overall internal consistency for the questionnaire was accepted which recorded: α=0.84.
Results: Related age groups the majority of participants in the study are between age 26- 35 year- old (38.4%). Related body mass index, overweight recorded (44.2%), normal weight (31.7 %) of participants. concerning gender (52.7%) are male, and (47.3%) are female. Regarding level of education majority of participants are in college level (62.9%) and institution (16.1%). Associated with medical history people diagnosed with hypertension documented (16.5%) and diabetes mellitus recorded (12.5%) from all participants. Related assessment of post vaccine side effects, majority of vaccinated people recorded never side effects (81.3%), rather than (14.3%) recorded mild symptoms. Associated with second dose (78.6%) of participants documented never side effects and (20.1%) of them recorded mild symptoms. Regarding with correlation between post vaccine side effect and sociodemographic characteristics of vaccinated people after first dose, there is a correlation between post vaccine side effects and both age and hypertension. Regarding second dose there is a strong negative correlation between post vaccine side effects and age.
Conclusion: The result of the study shows that both first and second doses of all vaccine, which, are currently used in Iraq, are safe and don’t produce serious or sever symptoms. In general majority of vaccinated people do not have any symptoms and few of them have mild symptoms and do not effected on their daily living.
Recommendations:
1. Conducting additional studies to acquire more knowledge related of COVID - 19 vaccine.
2. Create an educational program to increase health awareness among people, related fear or/and hesitancy of vaccination to encourage them taking vaccine.

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide; 87% of all deaths from stroke and 89% of all stroke-related disability-adjusted life-years occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Objectives: The goal of this study was to examine nurses' knowledge and practice for patient with stroke.
Methodology: Design: A cross-sectional design was used to achieve the objective of the study. Setting: Data were collected from Neurological Wards and emergency department of Al-Sadder Medical City. Sample: A non-probability (purposive) sample consisted of (60) nurses.
Results: The majority of the nurses in both groups are those with age’s group between (25-29) years old and the high percentages of participants in both groups (53.3%) are females for study and control groups. Overall assessment of nurses' knowledge regarding management of patients with stroke was moderate with (0.52) mean of score. Overall evaluation of nurses' practices regarding management of patients with stroke was poor with (0.522) mean of score.
Conclusion: This study revealed the nurses' knowledge, regarding management of patients with stroke was moderate and nurses' practices regarding management of patients with stroke was poor.
Recommendations: Development and application of periodic educational and training courses for nurses regarding the management of stroke.