Ultrasound imaging in the classroom to teach in vivo anatomy and arthrokinematics to first year physical therapy students

Abstract

and with limited accessibility for part of the population, particularly women who are largely dependent on their families in the decisions to seek health care. Purpose:The aim of this study was to identify gender distribution of personswith disabilities attending the 12 physical rehabilitation centres run or supported by The International Committee of the Red Cross in Iraq in 2013. We also aimed to identify the prevalence of female landmine survivors and women with amputations due to landmine accidents, a group that is rarely described in the literature. Methods: The database of The International Committee of the Red Cross was used to undertake a descriptive analysis of persons who received services from the 12 physical rehabilitation centres in Iraq in 2013. Results:A total of 32 827 persons (12%women) received services from 12 supported physical rehabilitation centres in Iraq in 2013. Najaf and Hilla physical rehabilitation centres in Southern Iraq had 3.6% and 2.4% female patients. The highest number of female patients was reported in three centres in Baghdad (15.7%, 16.4% and 20.2%). These results indicate that women in the capital Baghdad in Central Iraq are better represented than women from Southern Iraq where a highly traditional society prevails. The number of persons with amputations was 16,342, and 8.9% of these were women. Additionally, among the persons with amputations, 7.1%were landmine survivors.Within the group of landmine survivors in this study, 3.9% were women. Conclusion(s): Women represent a minority in accessing the physical rehabilitation centres in Iraq supported by The International Committee of the Red Cross. This might be a consequence of men being more actively involved in conflict related violence where women are less often targeted. Another possible reason is that women are under social and cultural protective family actions. Further studies are needed to evaluate facilitating factors and barriers in accessing rehabilitation services, including a more comprehensive understanding of health seeking behaviour on individual, family and structural levels. Implications: This study adds to limited existing knowledge about access to physical rehabilitation services for women in Iraq. It highlights the small number of women seeking physical rehabilitation services compared to men, and indicates a need for more targeted approaches towards women and their families to increase accessibility.