Al-Kut City Research Articles

Impact of demographical characteristics on senior persons' knowledge concerning constipation treatment at the nursing home in the Al-Kut city

Introduction: Constipation is a frequent ailment that is especially widespread in the elderly, with up to 40% of community-dwelling individuals reporting symptoms. Methods: quasi-experimental study design was carried out (Dar Al-Shafaa governmental home and Basmat Al-Rahma privet nursing home). (Dar Al-Shafaa governmental home and Basmat Al-Rahma privet nursing home). The current research will run from December 4, 2020, until January 15, 2022. To meet the study's goals, a non-probability (purposive) sample of (57) senior citizens (27) for the case group and (30) nursing home residents for the control group was chosen. Results: The results finding reported that female gender has been associated with increased prevalence of constipation among older people. Conclusions :The study concluded that the majority of senior persons’, regardless of their age, gender, or level of education, had experienced constipation, and that senior persons’ who are single have a higher frequency of constipation than others. In general, senior persons do not differ in terms of constipation length, but the study group does.

Assessment of Nurses- midwives' Knowledge of Nursing Measures for the Use of Utero-tonic Drugs in Al_Kut city hospitals

Objectives: To assess nurses- midwives' knowledge about nursing measures related to Utero-tonic Drugs Use . Method: A descriptive design study was conducted from 1st May 2021to 10th March 2022 in two hospitals at al- kut city on nurses and midwives who work at maternity hospitals. Non- probability (Convenience sampling) was used to collect the data from select 60 nurses and midwives. A questionnaire is an instrument to collect the demographic, occupational information and knowledge which consists of 40 items. Validity of content was determined through reviewing it by (13) experts and reliability of tools was determined through a pilot study. descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: the result of the study showed that more than half of study sample were within age group (20-24) years The results of study indicated that assessment of nurses – midwives' knowledge were in adequate (60%) and adequate (40%) about nursing measures related to uterotonic drugs use. The study findings showed that nurse midwives have in adequate knowledge regarding nursing measures of uterotonic drugs use. Establish training courses concerning right methods of nursing measures for use uterotonic drugs for all nurses and midwives who work at maternity hospitals in al-kut city. Conclusions: The study showed that assessment of nurses-midwives' knowledge about nursing measures of uterotonic drugs use were inadequate level and these have effect on pregnant women and their fetus. Keywords: Assessment, nursing measures, utero-tonic drugs, Nurses-Midwives Knowledge

Effectiveness of Nutritional Program on Senior Person Knowledge Regarding Constipation Management at Nursing Home Centers in Al-Kut City

Introduction: Constipation is a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms of incomplete elimination of stool, difficulty passing stool, or both. Patients typically experience other symptoms such as hard stools, abdominal bloating, pain, and distention. Methods: A quantitative, quasi-experimental study design was carried out at two nursing home centers (Dar Al-Shhafaa government home and Basmat Al-Rahmma private nursing home) in order to determine the effectiveness of a nursing home program. Beginning on the 24th of December 2020 and ending on the 15th of January 2022, the current study will be conducted. In order to meet the study's aims, a non-probability (purposive) sample of (57) senior citizens (27) senior citizens selected for the case group and (30) senior citizens selected for the control group who were residents of a nursing home were selected. Results: Analysis of such knowledge shows that the large number of senior persons, in study group, has expressed poor level of knowledge about constipation at the pretest. Such poor level of knowledge is evidenced in all the low mean of scores on items of senior persons’ knowledge about constipation . Conclusions and recommendation :It has been emphasized in the literature that patients must spend more time seeking health-related education in order to improve their health care outcomes. The teaching must be enthusiastic, motivated, and responsive to the individual patient's needs. For individual members of the society to realize the benefits of health education, there is a need for a robust, hearty engagement between patients and health care providers . Keywords: Nutritional, Senior Person, knowledge , Constipation Management

The impact of urban morphology on transportation: a case study of the city of Al-Kut, Iraq

Abstract This study aims to cognize the current effects of land use decisions on traffic in the city centre and predict the future effects of these decisions. The researchers studied and analyzed the effect of changing land uses in the eastern part of Al-Kut city centre on traffic in the city centre. The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach based on the study area data and information. A field survey of the land uses that are most attractive to movement and another field survey of the traffic volume in the study area’s main streets. The study found that the transportation problems in the city centre will be exacerbated in the future due to the inappropriate position of many activities in the past two decades. All these changes attracted many transport trips and thus increased the volume of movement in the area. Kut city’s specificity exacerbated the problem as all the crossings between the two river banks are located in the city centre. This problem will be exacerbated in the future when Wasit University colleges are completed, and the number of transport trips to them increases and at completing the mall construction.

Prevalence of Pediculus humunus capitis, Pediculus humanuscorporis, and Pthirus pubis in Al-Kut, Iraq.

Lice infestations or pediculosis occurs throughout the world and is caused by Pediculus humunus capitis (head louse), Pediculus humanuscorporis (body louse), and Pthirus pubis (crab louse). This study was conducted within March-October 2020 and aimed to investigate the presence of human lice among 1,632 individuals from 225 families living at different economic and social levels in AL-Kut city, Iraq, and its suburbs (urban, rural, and slum areas). Data collection was performed on volunteer families by completing survey forms and visual examinations. The families were divided by the number of members into 10-15, 7-9, 4-6, and 3-2 persons, for which, the infestation rates were estimated at 24.2%, 21.4%, 12.5%, and 8.6%, respectively. Moreover, in this study, urban, rural, and slum areas were infected at 11.5%, 33.6%, and 21.6 %, respectively. The infestation appeared in all ages, and the higher and lowest rates were obtained for the age ranges of 3-17 and 18-40 years old (79.04% and 20.9%), respectively. Based on the results, the rates of infestation were 21.8% and 13.3% in females and males, respectively. The findings of this study showed that the infection rate of Pediculus humanus corporis among the subjects aged 4-24 years old was 11.0% and that of Pthirus pubis was 3.0% in the cases aging 14-32 years old. Due to the high infestation with ectoparasites in these areas and large families, it is highly important to create conditions for health and provide information to control and prevent infection.

Knowledge of Diabetic Patients in Al-Kut City According to Revised Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Test

Background: Diabetes Mellites is a public health concern in Iraq. It was known that when patients have better knowledge about their illnesses, it is leading to more treatment adherence and finally fewer complications so the current study aims to assess the diabetic patient’s knowledge about their disease using Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Scale. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study performed among 384 randomly selected patients attending the diabetic center at Al-Zahraa Teaching Hospital in Wasit. All patients were formally consented to answer an Arabic revised Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Test. Results: The mean age and slandered deviation for patients was (43.85±17.25) years old. The female patients represented 58.6%, about two-thirds of cases (66.1%) were married, 40.1% with high educational level, about three quarters didn’t do any exercise (76.3%), only 17.4% of them are smokers. The majority (78.91%) of patients had a good knowledge score and 21.09% had low knowledge scores. The major source of knowledge mentioned by patients (75.52%) was from hospitals and physicians. The knowledge score was significantly associated with the type of medication and smoking status (p-value 0>.001 and 0.019), respectively. Conclusions: The good knowledge score was found in the majority of patients visiting the diabetic center in AL-Zahraa Teaching Hospital. Most of the patients were adherence to their treatment which reflects the knowledge´s effect on their behaviors.

Effectiveness of an Instructional Program on Patientsꞌ Knowledge about Home Safety While Receiving Anti -Cancer Medications at Al- Karama Teaching Hospital in Al-Kut City

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of the instructional program on patients’ knowledge about home safety while receiving anti-cancer treatment at Al- Karama Teaching Hospital in Al-Kut City.
 Methodology: A quasi-experimental design is conducted through the application of a pre-test and post-test approach for the study and control groups from February 5th, 2020 to April 25th, 2020. A non–probability (purposive) sample of (50) patients treated at the Blood Disease and Oncology Center is selected and divided into two groups. Each group contains (25) patients as control and study groups. An instrument is constructed that is comprised of two parts; the first part consists of demographic data for a study sample which is consisted of (5) items of age, gender, occupation education and marital status. The second part is multiple choice questions related to patients’ knowledge which is consisted of (20) items. Validity and reliability of the instrument are determined through pilot study.
 Results: The findings of the study show that the evaluation of patients’ knowledge in the study groups throughout three periods of measurements showed that most of the studied items had a low means of score (1.23) before applying the instructional program. Comparatively, most of the studied items had a high mean of score (1.77 and 1.70) in post-test I and post-test II after implementation of the program. Furthermore, the evaluation of patients’ knowledge in the control group throughout two periods of measurement shows very slight change in the mean (1.26) to the mean (1.3). 
 Recommendations: The study recommends that encouragement of continuous nursing education units to meet with patients under the care of Oncology Physicians to teach them about home safety during chemotherapy treatment and the hospital should establish regular training sessions, lectures, workshops, and programs to improve patients’ knowledge about home safety during treatment.

The Detection of Changes in Land Use and Land Cover of Al- Kut City Using Geographic Information System (GIS)

Models of digital elevation (DEMs), which provide elevation information for the ground surface of the catchment, are core components of computer-based analyzes for drainage basins. Many production methods are available, including contour interpolation, DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) interpolation, and digital photogrammetry techniques. However, data on the precision and often contradictory nature of these three techniques are sparse. This study aims at identifying some of the contributing factors and comparing the accuracy of various approaches quantitatively. Changes in land coverage break ecosystem cycles, which may directly affect land ability to sustain human activity resulting in long-term trends of decline and inter-annual variability. It can be monitored at a spatial level of detail to enable the study of human-induced changes. Remote sensing techniques (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) methods have been used to extract the spatial and temporal changes of urban land use in the city of Al-Kut. The land sat satellite images taken in periods encompassing 1997, 2007, and 2017 are used. As a result, the city has lost a large part of its urban specificity and gained randomness and disorder in most of its residential neighborhoods, which was especially exacerbated after the change in the governing system in 2003. The results show an increase of 314% and 219% in industrial and residential areas, respectively, whereas agricultural land and open spaces have decreased by 66 % and 32%. The data analysis reveals a diagnostic relationship between land-use conversion and socio-economic drivers. This research sheds light on the total area changes of the Al-Kut city before and after 2003. It highlights the significant destruction of the city life, which was established over almost three centuries.

The Effect of Both Moisture and Clay Content on The Soil Corrosion Process for Different Periods of Time as A Geomorphological Study in Al-Kut City

Soil corrosion is a major hazard to subterranean infrastructure including gas and oil transmission pipes, underground storage tanks and others. The impacts of soil engineering characteristics on buried mild steel coupons’ metal loss are investigated in this work. Soil characteristics such as soil clay and moisture content are the focus of the present research in Al-Kut city near Tigris River. For a twelve month period, 100 pieces of mild steel coupons were put underground in five different sites across to look into the effects of the aforementioned variables on loss of metal owing to corrosion of soil. Every three months, the samples were recovered to evaluate the rate of weight loss and corrosion rate development. The data show that the high moisture content of the soil is linked to rapid corrosion development. Corrosion on clay soil, on the other hand, takes longer to start. According to the qualitative assessment, soil moisture content has a greater impact on corrosion dynamics than clay content.

Demand Estimation of Proposed Bus Rapid Route in Al Kut City

Public transit in the city of Al-Kut faces great challenges due to the weakness of the local government abilities in providing adequate conditions for public transport such as wide vehicles, comfortable seats, and other environmentally friendly means of transport that are almost non-use in the city of Kut, where the dependence is heavily on Mini Bus (Kia) and a medium-sized bus, most of which are old, do not operate in an integrated way, compete with each other for the passengers, reduce the flexibility of movement. This study attempts to estimate the demand for the proposed bus rapid route in the city of al Kut as a modern public transport that can contribute to reducing congestion in the city. In this study, the demand for the current public transport network lines in the city was studied, which are 12 lines using boarding / alighting values to determine passenger loads and assess flow on each route in the transportation network using the origin-destination (OD) data from on/off data, then repeat the application on the BRT route, this was done using assignment model in TransCAD software, where the results showed an estimated value for passenger demand on BRT route about 7,616 passengers/hour, which is equivalent to 40.12 % of the transport lines service.

The Causes of Non-Compliance to Treatment Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Background: Generally, type 2 diabetes mellitus can end with many complications, which leads to severe unwanted health problems that can be prevented by strict adherence to the prescribed methods of management conducted by the physician. So, this study was designed to evaluate the range of the patient’s compliance to therapy (drug, diet, and exercise). Methods: An analytic cross-sectional study evaluated 380 convenient samples with type 2 diabetes visiting private internal medicine clinics in AL-Kut city and over 18 years. All patients were consented to participate and full a pre-tested questionnaire consisting of questions related to the causes of non-compliance to the management protocol. Results: The sample consisted of 209(55%) females, 91.8% were from urban regions, and 43.2% had a college degree or above educational level. There were 64.2% who was continuously measuring their glucose level, but only 39.2% visiting the doctors regularly. On the other hand, most patients (78.4%) declared that they complied with drug therapy. On the other hand, only 20.5% of patients always follow the doctor’s instructions regarding a healthy diet, while 9.7% mentioned compliance with regular exercise. The significant causes of non-compliance to the drug were costly drugs in (25.4%) and (19.8%) for the forgetting. There were 123(62.4%) who did not care about healthy food, and 119(42%) could not practice exercise because they could not do that. Conclusion: The higher rate of non-compliance for diet and exercise focuses on the need for an actual intervention to increase the awareness about the importance of these two management types.

Application of CCME water quality index for drinking purpose in Tigris River within Wasit Province, Iraq

The water quality index (WQI) is an essential part of the water resource management system through its use as a numerical scale to evaluate and classify the quality of the water body for various beneficial uses (drinks, industry and irrigation).The present study used WQI based on the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment‎ (CCME-WQI) ‎ as a tool for assessing the quality of Tigris River in Wasit Province, Iraq for drinking purposes through assaying different chemical and physical parameters. Four sites were selected along the river between Al-Kut City and Al-Aziziyah from August 2016 through July 2017. Water samples were collected monthly and nine physicochemical parameters were selected: pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, sulfate, chlorides, lead, zinc and manganese. Based on the results of water quality index, the river water was considered as marginal in all the studied sites, and the CCME-WQI ranged between 56-62. The highest deviation has been occurred in phosphate, nitrate, sulfate, lead, and manganese, leading to decrease the water quality index value.

Epidemiological Study of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Wasit Province

The present study was conducted to detect the cutaneous Leishmaniasis from a total of suspected casesthat were collected from dermatology center of AL-Karamah Teaching Hospital in Al-Kut city from 1stOctober 2019 to the end of February 2020. Totally 60 patients were included 36 males and 24 females. Thecollected skin specimens were smeared and stained with Giemsa stain, then examined by microscope underoil immersion lenses. The results of current study appeared that 56(93.3%) were positive amastigotes, Theprevalence of CL were 36 (60%) in males and 24(40%) in females, while the highest infection 36(60%)in rural area and lowest 24(40%) in urban area. The percent of infection with Cutaneous leishmaniasisaccording to type of lesions recorded were equal in dry and wet ulcers type (50 % ) for each one.

The Use of Geographic Information System to Analyze Stations Locating for Proposed Rapid Bus Route in AL KUT City.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) It is one of the public vehicle systems in modern cities that provides fast, convenient, and cost-saving transport services. It operates on separate lines. The activation of the BRT system depends on the locations of the stations within its route. If the stations were located in suitable locations, it would attract a large number of passengers, this contributes to an increase in the use of public transport and thus reduces traffic congestion, road accidents and environmental pollution in the city. In this research, station locations for the proposed BRT route in Al Kut city will be studied and analyzed. 10 candidate sites were selected for BRT stations. Criteria that were used to analyze the sites of these stations are the locations of government institutions, health and educational services, stopping points for current means of transportation, and the population density of city areas. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology was used to represent these criteria spatially on the map to be processed and prepared for analysis using the Services Coverage Tool (Service Area) and allocation Tool (Allocation – Location) available in the network analysis toolbar and overlay tool (intersect) in the Toolbox menu. The results of the analysis showed that the sites of (10) BRT stations are within good and reasonable services coverage areas in relation to the services distribution sites in the city and the BRT route site, as the stations cover (76) government site, (69) educational institutions, (10) health sites, and (11) stops for the current transportation lines. The results of the statistical analysis also showed that the coverage of BRT stations is 88% of the total population density in the city.

Bacterial Causes of Urinary Tract Infection among Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients in Al-Kut City, Iraq


 Introduction: Urinary tract infection is a very prevalent disease among humans and it is highly presented among patients with diabetes mellitus. The main aim of the current study was to find out the commonest bacterial organisms causing urinary tract infection among a sample of diabetic and non-diabetic patients in Al-Kut city, Iraq.
 Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 conveniently sampled patients suffering from urinary tract infections and attending Al-Karama Teaching hospital laboratory for urine culture between October and December 2019 were included in the study. The patients were consented to answer a special questionnaire containing data like patients' age, gender, and disease status (diabetic or non-diabetic).
 Results: From the 100 participated patients there were 29 (29%) with diabetes and the remaining 71(71%) from the sample were non-diabetics. The females represent the majority of the sample (67%) while males represented only (33%). The most common identified bacteria from this sample were Staphylococcus aureus (48%), Escherichia coli (24%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (17%), Enterococcus species (5%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2%). The study result shows a significant association of being diabetic or not >0.001, 0.038with age and gender of the patients (p-value) respectively. While this association was non-significant when considering the type of bacteria between the two . While this association was non-significant when considering the groups (P-value=0.056).type of bacteria between the two groups (P-value=0.056).
 Conclusion: The urinary tract infection is frequently presented among young non-diabetic females and near half of the urine cultures showed the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria as the commonest cause of infection among them.

Evaluating the urban structure of Al-Kut city according to sustainability

The research attempts to assess the urban structure of Kut city - as a sample of Iraqi cities - according to the requirements of sustainability and the extent of their consistency or their distance from the requirements of achieving sustainable urban development. By studying the main urban components of Kut city, analyzing the spatial distribution of land uses, the nature of the neighbourhood, and the spatial distribution of population densities in it, road network and spatial distribution of urban land prices. The research concludes that the study area’s urban spatial structure is ineffective and has many defects. The city is spread over a large area, and the population densities are distributed unorganized. Most of the population densities are far from the centre area; this leads to long, random and erratic trips. Traffic problems in the city are exacerbated by the absence of a hierarchy of roads and weak links between parts of the city as a result of the spread of the city between the two banks of the river and the lack of adequate bridges.

The relationship between traffic congestion and land uses: A case study of Al-Kut city, Iraq

Traffic congestion is one of the major problems that contemporary cities need to address. Decision makers in cities, interested in finding appropriate strategic solutions to a very complex problem, are faced with an ever greater headache each year. The solutions available should not cost billions of dollars or lead to the construction of bridges or tunnels that move the problem from one place to another, thereby creating new bottlenecks. Individuals who drive in these congested areas often sit for long periods in traffic, and this leads to physical and emotional stress as well as decreased performance and productivity. This study constructed a mathematical model that illustrates the relationship between traffic congestion and the distribution of land use in the city of Al-Kut, demonstrating that land use planning can have a significant impact on congestion levels in the near and long term.

Assessment Knowledge of the patients’ with acute renal failure concerning dietary pattern in dialysis unite of AL-Zahraa Teaching Hospital at AL-Kut city

Objectives: To assess the knowledge of patients with acute renal failure concerning dietary pattern forkidney failure in dialysis unite in AL-Zahraa Teaching Hospital at AL-Kut City and Find out relationshipbetween demographic data and knowledge of patient with acute kidney failure. By a non- probability sampleaccount of (30) subjects is selected for the purpose of the present study. A questionnaire as aincomes fordata gathering, it consist of two parts; include demographic data and knowledge of patients with acuterenal failure concerning dietary pattern which composed of (18) items. By self-administration, data arecollected from those who patients with renal failure come in dialysis unite in AL-Zahraa Teaching Hospitaland analyzed through the used descriptive and inferential statistic approach. The study results indicatedthat the most of the participants are within married (60%), and most of them are male. In regarding levelof education, they most of them formally graduation, and administrative patients, as well the subjects havechronic disease such as diabetes mellitus and find statistical high significant between level of education andknowledge of patient at p-value <0.05 with non-significant between other demographical data

Assessment of Health Workers Knowledge toward Occupational Health and Safety Program in Alkut City’s Primary Health Care Centers

Health care workers are always exposed to physical, chemical, psychological and biological agents thataffect their health. Regular information is serious for setting priorities necessary to enhance providers, healthand safety, which healthcare facilities like other high danger workplaces are categorized by a high level ofexposure to hazards agents, which significant danger toward health of workers.A descriptive cross sectional study is carried out throughout (1/September/2019 to 1/September/2020) inorder to assess the Health Workers Toward “Occupational Health and safety program” and to find out therelationships between knowledge’s of health workers toward occupational safety and health program andtheir socio-demographic.The study findings indicate that there is a significance relation among health worker’s knowledge aboutoccupational health and safety program with their level of educational and their age. As well as findingsshow that there is a highly significance relation between knowledge about occupation health and safetyprogram with the training of course that health workers participatedin.The study concludes that health workers Age, level education, training course, monthly income, and Numberof years of Employment Have a great effect on occupational health and safety program.The study recommends Encourage health care workers to attend continuing education activities in the formof workshops, conferences, training programs, refreshing courses and review update related to “occupationalhealth and safety program” and ministry of Iraqi health could improve the infections protective processes as“head cap, closed shoes, gloves, and frequent medical examination for communicable diseases” as hepatitis.

Assessment of Water Quality in Tigris River of AL-Kut City, Iraq by Using GIS

The concerns about water contaminants affect most developing countries bypassing rivers over them. The issue is challenging to introduce water quality within the allowed limits for drinking, industrial and agricultural purposes. In the present study, physical-chemical parameters measurements of water samples taken from eleven stations were collected during six months in 2020 through flow path along the whole length of Tigris River inside AL Kut city (center of Wassit government) were investigated for six parameters are total hardness TH, hydrogen ion pH, biological oxygen demand BOD5, total dissolved solids TDS, nitrate NO3, and sulfate SO4. The water quality analysis results were compared with the maximum allowable limit concentration recommended by World Health Organization WHO and Iraqi limitation spastically; TH, BOD5, TDS, and SO4 had an average value of 421, 62, 813, and 376 mg/l, respectively. The spatial distribution of six water quality parameters within the studied area was carried out by implementing the Quantum Geography Information System QGIS technique established on the Inverse Distance Weighted IDW method to produce the interpolation predicted maps of stations along the river in Al Kut city. The results showed water quality degraded and an increase in the concentrations observed for all parameters along the river path, especially at the last two stations due to attributed to human activities, land use and industrialization, and outfall of sewerage flow to the river directly without treatment. Spatial distribution is essential to give a thorough understanding of the river's contamination reality. This makes it easier to understand, analyze and find the appropriate treatments and solutions to the problem of water quality.