Deaths In Iraq Research Articles

A Comparison Between the ARIMA Model and Neural Networks Average Death in Iraq for the Period (1980-2018)

In this research, the (Box-Jenkins) methodology and annual artificial neural networks in predicting theoretical and practical levels were identified and clarified by constructing time series models and artificial networks to predict the mortality rate of Iraq and the data represented by the mortality rate for the time period (1980-2028). It was obtained from the Central Statistical Organization where the data were analyzed using time series according to the Box-Jenkins method and artificial neural networks using the program (Eviws.v9, SPSS, Zaitun.TS) and the most important conclusions and recommendations were reached, the most important of which proved the time series model using residues and values The ARMA model has its advantage over the neural network model for predicting Iraqi mortality. So we recommend using this form. Highights: Utilized Box-Jenkins and neural networks for mortality prediction (1980–2028). Data analyzed using EViews, SPSS, Zaitun.TS, with ARMA outperforming neural networks. Recommended ARMA model for accurate Iraqi mortality rate forecasting. Keywords: Box-Jenkins, Neural Networks, Prediction, ARIMA model, Death in Iraq

Following up on the repercussions on patients with high blood pressure and diabetes, including atherosclerosis

Abstract Background & objective: The current investigation examined the relationship between cortisol levels and adrenomedullin (ADM) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMT2) and hypertension (HT). As DMT2 patients experience HT at a rate of (40–60)%, DMT2 is thought to be one of the known complications of HT. The combination of these two conditions can result in the development of stroke and myocardial infarction, which are the primary causes of death in Iraq due to the disease progressing to atherosclerosis and diabetic nephropathy. Methodology: The study included sixty individuals with DMT2 and HT, ages 45 to 65 (36 males and 24 females). Samples were taken from the Al-Sadr Teaching Hospital's diabetic section in Najaf Al-Ashraf, Iraq. As a control group, however, thirty healthy individuals (15 men and 15 women) were chosen. The ELISA technique was used to measure the levels of cortisol and ADM. This was a case-control study.

Association between Body Mass Index and Depressive Symptoms among Adolescent Females in Baghdad, AlKarkh during 2022

الخلفية: نظرًا لارتفاع معدلات الإصابة والوفاة ، تعد سمنة المراهقين والاكتئاب من أكثر اهتمامات الصحة العامة شهرة على مستوى العالم. هذه الدراسة تهدف إلى فهم العلاقة بين مؤشر كتلة الجسم والاكتئاب خاصة عند الفتيات العراقيات. هدف الدراسة: فحص مستوى الاكتئاب لدى الفتيات المراهقات وتحديد العلاقة بين الاكتئاب ومؤشر كتلة الجسم لدى المراهقات العراقيات. طرق البحث:عن طريق استبيان بيك للاكتئاب الذي أجري في بغداد في 11 مدرسة ثانوية تم اختيارها عشوائياً من بغداد / الكرخ وتم طرح الاستبيان ل 350 مراهقة تم اختيارهن بطريقة عشوائية من المدارس وبعدها تم قياس طول ووزن كل طالبة باستخدام مقياس خاص للوزن والطول ومن ثم تم حساب مؤشر كتلة الجسم لكل طالبة وتم تقسيم الطلاب المشمولين وفقًا لوزنهم. تم تقديم الإحصاء الوصفي باستخدام الجداول والرسوم البيانية. تم ادخال البيانات بواسطة برنامج مايكروسوفت اكسل ٢٠١٦ و تحليلها ببرنامج اس بي اس اس الاحصائي النسخة ٢٤ واستخدام اختبار مربع كاي لمعرفة اهمية الارتباط بين المتغيرات واعتبرت قيمة 0.05>باء كنقطة لتمييز الاحتمالية. النتائج: 14٪ من الخاضعين للدراسة كانوا يعانون من نقص الوزن ، 59٪ وزن طبيعي ، 21٪ وزن زائد و 6٪ سمنة. من الطلاب الذين خضعوا للدراسة لم يكن لديهم أعراض اكتئاب ٪43.1 16٪ لديهم اضطراب مزاجي خفيف ، و 24.3٪ لديهم اكتئاب متوسط ، و 13.4٪ كان لديهم أعراض اكتئابية شديدة بينما الاكتئاب الشديد وجد في 3.1٪ من الحالات. 15٪ من الطلاب الذين يعانون من السمنة المفرطة لديهم أعراض اكتئاب حادة وهي أعلى بكثير من معدل أعراض الاكتئاب الحادة بين الذين يعانون من زيادة في الوزن (1.4٪) وايضا اكثر من الذين وزنهم طبيعي(2.4٪) والذين يعانون من نقص الوزن (3.4٪). الاستنتاج: هناك ارتباط كبير بين السمنة والاكتئاب وايضاً ارتباط كبير بين معدل كتلة الجسم والاكتئاب.

Assessment of Nurses' Knowledge and Practices Regarding Nursing Management for Patients on Hemodialysis at Kirkuk General Hospital / Iraq

Background: Hemodialysis is the most common method used to treat advanced chronic kidney failure, which considers the eighth cause of the top ten causes of death in Iraq with 4.1% of total death in 2020. Objective: To assess nurses' knowledge and practices regarding nursing management for patients on hemodialysis at Kirkuk General Hospital / Iraq. Methodology: A quantitative (descriptive and observational) design study was carried out at Kirkuk General from 7 February to 25 August 2022, A non-probability (purposive) sampling technique was utilized to collect data from 55 nurses who worked in the hemodialysis unit, and the data were collected through A questionnaire was designed and constructed by the researcher, Data analyzed using the statistical package of social science version 22. Results: Most of the participants were 30-34 years old, female, and College graduates, 41.8% have more than 5 years of the experience dialysis unit, the results also showed no significant differences between the nurses’ knowledge and demographic characteristics of the nurses, while the result observed that strong relationship due to the significant level which was accounted at P Conclusion: Most of the participants were of the female gender, of young ages, Nursing College graduates, about two third whose experience years in hospital increased than five years. Keywords: Assessment, Knowledge, Practice, Hemodialysis.

Identifying Risk Factors Influencing Traffic Accidents for Baghdad Expressways

In this paper, the SPSS program (version 25) and Binary Logistic Regression Model were used to implement and identify the risk factors that affect traffic accidents on Baghdad highways. Due to the increase in the number of traffic accidents that led to injuries and deaths in Iraq during the past years and the lack of specialized studies in traffic accidents, especially on highways, this required the preparation of a study to know the causes of accidents and to explore the factors that have a relative impact on (the severity of the accident). Four highways in the capital, Baghdad, were chosen in this study, major and vital in terms of the number of drivers who use them daily, which are (Mohamed Al-Qasim Expressway, Army Canal Expressway, Salah Al-Din Street (Expressway), and Baghdad International Airport Street (Expressway)). Three hundred and forty-nine traffic accident forms were collected from the traffic directorates on both sides of Al-Karkh and Al-Rusafa for the years from 2006 to 2019. After the analysis by Binary Logistic Regression, the results showed that (contributing factors, road condition, cause of an accident like (parking on highway, loss of control, lack of attention, sudden stopping and lack of attention), vehicle body type, speed). Resulting from the BLR model.

Autopsy versus Clinical Decisions Regarding Causes of Maternal Death in Iraq.

Background:Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are a leading cause of death and disability among women in developing countries. The target for mortality reduction is important, yet accurate data of maternal mortality remains challenging as reporting errors including misclassification of cause of death continue to pose a major challenge.Objectives:This study aimed to identify if there is any discrepancy between clinical and autopsy causes of maternal death.Methods:A review of all maternal deaths records that had two sources for registered cause of death; one made by the obstetrician depending on clinical setting and the other by forensic medicine after autopsy and search for any discrepancies between the two sources.Results:A total of 468 maternal death reports were reviewed; the discrepancies were more with the second commonest cause of maternal death in Iraq which is pulmonary embolism. The review revealed that 10.1% of those clinically died because of pulmonary embolism turned to be dead from other causes; 8.7% of them from postpartum hemorrhage, and the rest from sepsis and other indirect causes.Conclusion:There is a substantial discrepancy between clinical and autopsy causes of maternal death which necessitates asking for autopsy in cases of maternal mortality of uncertain cause. The use of maternal death review within 3–6 weeks of death as a tool to identify causes of maternal deaths is recommended.

Common Risk Factors of Myocardial Infarction and Some Socio Demographic Characteristics in Sulaimani City


 
 
 
 Back ground: Coronary heart disease is one of the vital causes of morbidity and death in Iraq. Socioeconomic status is also affected by coronary heart disease. These risk factors in Sulaimani city of Iraq is remain uncertain. This is a shortage of study of master student. The current study’s main aims were to explore the potential association between several predisposing factors and heart attack in Sulaimani, Iraq, and to some socio demographic in this participant. 165 contributors who were attending to the Cardiac Specialty Hospital, (Coronary Care Unit), and they were definitely diagnosed as having MI participated in the current study between 2015 and 2016; in Sulaimani, Iraq. The study was attentive on exploring the socioeconomic status, lifestyle, family history of heart attack and classical predisposing factors such as (Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, smoking cigarette, and dyslipidemia). For collecting the data, the questionnaire was designed according reading literature and books. The tests of Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Pearson and Spearman were used for the current data analysis. The finding: patients at the age of ?61 years was a common group age for myocardial infarction. Sedentary lifestyle (81.8%) and smoking (Ex- passive and current smoking 69.7% was predominance. The prevalence of BMI > 25 was (75.15%). Hypertension accounted (61.2%), dyslipidemia (39.4%), and diabetes (20%) of the subjects. A positive first-degree history of classical MI risk factor of the participants was (54.5%, 39.2% and 28.4%) for hypertension, heart attack and diabetes, respectively. (98.2%) of the selected patients no eating fish. (56.4%, 58.8%) of them were not eating daily fruit and vegetable respectively. Smoking was significant correlation with age, gender, level of education, and marital status (r = 0.34, 0.38, -0.23 and 0.17) respectively) (p value less than 0.05). Conclusions: In Sulaimani city of Iraq the strong predictors of heart attack were included: sedentary lifestyle, high body mass index, positive family history, unhealthy diet, smoking cigarette, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and Diabetes Mellitus.
 
 
 
 
 

Clinical Analysis of Four Maternity Deaths in Iraq by COVID-19


 This study aims to identify maternal death cases caused by Coronavirus infection 2019 pneumonia, including disease progression, fetal consequences, and the fatality cause.
 Patients and methodology: A retrospective case collection of Iraqi pregnant women in their second and third trimesters diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia and died due to it.
 The four cases were all of a young age, had a brief complaint period, and had no comorbidities. Fever, dyspnea, and fatigue were the most common symptoms. Hypoxia was present in all cases and was the cause of mortality in three cases, with thromboembolism being a potential cause in the fourth. Prelabour membrane breakup, fetal growth restriction, and fetal death are all examples of adverse fetal effects.
 Conclusion: COVID-19 pneumonia induces substantial fetal and maternal mortality rates through pregnancy, which should be considered when treating these cases.

Cubic Spline Interpolation For Data Infections Of COVID-19 Pandemic In Iraq


 
 
 
 
 In this paper, we use an empirical equation and cubic spline interpolation to fit Covid-19 data available for accumulated infections and deaths in Iraq. For Scientific visualization of data interpretation, it is useful to use interpolation methods for purposes fitting by data interpolation. The data used is from 3 January 2020 to 21 January 2021 in order to obtain graphs to analysing the rate of increasing the pandemic and then obtain predicted values for the data infections and deaths in that period of time. Stochastic fit to the data of daily infections and deaths of Covid-19 is also discussed and showed in figures. The results of the cubic splines and the empirical equation used will be numerically compared. The principle of least square errors will be used for both these interpolations. The numerical results will be indicated that the cubic spline gives an accurate fitting to data.
 
 
 

Iraq healthcare system: The first year of covid-19 pandemic

Background: The year 2020 witnessed the rapid spread of covid-19 pandemic in Iraq and in almost all the countries in the world. This spread has created a serious health crises and a public health emergency in Iraq and throughout the world. Throughout the world, healthcare systems have been negatively influenced by the pandemic and experienced unexpected changes. We have previously provided several descriptions of the Iraq health care system from its evolution. However, little is known about the health care system in Iraq during the first year of the coves pandemic. The aim of this paper is provide a description of the healthcare system in Iraq during the year 2020, the first year of covid-19 global pandemic. Materials and methods: The available unpublished and published data about the Iraqi healthcare system during the first year of covid-19 pandemic, the year 2020 were examined. The data included more than 100 relevant unpublished and published information documents including journal articles, books, official reports of the Iraqi Ministry of Planning and Iraqi Ministry of Health. In addition, relevant useful data available at internet web sites were also reviewed. The available relevant data were classified into categories including; demographic data relevant to healthcare, Data related to covid-19 disease in Iraq, data related to the organizational structure of the healthcare system, data related to national healthcare policies including national healthcare mission, vision, strategic goals and plans, data related to healthcare system financing, data about healthcare services delivery, data about the workforce in the Iraq healthcare system, data related to child health and maternal, data about notifiable infectious disease, data about chronic disorders and the main causes of morbidity and mortality, and data about medical education and healthcare education. Many relevant healthcare data for three provinces (The Kurdish provinces in the north of Iraq) of the eighteen provinces in Iraq were not available in English or Arabic. Results: The population of Iraq in 2020 was estimated at 40.150.174 (20.284.823 males and 19.865.351 females). During the year 2020, 595291 cases of covid-19 disease were registered by the Iraqi Ministry of Health. 12813 (2.15%) patients died and 537841 (90.3%) patients experienced recovery. The organizational structure of the Iraq health system, the backbone of the Iraq healthcare system witnessed no important change from the description before covid-19 global pandemic in 2019. The declared mission and vision of the Iraqi Ministry of Health for the year 2020 were the same mission and vision of the Iraqi Ministry of Health that were declared in 2018. In 2020, the Iraqi Ministry of Health declared a strategic plan which included a vision and mission statements for the health information system. The first year of covid-19 pandemic in Iraq was not associated with an important increase in the number of primary healthcare centers. However, there was little increase in the number of governmental hospitals. Surprisingly, the bed occupancy rate of governmental hospitals during the first year of the pandemic was lower than the bed occupancy rate during the two years before the pandemic. The total number of hospitalized patients in 2020 was lower than the previous four years, but the mortality rate per 1000 hospitalized patients was significantly higher in 2020 than the previous four years. Conclusion: Covid-19 disease in Iraq was associated with a significant mortality during the year 2020. It actually changed the previously reported national mortality pattern as covid-19 has become the second most common cause of death in Iraq. Contradictory, to the general belief that mortality associated with covid-19 disease was generally restricted to the older age groups, 117 children under the age of ten years died because of covid-19 disease in 2020. This number of childhood deaths suggests the need to consider vaccination of the younger age groups and to perform the relevant research. Covid-19 disease has emerged as a new notifiable infectious disease in Iraq and throughout the world; therefore, it changed the pattern of notifiable infectious diseases in Iraq.

Iraq Healthcare System During the First Year of Covid-19 Pandemic

Background: The year 2020 witnessed the rapid spread of covid-19 pandemic in Iraq and in almost all the countries in the world. This spread has created a serious health crises and a public health emergency in Iraq and throughout the world. Throughout the world, healthcare systems have been negatively influenced by the pandemic and experienced unexpected changes. We have previously provided several descriptions of the Iraq health care system from its evolution. However, little is known about the health care system in Iraq during the first year of the coves pandemic. The aim of this paper is provide a description of the healthcare system in Iraq during the year 2020, the first year of covid-19 global pandemic. Materials and Methods: The available unpublished and published data about the Iraqi healthcare system during the first year of covid-19 pandemic, the year 2020 were examined. The data included more than 100 relevant unpublished and published information documents including journal articles, books, official reports of the Iraqi Ministry of Planning and Iraqi Ministry of Health. In addition, relevant useful data available at internet web sites were also reviewed. The available relevant data were classified into categories including; demographic data relevant to healthcare, Data related to covid-19 disease in Iraq, data related to the organizational structure of the healthcare system, data related to national healthcare policies including national healthcare mission, vision, strategic goals and plans, data related to healthcare system financing, data about healthcare services delivery, data about the workforce in the Iraq healthcare system, data related to child health and maternal, data about notifiable infectious disease, data about chronic disorders and the main causes of morbidity and mortality, and data about medical education and healthcare education. Many relevant healthcare data for three provinces (The Kurdish provinces in the north of Iraq) of the eighteen provinces in Iraq were not available in English or Arabic. Results: The population of Iraq in 2020 was estimated at 40.150.174 (20.284.823 males and 19.865.351 females). During the year 2020, 595291 cases of covid-19 disease were registered by the Iraqi Ministry of Health. 12813 (2.15%) patients died and 537841 (90.3%) patients experienced recovery. The organizational structure of the Iraq health system, the backbone of the Iraq healthcare system witnessed no important change from the description before covid-19 global pandemic in 2019. The declared mission and vision of the Iraqi Ministry of Health for the year 2020 were the same mission and vision of the Iraqi Ministry of Health that were declared in 2018. In 2020, the Iraqi Ministry of Health declared a strategic plan which included a vision and mission statements for the health information system. The first year of covid-19 pandemic in Iraq was not associated with an important increase in the number of primary healthcare centers. However, there was little increase in the number of governmental hospitals. Surprisingly, the bed occupancy rate of governmental hospitals during the first year of the pandemic was lower than the bed occupancy rate during the two years before the pandemic. The total number of hospitalized patients in 2020 was lower than the previous four years, but the mortality rate per 1000 hospitalized patients was significantly higher in 2020 than the previous four years. Conclusion: Covid-19 disease in Iraq was associated with a significant mortality during the year 2020. It actually changed the previously reported national mortality pattern as covid-19 has become the second most common cause of death in Iraq. Contradictory, to the general belief that mortality associated with covid-19 disease was generally restricted to the older age groups, 117 children under the age of ten years died because of covid-19 disease in 2020. This number of childhood deaths suggests the need to consider vaccination of the younger age groups and to perform the relevant research. Covid-19 disease has emerged as a new notifiable infectious disease in Iraq and throughout the world; therefore, it changed the pattern of notifiable infectious diseases in Iraq.

Time series analysis of the number of Covid-19 deaths in Iraq

In this paper, the time series data for the number of deaths from Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients in Iraq were analyzed for the period from 4/3/2020 to 18/2/2021. ARCH, GARCH, and TGARCH models were applied due to the changing volatility of the series leading to a heteroscedastic variance. The appropriate models for the series were diagnosed and the best model was chosen and used for forecasting by the exponential smoothing methods. The comparison criterion used was the Root Mean Squared Error and the Sum of Squared Residuals. The most appropriate model for modeling and forecasting the Coronavirus deaths series in Iraq was diagnosed as TGARCH (1,1). Finally, the method of Holt-winter-additive forecasting was the best method among the

Child Mortality and Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health in Iraq in the Last Two Decades: Trends and a Way Toward the SDG Targets for Child Survival

Background: Iraq has experienced decades of devastating wars and conflicts, which profoundly affected health including higher child mortality during 1990s. We examined the recent trends for child mortality and maternal, neonatal, child health and family planning (MNCH-FP) services since early 2000s during which Iraq also experienced war, invasions and conflicts. Methods: We conducted in-depth secondary data analyses using Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys from 2006, 2011, and 2018. We examined national and subnational rates and trends for neonatal and under-five child mortality and 27 MNCH-FP indicators at national, regional and governorate levels. We used Lives Saved Tool (LiST) to model the impact of expanding coverage for child mortality reduction. Findings: From 2006 to 2018, under-five child mortality (U5MR) dropped from 40.9 to 27.1 deaths per 1,000 livebirths; neonatal mortality (NMR) declined from 21.6 to 13.3 deaths per 1,000 livebirths, with overall annual rate reductions (ARR) of 3.4% and 4.1%, respectively. ARRs were greater in Kurdistan (U5MR: 8.3%; NMR: 10.6%) compared to South/Central region (U5MR: 2.7%; NMR: 3.2%). Child mortality increased during post-2003 war and ISIS invasion periods. Analysis of governorates shows heterogeneity with limited progress in several governorates. LiST modeling suggests that universal scale up of MNCH interventions by 2030 could reduce 39% of child deaths in Iraq. Interpretation: Despite wars, conflicts, and invasions, Iraq demonstrated significant resilience and is poised to reach SDG-3.1 goals in upcoming years. However, significant inequity persists by regions, governorates, and socioeconomic variables. Addressing this is critical to strategically accelerate child mortality reduction in Iraq. Funding: UNICEF Iraq Office through contributions from the Government of Canada and Czech Republic. Declaration of Interest: All authors declare no competing interests.

A mathematical model for the dynamics of COVID-19 pandemic involving the infective immigrants

‎ Since the first outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 31, 2019, COVID-19 pandemic ‎has been spreading to many countries in the world. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused a ‎major global crisis, with 554,767 total confirmed cases, 484,570 total recovered cases, and ‎‎12,306 deaths in Iraq as of February 2, 2020. In the absence of any effective therapeutics or drugs ‎and with an unknown epidemiological life cycle, predictive mathematical models can aid in ‎the understanding of both control and management of coronavirus disease. Among the important ‎factors that helped the rapid spread of the epidemic are immigration, travelers, foreign workers, and foreign students. In this work, we develop a mathematical model to study the dynamical ‎behavior of COVID-19 pandemic, involving immigrants' effects with the possibility of re-infection. ‎Firstly, we studied the positivity and roundedness of the solution of the proposed model. The stability ‎results of the model at the disease-free equilibrium point were presented when . Further, it was proven that the pandemic equilibrium point will persist uniformly when . Moreover, we ‎confirmed the occurrence of the local bifurcation (saddle-node, pitchfork, and transcritical). Finally, ‎theoretical analysis and numerical results were shown to be consistent.

Efficacy of the Health Belief Model in Enhancing Weight Loss Behaviors to Prevent Stroke among Overweight and Obese Geriatrics Homes Residents in Baghdad City

Background: Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Iraq exceeding only by coronary heart disease and war related death. Ageing with overweight plays a critical role in predisposing people to stroke; weight loss behaviors can have profound effect in protecting seniors with obesity from stroke. Aim of study: The study aims to assess the efficacy of the Health Belief Model in enhancing weight loss behaviors to prevent stroke among overweight and obese geriatrics homes residents in Baghdad city. Methods: This study used a randomized controlled trial approach. Sixty-three seniors from Baghdad geriatrics homes with BMI > 25 Kg/m2 participated in the study and randomly allocated into one of two groups, experimental (intervention group) and control (nonintervention group). A mixed design analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to measure the change among participant’s beliefs over three times (T1, T2, and T3(

It’s the End of the World as I Know It by Matthew Landis

Reviewed by: It’s the End of the World as I Know It by Matthew Landis Deborah Stevenson, Editor Landis, Matthew It’s the End of the World as I Know It. Dial, 2019 [320p] Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-735-22801-6 $16.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-735-22803-0 $9.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 5-8 Derrick, known as Dee, has been prepping a survival room and polishing his plans to keep himself safe from the civilization-ruining mega-volcano he’s been warned about on a doomsday site. Now September 21, the portended day of the disaster, is drawing near, but things aren’t going smoothly for the eighth-grader: his [End Page 23] neighbor, Misty, ropes him into adventures and wants in on his plans, his friends are getting frustrated with his self-absorption, and he’s getting distracted, to put it mildly, by signs that his widowed father is dating. Landis effectively conveys Dee’s rising stress (sections are headed with the number of “days before the end”) while also sympathetically revealing his obsession as part of the devastating effect of his mother’s death in Iraq. His relationship with Misty, who after a kidney transplant is as determined to court experiences as Dee is to flee from them, adds a dimension that’s lively but also more deeply relevant to Dee than his narration admits; his kind but perplexed goofball guy friends (including one proud owner of a live-mice-eating snake) are endearing and plausible as they attempt to support their friend but only see him getting worse. The ending is a bit convenient, but Dee’s grief and anxiety will speak to many kids, and they’ll sympathize with his misdirected efforts. Copyright © 2019 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Efficacy of Health Belief Model in Enhancing Exercise Behavior to Preventing Stroke among Geriatrics Homes Residents in Baghdad City

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Iraq exceeding only by coronary heart disease and war related death. This study used a randomized controlled trial approach to investigate the efficacy of health belief model in enhancing exercise behaviors to preventing stroke among older people resident in the geriatric homes of Baghdad city. Ninety-seven seniors from Baghdad geriatrics homes participated in the study and randomly allocated into one of two groups, experimental (intervention group) and control (nonintervention group). We used a mixed design analysis of variance (ANOVA) to measuring the change among participant's beliefs over three times (T1, T2, and T3). There was a significant improvement among participant's beliefs about seriousness of stroke, F (2, 94) = 8.408, P < 0.000, their susceptibility to stroke F (2, 94) = 12.578, P < 0.000, and benefit of exercise in preventing stroke F (2, 94) = 15.224, P <.000 over times. However, the post-hoc procedure by using Bonferroni correction test indicated that this change in beliefs were attributed to the experimental group participants. In addition, there was a stable continuous correlation among experimental group participant's beliefs about seriousness of stroke and benefit of exercise in preventing stroke.

Fat Angie: Rebel Girl Revolution by E. E. Charlton-Trujillo

Reviewed by: Fat Angie: Rebel Girl Revolution by E. E. Charlton-Trujillo Karen Coats Charlton-Trujillo, e. E. Fat Angie: Rebel Girl Revolution. Candlewick, 2019 [352p] Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-7636-9345-9 $16.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-7636-9713-6 $16.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 7-10 It’s a new school year, but Angie can’t escape the remnants of the past one—her sister’s very public death in Iraq, her own failed suicide attempt, and the relentless bullying by her classmates. Now Angie’s best friend, Jake, is dating a girl who bullied her, her girlfriend KC has moved away, and her mother is making things worse by insisting on a garish statue to commemorate her “good” daughter, in contrast to Angie and her brother, whom her mother finds disappointing. At the dedication ceremony, a soldier gives Angie a letter from her sister that lists the sites she wanted to share with Angie on a road trip when she returned from Iraq. One bullying incident too many spikes Angie’s already grief-laced anger, earning her a school suspension and a threat from her mother to send her to a school that includes conversion therapy as part of its curriculum. Enlisting the help of a former friend with an RV, she embarks on a quest to fulfill her sister’s wishes. As with the previous book, some of the events here lapse into wish-fulfilling implausibility, but Angie’s grief arc is credible and even laudable, especially as she focuses her anger on apt targets this time instead of herself. Readers will need to be familiar with the first book (Fat Angie, BCCB 4/13) to understand the full details of her previous year, but the multiple references allow readers to infer the basis for her emotional state and follow and applaud her progress from victim to rebel. Copyright © 2019 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Neonatal Seizures in Iraq: Cause and Outcome.

During a daily neonatology practice, seizures are a continuous challenge as a common neurological disease with a wide range of underlying etiologies, and considerable risks of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to clarify the rate, etiological factors and outcomes of neonatal seizures, and a possible foresight of neonatal death in Iraq. A prospective cohort study was conducted in neonates with seizures admitted to 3 major neonatology centers in Baghdad, Iraq, from 1st of December 2017 till the end of May 2018. Both term and preterm neonates affected by seizures were recruited with a total number of 203 patients. Perinatal asphyxia (n = 81; 39.90%), infection (n = 77; 37.93%), and metabolic abnormalities (n = 52; 25.62%) were most common causes for seizures. Death occurred in 66 neonates (32.51%), with higher mortality rates found in preterm neonates. Six adverse prognostic indicators were shown to be significant: positive pressure resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, perinatal asphyxia, infection, gestational age (preterm babies), and low birth weight (< 2,500 g). Neonatal seizures may be the first manifestation of neurological insults, and they are most commonly caused by perinatal asphyxia, followed by infection, and metabolic disturbances. Prevention of neonatal seizures is much more important than the treatment of them for the reduction of neonatal mortality. The effective strategies should therefore be proper medical care and management for mothers and neonates before, during and after delivery to prevent neonatal infections, perinatal asphyxia, low birth weight, prematurity, metabolic abnormalities, and other risk factors of neonatal seizures.

The Sanctions Regime against Iraq (1990-2003): Policymaking and Values

From 1990 to 2003, US/UK policymakers insisted that the UN sanctions regime against Iraq was worth the cost, which, by 1999, amounted to half a million child deaths in Iraq. US policymakers emphasized that the ends (saving the world from Saddam Hussein’s alleged weapons of mass destruction program) justified the means (the adverse humanitarian consequences of the dismantling of Iraq’s economy). The draconian blockade was especially disastrous for the women and children of Iraq. This paper explores the ethical dimensions of the sanctions while presenting an unorthodox view of foreign policy administration and generating new ideas for improving it. I argue that pro-sanctions policy managers had to defend a “Sophie’s Choice:” killing children to save other children. I argue that this was a false dichotomy operating in the US policy towards Iraq since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and that it served as a cover-up for a hidden agenda related to US hegemony in the Middle East region.T1 Interviews in 1999 with three pro-sanctions diplomats reveal the personal moral dilemma of defending a policy of infanticide while appearing virtuous in doing so. I suggest an alternative paradigm and a number of strategies that would ask policymakers whether they speaking truth to power.