NURSES' KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HEPATITIS C VIRUS IN BAGHDAD TEACHING HOSPITALS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) considered one of the main reasons in Iraq to cause chronic liver disease, which may progress to life-threatening outcomes. Nurses' knowledge about the HCV will impact their practice of standard precaution when managing HCV patients. The present study aimed to assess the nurses' knowledge about HCV in Baghdad teaching hospitals. A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed via distribution of HCV info questionnaires to 150 nurses in three Baghdad teaching hospitals (Al-Kindi, Al-Elwyia pediatric and Sheikh Zayed hospitals). The questionnaire format consists of nurses' demographic data (age, gender, educational level, marital status, years of experience in hospital, workplace in hospital, attending training courses and information sources) and nurses' knowledge of hepatitis C virus (nature of the disease, transmission, prevention, and treatment). The mean score of the knowledge showed fair grade with 66.66±12.9%. As the highest correct percentage displayed in nature of the disease (73%) and treatment (72%). Whereas the lowest correct percentage presented in transmission (69%) and prevention (48.3%). The results exhibited significant difference between the nurses' knowledge about treatment with the information sources (P<0.05), about transmission and prevention with the hospital workplace (P<0.05), and about prevention with the educational level (P<0.005). Continuing educational programs are essential to increase awareness of HCV among the nurses.

[Knowledge and practices of women in Iraqi universities on breast self examination].

This study evaluated the knowledge and practice of breast self-examination (BSE), among a sample of educated Iraqi women. The study sample comprised 858 women aged 18-62 years affiliated to 6 major Iraqi universities, categorized according to occupation as teaching staff (11.5%), administrative staff (18.0%) and students (70.5%). Data were collected by a self-completed questionnaire. In all, 93.9% of the women had heard about BSE, the main source of information was television (39.9%), doctors (18.4%) and the awareness campaign of the Iraqi National Breast Cancer Research Programme (11.6%). Only 53.9% of the women practised BSE; the most common excuses by those that did not were lack of knowledge of the significance of BSE (42.0%) and lack of confidence in their ability to perform BSE (39.5%). Just over 38% did not seek medical advice if they experienced signs/symptoms of breast disease, attributing that to reasons of timidity, lack of time or fear of discovering cancer. The majority (88%) of the women were willing to instruct others in BSE (aftertraining), 40% of whom were interested in collaborating with the National Breast Cancer Awareness Programme in Iraq.

Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding breast cancer and breast self-examination among a sample of the educated population in Iraq.

This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study evaluated the knowledge, attitude and practice towards breast cancer and breast self-examination (BSE) among 387 (302 females and 85 males) educated Iraqis affiliated to 2 Iraqi universities. The participants were categorized into 3 occupations: student (71.3%), teaching staff (10.3%) and administrative staff (18.3%). About half of the participants had a low knowledge score (< 50%); only 14.3% were graded as "Good" and above. Almost 75% of the participants believed that the best way to control breast cancer was through early detection and other possible preventive measures. Most participants (90.9%) had heard of BSE, the main source of information being television. However, only 48.3% practised BSE; the most common reason for not doing so was lack of knowledge of how to perform the technique correctly. Almost 84% of the female participants were willing to instruct others in the technique of BSE.