Research practice, satisfaction, motivation, and challenges among university academics in Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Background: Researchers in universities and academic institutions must be in a leading position in generating research evidence to inform and direct national policies and strategies, improve service delivery, and achieve the main objectives. This study aimed to determine the factors that promote or hinder research productivity and quality among university academics in Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 949 university academics from all public universities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Association between body weight perception and actual body mass index among adult women in Erbil city, Iraq.

Background: The misperception of body weight can significantly affect individuals' health behaviors, such as physical activity, diet, and weight management. This study aimed to examine the association between body weight perception and actual body mass index (BMI) among adult women and explore the factors influencing this relationship.

Methods: Five hundred forty female individuals aged 18-65 participated in this cross-sectional study.

A cross-sectional study on the perceived barriers to physical exercise among women in Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

Background: Limited research has investigated the barriers to physical exercise among women in Iraqi Kurdistan Region and other similar Muslim and Middle Eastern societies. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of perceived barriers to physical exercise among women and examine the associations of these barriers with the participants' sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan Region, from December 2022 to January 2023.

Attitudes of Islamic Clerics to Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine in Iraqi Kurdistan: A Focus Group Study.

Objectives: Religious beliefs may play a role in the rejection and acceptance of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines. We aimed to explore attitudes of Islamic clerics toward receiving the COVID-19 vaccines in a semi-structured qualitative focus group study.

Methods: The clerics of members of the Union of Muslim Scholars of the Erbil branch were included through their representative in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2021.

Factors associated with experiencing lifetime intimate partner violence among pregnant displaced women living in refugee camps in Erbil, Iraq.

According to the World Health Organization, intimate partner violence (IPV) affects 35% of women worldwide and 40% of pregnant women, often resulting in maternal and infant death and harm. Displaced persons are at higher risk of abuse compared to the general population. While few studies have explored IPV in Iraq, research from Erbil, Iraq showed nearly 60% of women reported experiencing IPV in their lifetime.

Rate and Types of Childbirth Mistreatment and Abuse and Its Association with Satisfaction with Birth Care: A Cross-Sectional Study of 1196 Kurdish Women.

Background And Objectives: Concern about mistreatment and abuse during childbirth care is growing, and evidence suggests that many women worldwide experience mistreatment during childbirth. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of abused women during labor, types of abuse, rate of satisfaction with birth care among abused women, and associated sociodemographic and obstetric factors with mistreatment and abuse in the delivery room.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with data from 1196 women who experienced a vaginal delivery at least once within the past year in a public health setting in Erbil city, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

Antenatal Depression Symptoms Among Pregnant Women Seeking Health Services in Erbil, Iraq.

Introduction: Maternal depression, which includes depression in the prenatal and postpartum periods, is estimated to affect between 10 and 20% of women globally but the rate is higher in the Middle East. Research focused on maternal depression in Iraq is limited to one study focused on postpartum depression. This paper identifies the prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depression among pregnant Iraqi women.

Quality of life of women from families of martyred individuals in the Kurdistan region of Iraq as a conflict area in the Middle East.

Background: Quality of life (QOL) research develops data and insight into issues that pertain not only to the individual, but that can also apply to the population as a whole. This study aimed to analyze the QOL of Kurdish women from families of martyred individuals in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 380 women from families of martyred individuals was conducted.

Role of verbal and non-verbal communication of health care providers in general satisfaction with birth care: a cross-sectional study in government health settings of Erbil City, Iraq.

Background: Effective communication by maternity care staff can help a woman during labor and birth have a positive birth experience. Due to limited knowledge regarding this topic in Iraqi Kurdistan, therefore, this study assessed: 1) The level of women's satisfaction regarding verbal and non-verbal communication of midwives and physicians in the delivery room and 2) the association between this satisfaction level and socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics of the women and their general satisfaction with care during labor and delivery.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenient sample of 1196 women recruited between January and March 2019 from Erbil city, Iraq, who gave birth in the year before that.

Impacts of antenatal nursing interventions on mothers' breastfeeding self-efficacy: an experimental study.

Background: A considerable amount of research demonstrates how breastfeeding self-efficacy significantly influences breastfeeding outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of nursing intervention on mother's breastfeeding self-efficacy.

Methods: In this experimental investigation, 130 pregnant women who attended a primary health care centre were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 65) or control (n = 65) groups.

A qualitative assessment of women's perspectives and experience of female genital mutilation in Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

Background: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is prevalent in Iraqi Kurdistan Region, but there is a lack of adequate knowledge about how the practice is perceived by the women population who are the direct victims of the practice. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, beliefs, and attitude of a sample of Kurdish women of FGM and identify the main enabling factors for performing this practice and the barriers to ending it.

Methods: This qualitative study was based on six focus groups involving a sample of 51 women.

Religious leaders' position toward female genital cutting and their perspectives on the relationship between the Islamic religion and this practice.

This study aimed to understand the position of religious leaders toward female genital cutting (FGC) and their perspectives on the relationship between the Islamic religion and FGC. In-depth interviews were conducted with 29 religious leaders in Erbil governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan region from June 2016 to May 2017 using a semi-structured interview guide. Most interviewees supported the continuation of FGC or thought that it should be at least permissible.

Knowledge and perspectives of female genital cutting among the local religious leaders in Erbil governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan region.

Background: Religious leaders are one of the key actors in the issue of female genital cutting (FGC) due to the influential position they have in the community and the frequent association of FGC with the religion. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and perspectives of the local religious leaders in Erbil governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan Region about different aspects of FGC.

Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of 29 local religious leaders.

Knowledge, attitude, and experience of health professionals of female genital mutilation (FGM): A qualitative study in Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

We aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and experience of health professionals of female genital mutilation (FGM). The study involved content analysis of semistructured interviews with 21 health professionals. The participants had poor knowledge regarding different aspects of FGM including its types, prevalence, and complications as well as the existing legislation that prohibits FGM.

Midwives' Clinical Reasons for Performing Episiotomies in the Kurdistan Region: Are they evidence-based?

Objectives: An episiotomy is one of the most common obstetric surgical procedures and is performed mainly by midwives. The decision to perform an episiotomy depends on related clinical factors. This study aimed to find out midwives' reasons for performing episiotomies and to identify the relationship between these reasons and the demographic characteristics of the midwives.

Women's views and experiences of antenatal care in Iraq: a Q methodology study.

Background: Understanding women's experiences and perspectives of antenatal care services is particularly critical for enhancing effectiveness of services delivery and addressing women's needs and expectations. As part of a comprehensive assessment of the maternity care services in Iraq, this study aimed to explore the views and experiences of antenatal care in a sample of women.

Methods: This explorative study was conducted in Erbil governorate, Iraq.

Prevalence of urinary incontinence and probable risk factors in a sample of kurdish women.

Objectives: The most common manifestation of pelvic floor dysfunction is urinary incontinence (UI) which affects 15-50% of adult women depending on the age and risk factors of the population studied. The aim of this study was to determine the probable risk factors associated with UI; the characteristics of women with UI; describe the types of UI, and determine its prevalence.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and August 2011, in the Maternity Teaching Hospital of the Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region, northern Iraq.

Screening for postpartum depression using Kurdish version of Edinburgh postnatal depression scale.

Background: One of the important public health problems affecting maternal and child health is postpartum depression (PPD). It generally occurs within 6-8 weeks after childbirth.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) using a Kurdish version of Edinburgh postpartum depression scale (EPDS) and to analyze the risk factors for postpartum depression in a population of puerperal Kurdish women in Erbil city.