Discussion of Three Higher Diploma Theses in Family Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Babylon
The Department of Family and Community Medicine at the College of Medicine, University of Babylon, continues its series of discussions for Higher Diploma theses in Family Medicine. Three theses were discussed in a session attended by the Dean of the College, Prof. Dr. Muhannad Abbass Al-Shalah, the Administrative Assistant, Prof. Dr. Kazem Jawad Al-Hamadani, physicians from the Babylon Health Directorate, along with several faculty members and postgraduate students.
The examination committee consisted of Prof. Dr. Ali Jaber Ab’oub as Chair, with membership of Prof. Dr. Qais Ismail Ajjam and Assist. Prof. Dr. Shahrazad Shumkhi Al-Jubouri.
The first discussion was for the thesis of student Rusal Yassin Khudair, titled “Catheterization Outcomes and Risk Factors of Ischemic Heart Disease in Female Patients”, supervised by Prof. Dr. Hassan Salem Abd Al-Sada. The researcher indicated that the results show ischemic heart disease in Iraqi women is often associated with severe obstructive stenosis of the coronary arteries, particularly among elderly women and those with hypertension and diabetes. Moreover, the postmenopausal stage represents an additional risk factor due to the decline of female hormones that previously provided vascular protection. The study emphasizes the importance of using markers such as troponin and ECG to predict disease severity, and recommends enhancing early screening programs, intensifying control of modifiable risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, obesity), and raising women’s awareness about atypical symptoms to improve early diagnosis and reduce disease burden.
The second thesis, by student Fatima Ali Fawaz, was titled “Prevalence of Chronic Hepatitis in the City of Hilla and the Characteristics and Quality of Life of a Sample of Patients”, supervised by Assist. Prof. Dr. Ashraf Mohammed Ali Hussein. The researcher explained that chronic viral hepatitis B and C represent major global public health challenges, leading to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and primary liver cancer. According to the World Health Organization (2024), the estimated number of people infected globally with hepatitis C virus is about 50 million, while hepatitis B virus infections reached about 254 million as of 2022. These infections resulted in nearly 1.3 million deaths in 2022, equivalent to about 3,500 deaths per day.
The third thesis, by student Ola Haidar, was titled “Social and Demographic Characteristics and Outcomes of Measles Patients in Babylon Province during 2024”, supervised by Prof. Dr. Ameer Kazem Hussein. The researcher highlighted that measles is a highly contagious viral disease that continues to pose a serious public health challenge, particularly in areas with low vaccination coverage. Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, outbreaks still occur, with young children being the most affected. In Iraq, 2024 witnessed a marked increase in measles cases, drawing attention to gaps in prevention and response efforts. During this period, many hospitals reported a rise in admissions due to measles, especially among children under ten years old. This situation raised concerns about disease spread as well as the quality of collected data, as many medical records were incomplete or missing. The study aims to shed light on the scale of the outbreak, the most affected groups, and the challenges faced in disease tracking and control.