GPH-International Journal of Biological & Medicine Science

Frequency of Color Blindness Among Secondary School Students in Al-Diwaniya City, Iraq

2026-06-29T10:53:57+00:00

Background: Color blindness (also known as color vision deficiency, or CVD) is an inherited or acquired condition that interferes with the ability to discriminate certain wavelengths of the visible light spectrum. CVD has a well-documented prevalence among the Middle Eastern population and has been shown to have negative effects on academic achievement. No systematic epidemiological studies have been carried out in Al-Diwaniya City, Iraq concerning the prevalence and type distribution of CVD in secondary school students.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aims to assess the prevalence and type distribution of CVD in secondary school students in Al-Diwaniya City, Iraq, and to evaluate the level of prior awareness and diagnosis among individuals diagnosed with CVD.

Methods: A sample of 1500 secondary school students (762 males, 738 females) aged 12-18 years old was randomly selected from 20 secondary schools in Al-Diwaniya City and surveyed during the 2023-2024 academic school year. A color vision examination was administered using Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates (38-plate edition) as the primary screening tool and the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue test as the confirmatory classification tool for the screen positive cases. Demographic information was obtained, including prior awareness and formal diagnosis, as well as academic difficulties experienced due to CVD using a structured questionnaire.

Results: CVD was identified in 69 students, which resulted in an overall prevalence of 4.6% (95% CI: 3.58-5.82). The prevalence of CVD was statistically higher in males (7.48%) compared to females (1.63%; p<0.001). Of the 69 students diagnosed with CVD, 89.9% of the cases were red-green deficiencies and the most common type of CVD was deuteranomaly. Only 13.0% of the secondary school students diagnosed with CVD had received a formal diagnosis before the current study, while 59.4% have reported experiencing academic difficulties due to CVD.

Conclusion: CVD is prevalent among secondary school students attending school in Al-Diwaniya City; however, most students diagnosed with CVD have not received prior formal diagnoses. Therefore, routine color vision screening should be added to the school enrollment process in addition to modifications to color-coded educational materials.

Child adoption in Nigeria at the crossroads: A critical review of child rights, sociocultural norms, legal fragmentation and adoption challenges in the post-child rights act era

2026-07-02T09:57:03+00:00

Background: Child adoption is an important child-protection and family-building strategy that provides permanent family care for orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children. In Nigeria, however, adoption remains shaped by complex interactions among child-rights concerns, cultural and religious beliefs, legal fragmentation, institutional weaknesses and emerging threats such as child trafficking, baby factories and illegal adoption networks.

Objective: This narrative review critically examines child adoption in Nigeria, focusing on child rights, cultural norms, legal fragmentation, governance challenges and emerging threats, while identifying policy and practice reforms to strengthen child welfare and adoption outcomes.

Methods: A narrative review was conducted using peer-reviewed literature, legal documents, policy reports, international conventions and grey literature published between 2009 and 2026. Thematic analysis explored the evolution of adoption practices, legal and policy frameworks, child-rights considerations, sociocultural influences, governance challenges, comparative international experiences and reform opportunities.

Key Findings: Although the Child Rights Act 2003 provides a statutory framework for adoption, uneven domestication and implementation across states have resulted in legal inconsistencies and variable child protection standards. Cultural attachment to biological parenthood, lineage preservation, inheritance concerns, religious influences and adoption-related stigma continue to limit acceptance. Administrative inefficiencies, weak regulatory oversight, inadequate data systems and procedural delays contribute to the persistence of informal adoption practices, trafficking networks and baby factories. Evidence from African and high-income countries demonstrates that successful adoption systems depend on strong implementation capacity, integrated data systems, child-rights-centred governance and effective post-adoption support services.

Conclusion: Strengthening adoption in Nigeria requires harmonisation of adoption laws, improved institutional and regulatory capacity, robust monitoring systems, enhanced professional training and sustained community engagement. A child-rights-centred approach that prioritizes identity, participation, protection, and family life is essential for building a transparent, accountable and equitable adoption system that safeguards the welfare and long-term development of vulnerable children.

The Impact of Preoperative Anemia on Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery at Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital, Samawa, Iraq

2026-07-06T08:46:33+00:00

Background: Preoperative anemia is a global health issue and noted as an independent risk factor for increased postoperative morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing major surgery. However, there is still a lack of data related to specific preoperative anemia’s impact in low-resource settings in the Middle East and Iraq. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the rate of preoperative anemia, as well as its effects on postoperative outcomes in patients who underwent major abdominal surgery at Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital, Samawa, Iraq.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational cohort study conducted over 18 months. Adults undergoing major abdominal surgery were included within the study, and stratified into groups based on whether they were considered as having preoperative anemia as defined by World Health Organization criteria (hemoglobin <13 g/dL for males, <12 g/dL for females). Primary outcomes evaluated were surgical-site infections, pneumonia, acute kidney injury and 30-day mortality, as measured among each of the two groups. Secondary outcomes evaluated were lengths of hospital stay and rates of intensive care unit admissions among the study population. To evaluate any confounding variables, multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Results: Among the 420 patients’ charts reviewed, there were 210 patients (50%) with preoperative anemia. Patients with preoperative anemia experienced a significantly higher rate of complications overall (45.2% vs. 22.4%, p < 0.001), along with significantly greater incidence rates of surgical site infections (18.1% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.001), and significantly longer median lengths of hospital stay (9 days vs. 5 days, p < 0.001). Additionally, the 30-day mortality rate was also significantly higher in the preoperative anemic cohort (6.7% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.021). After adjusting for age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, malignancy, and operating blood losses, preoperative anemia remained an independent predictor of decreased postoperative outcomes (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 2.45, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.58-3.80, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: The current study demonstrates that preoperative anemia is prevalent in Samawa, Iraq, and is associated with being a strong independent predictor of postoperative morbidity and mortality following major abdominal surgery. Therefore, there is an urgent need for implementation of preoperative screenings and patient blood management programs in this area of the world.