Background and objective: Healthy school environment is one of the main determinants of students' health in order to maximize the benefit from the educational programs. This study was aimed to assess the primary school environment in Erbil city. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 50 primary schools in Erbil city out of 242 schools through the academic year 2010-2011. Data were collected using a questionnaire constructed by the researchers which included general information, area around the school, school environment, class-room and school canteen. Results: Most of the primary schools were located near the main street, nearly all (98%) the streets leading to the schools were paved. In contrast, thirty one (62%) schools had been exposed to a pollution source, mainly noise (54.84%) and garbage (45.16%) pollution. The majority of the schools had standard school fencing, school yard, and garbage container, and only 8 (16%) of them had available/standard school ground. The study showed that nearly half of the schools had appropriate classrooms, lighting, and majority of them had adequate desks, appropriate blackboards and clean classrooms, while ventilation and age appropriate desks were partially available. The amount of chlorine in water was not tested. There is lack of materials in the first aid kits. Canteens were available, but not standard and the working staff did not have the health certificate. Conclusion: School environment in Erbil city is not optimum.

Background and objectives: The majority of individuals in a population do not develop tuberculosis, due either to lack of exposure or due to individual characteristics that limit development of the disease after exposure. Evidences suggested that there is an association between lifestyle variables and tuberculosis. The main objective of this study was to study the association between lifestyle characteristics and pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: A case-control study was carried out in Erbil city during the period May 10, to December 28, 2009. A convenient sample of 150 cases of TB attending the Consultation Clinic for Chest and Respiratory Diseases was included in the study. A sex and age matched, 150 patients were included in the study as a control group. The control group was taken from patient of the Medical Wards of both Rizgary and Hawler Teaching Hospitals who were free from chest infections and lung cancer. Cases and controls were interviewed using a questionnaire designed by the researchers. Results: Around one quarter (24%) of the cases were smokers compared with 14.7 % among the controls. Significant difference of nutritional status between both groups was detected. Controls eat more food and of better quality than cases. No significant association between alcohol drinking, practicing of sports/ exercise and TB was detected. Conclusion: TB was found to be associated with low nutritional status and smoking.