Evaluation of unintentional injuries sustained by children: a hospital based study from Ankara-Turkey

Unintentional injuries are one of the leading causes of death, hospitalization and disability across the world. Detailed work on child injury in low-income and middle-income countries began more recently and is now indicating priorities for prevention. This study aims to draw attention to the subject with the assessment of the injuries sustained by the study group. Data of the descriptive study was collected at the Emergency Department's trauma section of a Training and Research Hospital, located in Ankara during the period of October-November 2010. Children visiting the hospital due to an injury under the age of 18 were included to the study group by assent of the child and consent of the parents. Of the study group 75.3% were boys, 35.31% were 11-15 year of age. The most frequent cause of the injuries were falls among boys [48.3%], girls [50.0%] and, 11-15 years of age [32.8%]. Most injured organs [63.6%] were extremities and most frequent damage caused by the injury was fracture [29.5%]. Almost half of the injuries [44.0%] occurred in and around the school. Development and implementation of systematic surveillance is necessary to identify the epidemiologic characteristics of childhood injuries at national level. Definition of the risk factors and protective factors is a priority of countries to prevent such injuries

Evaluation of habitual behavior related to genital hygiene in women living in a health care center area

To evaluate that habitual behaviors related to genital hygiene in women living in a Health Care Center Area. In this cross-sectional study, 400 women were sampled to represent women in reproductive ages [15-49 ages] living in the Park Health Care Center Area, Ankara, Turkey between June and September 2008. Three hundred and eighty-six [96.55] women were interviewed for evaluation of habitual behaviors related to genital hygiene. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. The man age of the study group was 32.19 +/- 9.54 [15-49] years. Of the study group, 21.5% had daily baths, 77.2% used cotton underwear, and 71.8% wiped front to back after using the toilet. Of those who menstruated, 83.4% used hygienic pads during menstrual periods, and 42.1% of the 321 married women confirmed practicing vaginal douching. The education level [p=0.001, p=0.000], income level [p=0.034, p=0.005], employment [p=0.022, p=0.000], and house type [p=0.005, p=0.006] were found as factors affecting general frequency of bathing and type of pad used during the menstrual period. Frequency of vaginal douching was higher in housewives than employed women [p=0.000]. The rate of women who had appropriate behaviors related to genital hygiene among the study group was found to be low, particularly within groups with a low socioeconomic level. Thus, it will be useful for health care employers to emphasize this issue at every opportunity