Prevalence of domestic violence and associated factors among married women in a semi-rural area of western Turkey

Objective: To determine the prevalence of domestic violence and associated factors among married women in a semi-rural area of western Turkey

Methods: This descriptive study was conducted between March 1 and April 29, 2011 on married women aged 15-49 years. Exposure to at least one of these types of violence at least one time within the past one year was regarded as the presence of domestic violence. Chi-square test and Logistic Regression analysis was used for statistical analysis

Results: Prevalence of domestic violence against women was found to be 39.0%. About 38,4% and 26.8% of women reported verbal and psychological violence respectively. The risk factors found for the domestic violence included youngest age group, an educational level of secondary/high school for men, form of the first marriage, number of children, alcohol and gambling habits of the husband

Conclusion: Our study found higher prevalence of domestic violence than expected. Verbal violence is also a significant problem particularly in terms of its consequences. It was concluded that further informative studies are needed on domestic violence to find out the causative factors to chalk out preventive strategies

prevalence of infertility and loneliness among women aged 18-49 years who are living in Semi-Rural Areas in Western Turkey

Background: To determine the correlates and the prevalence of infertility in a group of women

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 570 subjects aged 18-49 years in a town of western Turkey between July and August 2012. Women who have inability to become pregnant despite regular sexual intercourse during the last year were considered to be infertile. UCLA Loneliness Scale was used to assess the severity of loneliness. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis, Mann Whitney U and Chi-square tests

Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.48 +/- 8.39 years. The frequency of the infertility in our study was 12.8% [n=73]. The prevalence of infertility was higher in those with a history of gynecological disease or gynecologic surgery and in those with menstrual irregularity [p<0.05; for each]. The mean score on the UCLA Loneliness Scale was 32.16 +/- 9.49 [from 20 to 70]. In this study, no difference was found between the level of loneliness and who is responsible for infertility among infertile/fertile women [p>/=0.05]. Level of loneliness among the women with primary infertility was higher compared to the women with secondary infertility [p<0.05]

Conclusion: The prevalence of infertility among the women was relatively high. It was concluded that prospective studies are needed in order to expose the relationship between the infertility and the level of loneliness in women

Prevalence of hypertension among individuals aged 50 years and over and its impact on health related quality of life in a semi-rural area of western Turkey / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hypertension is common, especially in individuals aged 40 years and over, and it affects about half of the population aged 60 years and over. This study aimed to determine the frequency and risk factors of hypertension among individuals aged 50 years and over, and to examine its effect on the health related quality of life (HRQOL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in two settlements in a region of western Turkey between March 1 and April 30, 2007. A questionnaire concerning life habits associated with hypertension, medical histories, and demographic characteristics was filled in by a face to face interview. The SF-36 scale was used to assess HRQOL. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by measuring the weight and length of the body.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 1599 individuals living in the region, 1193 participated in the survey (48.3% men and 51.7% women). The overall prevalence rate of hypertension was 59.5% (n=710), being 58.0% in men and 60.9% in women (P > 0.05). The variables that most positively influenced hypertension (P < 0.05, for each one) were older age (especially the age group of those aged 60 and over), single, no health insurance, consumption of animal fat in meals, and family history of hypertension. The HRQOL of the patients with hypertension was lower than that of those without hypertension (P < or = 0.05). The HRQOL was better in hypertensive patients whose blood pressure was under control, whereas it was worse in those with at least one chronic disorder accompanying hypertension (P < 0.05, for each one).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Great emphasis should be placed on the need for a public health program for the detection, prevention, and control of hypertension, including other risk factors, as well as for the modification of foods and life habits, specifically in individuals who are most likely to be at risk of hypertension.</p>

Knowledge of diabetic patients about diabetes at the primary stage in Eskisehir, Turkey

To define the demographic characteristics of diabetes patients receiving care at the primary stage to establish the number of diabetics with complications. Patients who were referred to Eskisehir central village clinics in Turkey were included in the study. A survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews. Four hundred ninety five diabetic patients were referred to the polyclinic within the study period. Majority of the patients had a positive family history, hypertension and obesity. Only 14.5% of the patients were able to check their plasma glucose levels by themselves. None of the patients had HbA1c level results in their follow-up files. In addition, they were unaware of what HbA1c signifies or what it entails. 21.9% of the diabetics developed a complication. Increases in age, positive family history, long duration of diabetes were responsible for the presence of complications. Though the diabetics were attentive to their own controls but very few were able to check their blood sugar levels by themselves at home. Education of diabetics is extremely important to achieve desired blood glucose levels thus ensuring good control and prevent complications