Rubella seroprevalance among the girls [aged 7-15] in the primary-school period living in low and high socio-economic areas in Denizli, Turkey

Immunity against rubella before women's reproductive age is a practical strategy to control congenital rubella syndrome [CRS]. This study was designed to investigate the rubella seroprevalance among the female primary-school students living in low and high socio-economic areas in Denizli [Turkey]. Two hundred seventy seven students were eligible for this comparative cross-sectional study [November 2003]. Schools and classrooms were randomly included in the sample. The cut off points of blood sample were set as <10 IU negative; [3]10 - <15 IU indeterminate; [3]15 IU positive. Study was completed in 235 [84.8%] students. Rubella seropositivity was 74.0% [p=0.03]. Rubella vaccination rate was 14.0% [high SES] and 7.8% [low SES]. A significant difference continued among the graders even after multivariable adjustments [p<0.001]. Sporadic rubella vaccinations may not be a right option to control rubella among women in their reproductive age thus active immunization is important for public health in developing countries

Effects of passive smoking in the work place on expiration air carbon monoxide [CO] and carboxihemoglobin [COHB] levels: results of a survey in Turkey

To assess the prevalence of smoking and the effects of passive smoking among bank employees. This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2001 and 2002. Data was collected through questionnaire. The level of Carbon Monoxide [CO] and the percentage of Carboxihemogtobin [COHb] level in the blood were measured by using Bendfond Pico Smokertyser. Chi-square and ANOVA were used. Six hundred fifty four respondents participated in the study which included 384 [58.7%] male and 267 [40.6%] female. The mean value for CO in the expiration air was 14.57 +/- 11.1 ppm [[18.49 +/- 11.21, 7.74 +/- 5.71 and 4.85 +/- 2.35; for current smokers, non-smokers with current exposure and non-smokers without current exposure, respectively [p<0.001]]. The mean value for COHb% was 2.97 +/- 1.9 [[3.60 +/- 1.88, 1.80 +/- 1.17 and 1.21 +/- 0.99; for current smokers, non-smokers with current exposure and non-smokers without current exposure, respectively [p<0.001]. Passive smoking is still a significant health problem in the work place. Anti-tobacco implementations should be carried out strictly in all work places

prevalence of prescribing antibiotics by primary health care physicians in turkey: a multi-centered survey

Antibiotics are widely used in the treatment of infections and for empirical treatment purposes. Despite this common consumption of antibiotics, it is difficult to state that antibiotics are chosen and used consciously. This study was planned to determine the prevalence of prescribing antibiotics in Turkey. This cross-sectional study was conducted in November 2003. The study was carried out in a total of 46 primary care health centers of the following cities; Central Anatolian, Western Anatolian, Eastern Anatolian regions. Two hundred sixty seven physicians participated in the study, 38.9% [104] of which were women and 61.1% [163] were men. The proportion of antibiotic prescription was by 22,6%, and the most frequently chosen antibiotics were 15.6% [3301] Amoxycilline+Clavulanic acid [Amox/Clav], 15.1% [3184] Ampicilline+Sulbactam 12.84% [2711], respectively. When prescriptions with antibiotics were evaluated according to diagnosis, the most frequent diagnoses were found to be as follows: 53.3% [11430] Acute Upper Respiratory Infections, 16.4% [3516] Urinary Tract Infections. The findings of the study suggest that primary healthcare physicians most often prescribe for acute respiratory tract infections, and prescribe Amoxycilline+Clavunic the most. It may be argued that more extensive studies are needed in this field