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This study examines the impacts of financial and macroeconomic factors on financial stability in emerging countries by focusing on Turkey's banking sector. In this con-text, financial stability is represented by nonperforming loans (NPLs). Four financial and three macroeconomic indicators as well as the Covid-19 pandemic are included as explanatory variables. Quarterly data from 2005 Q1 to 2020 Q3 are analyzed by using the residual augmented least squares unit root test and generalized method-of-moments. The empirical results show the following: credit volume, which is a financial indicator, has the greatest effect on NPLs;risk-weighted assets, unemployment rate, foreign exchange rate and economic growth all have a statistically significant impact on NPLs;the Covid-19 pandemic has had an increasing impact on NPLs;inflation and interest rates have a positive coefficient, as expected, although they are not statistically significant. These results highlight the importance of financial factors (ie, credit volume and risk-weighted assets) over macroeconomic factors in terms of NPLs. Based on the empirical results of the study, we suggest Turkish policy makers focus primarily on financial variables (ie, credit growth and risk-weighted assets) as well as considering the effects of other factors. © Infopro Digital Limited 2023.
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Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 fear, anxiety and depression on pregnant women.Material and Methods: The cross-sectional, correlational research was conducted with 335 pregnant women from June to October 2020 at the antenatal outpatient clinics of a university hospital. Data were collected using Description Form, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Results: The Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale average scores were 21.12 +/- 6.56, 6.39 +/- 5.48 and 8.13 +/- 9.13, respectively, indicating pregnant women' levels of COVID-19 fear were moderately high and their anxiety and depression levels were moderate. Overall, 14.0% of pregnant women had depression risk and 42.4% had symptoms of anxiety (26.3% low level, 10.4% moderate level and 5.7% high level). A positive, significant relationship was found between the COVID-19 fear level and depression (r=0.207, p<0.001), and anxiety level (r=0.135, p<0.013). COVID-19 fear and anxiety significantly predicted the risk of depression (beta=0.17, p<0.001;beta=0.43, p<0.001) and they explain 24% of the variance in depression. Conclusion: The level of COVID-19 fear increased anxiety and depression risk in pregnant women. In this context, it seems that using effective interventions to decrease of COVID-19 fear may help in reducing anxiety and risk of depression among pregnant women.
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Objective In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings of noncoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) viral agents in newborn infants hospitalized for lower respiratory tract infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This prospective cross-sectional study conducted between 11 March 2020 and 31 July 2021 included neonates with lower respiratory tract infections admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were taken from all hospitalized patients for multiplex respiratory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR. The detection of respiratory viral pathogens was performed by multiplex real-time PCR assay (Bosphore Respiratory Pathogens Panel Kit V4, Anatolia Geneworks, Turkey). Infants with SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity were excluded from the study. Patients' data were obtained from the electronic medical registry system. The non-COVID-19 viruses of the cases were analyzed according to seasonal variation (in/offseason). The pulmonary findings of the cases were classified as normal, infiltration, air bronchogram, and reticulogranular appearance at the time of admission. Results A total of 80 infants were included during the study period. A multiplex PCR test was performed to identify viral agents affecting the lower respiratory tract of infants;it was determined that 31% (25 out of 80) were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), 41% (33 out of 80) were rhinovirus (Rhino), and the remaining portion (28%, 22 out of 80) were other viral agents (enterovirus, bocavirus, adenovirus, influenza, and parainfluenza). Compared with Rhino and other viral agents, RSV was detected most frequently in seasonal hospitalizations (p < 0.05). When chest radiography and laboratory findings were evaluated, the rate of Infiltration" rlymphopenia" was significantly associated with infants with RSV lower respiratory tract infections (p < 0.05). Conclusion During the pandemic period, RSV affected the prognosis in intensive care unit admissions due to lower respiratory tract infection in newborns.
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The coronavirus epidemic, which swept the whole world at the beginning of 2020 and turned into a widespread pandemic, has caused an important economic and social crisis. Governments and policy makers have tried to keep business life afloat with financial incentives and supports, government aids to combat the epidemic. The habits of doing business with remote working, flexible working, social media and internet use and online systems have been heavily used. After the Great Depression, the COVID epidemic caused serious contraction on the global economy. Therefore, it is important to examine the effects of this crisis by experts. With this book, the effects of the COVID crisis on different fields have been examined in detail by experts from different disciplines. We hope that this book will make significant contributions to researchers and scientists. © Peter Lang GmbH Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften Berlin 2021. All rights reserved.
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OBJECTIVES: The outbreak of novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) has affected Turkey very seriously, as well as all around the world. Many urgent and radical measures were taken due to the high contagious risk and mortality rate of the outbreak. It is noteworthy that isolation recommendations and the provision of health services for pandemic have a negative impact on Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) services. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of COVID-19 on the PMR services and physiatrists immediately after the first month of pandemic in Turkey. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An online survey consisting of 45 items was sent to the members of the Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The main goal of the survey was to evaluate the changes in the provided service of PMR and conditions of physiatrists one month after the first reported COVID-19 case in Turkey. RESULTS: A total of 606 PMR specialists and residents responded to the survey. The mean number of the patients visited the outpatient clinics was 148.2±128.5 per week before the pandemic, it significantly decreased to 23.4±33.1 per week after the first month of the reported first COVID-19 case. Similarly, the mean number of the patients of inpatient service significantly decreased from 21.7±39.3 per week to 2.5±10.0 per week after the first month of the pandemic. Most of the residents (69%) reported that their training was seriously affected due to pandemic. From the economic aspect, 69.2% of the participants who were working at private hospitals reported a decrease in their monthly salary, and 21% of them were sent to an unpaid vacation. A total of 21.9% of private-practice institutions paused their services. During the first month, 46.9% of the participants were assigned to the different services such as COVID-19 inpatient service, emergency or COVID-19 outpatient clinics. According to the Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Health guideline and algorithm, 15.7% of the physicians were in the category of healthcare workers with suspected COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic affected seriously both the services and the PMR physicians as early as the first month. This effect is expected to become worse, when the duration of pandemic prolongs. Proper arrangements and measures should be planned to ameliorate the negative effects of the pandemic on the patients and PMR physicians.
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious infection disease, which may cause respiratory, physical, psychological, and generalized systemic dysfunction. The severity of disease ranges from an asymptomatic infection or mild illness to mild or severe pneumonia with respiratory failure and/or death. COVID-19 dramatically affects the pulmonary system. There is a lack of knowledge about the long-term outcomes of the disease and the possible sequelae and rehabilitation. This clinical practice guideline includes pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) recommendations for adult COVID-19 patients and has been developed in the light of the guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 provided by the World Health Organization and Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Health, recently published scientific literature, and PR recommendations for COVID-19 regarding basic principles of PR. In this guideline, the contagiousness of COVID-19, recommendations on limited contact of patient with healthcare providers, and the evidence about possible benefits of PR were taken into consideration.