Validity and reliability of Turkish version of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale.

OBJECTIVE: This study was planned to adapt the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale to Turkish and evaluate its validity and reliability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This research was conducted methodologically. The sample of the study consisted of 317 individuals from the patient relatives in the waiting rooms, who have children between the ages 9-16, who applied to the Suleyman Demirel University Hospital policlinic in December 2019. A questionnaire developed by the researcher and the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale were used as data collection tools. RESULTS: Explanatory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis methods were used to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale. In the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale, the Kaiser-Mayer-Olkin coefficient was 0.897 and the Bartlett test's chi-square value was 1319.67 and the result was significant (P <0.001). Considering the factor loads of the items, it varies between 0.608 and 0.845. As a result of the explanatory factor analysis, it was seen that the scale consists of two factors. This finding is consistent with the original form of the scale. The internal consistency coefficient of the scale was found to be 0.86. CONCLUSION: As a result of the validity and reliability analysis, the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale was found to be a valid and reliable scale for the Turkish society, which consists of 9 items and 2 sub-dimensions.

Investigating the effectiveness of different tea types from various thyme kinds (Origanum onites, Thymbra spicata and Satureja cuneifolia) on anemia and anticholesterolemic activity.

In a study on villagers settled on the outskirts of the Taurus Mountains and whose source of living is thyme, it was revealed that the villagers excessively consumed thyme by adding it to their tea and many of their foods; high incidences of anemia was found among these villagers. In this study, 42 male adult Wistar albino rats weighing 200-250 g were used. The rats were divided to six equal groups as follows: control, cholesterol (Chol), 80 mg/kg Origanum onites Labiatae (OOL), 80 mg/kg Thymbra spicata Labiatae (TSL), 80 mg/kg Satureja cuneifolia Labiatae (SCL), and 160 mg/kg TSL, and each group consisted of seven rats. The control group was fed with normal pellet feed. The Chol group and all the other groups, except for the control group, were fed with 2% cholesterol-containing pellet feed. Physiological serum of 4 ml was given to the control and Chol group, wheile 80 mg/kg of thymes tea was given to the OOL group, TSL group, and SCL group, and 160 mg/kg of thymes tea was given to the TSL group by means of a gavage for 30 days. In the blood samples, the hematologic parameters and the biochemical parameters of serum glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein, albumin, iron (I), total iron-binding capacity, aminotransferase aspartate, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and oxidized LDL levels were examined. The kidney and liver tissues were examined histopathologically. The results of the study showed that different types of thymes had an antihypercholesterolemic effect. In addition to the anemic effect detected in group TSL and the mild granular degeneration found in the liver of 80 mg/kg SCL group, distinct granular degeneration was observed in 160 mg/kg TSL group.

Effects of a formal training programme on consanguineous marriages on high school students' knowledge and attitudes: an interventional study from Turkey.

Consanguineous marriage is traditionally common throughout the eastern Mediterranean region. Research has suggested that it is closely linked to the sociocultural and socioeconomical status of individuals, and education plays a critical role in decreasing the number of cases. This study aimed to determine the effects of a formal training programme on consanguineous marriages on the knowledge of, and attitudes towards, consanguineous marriage of high school students (n=804) in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Seniors from three randomly selected public high schools participated in the pre-test and post-test design study. To determine the effects of the programme, students who received the training were compared with those who did not receive any formal training about the subject. After the post-tests were administered, data were collected and analysed using chi-squared and McNemar tests. The results showed significant differences in knowledge and attitudes among the students who had received the formal training programme and those who had not. In addition, the results indicated potential peer influence between the students who received training in consanguineous marriage and those who did not.

[The attitudes and behaviors of housewives in the prevention of domestic accidents and their first aid knowledge levels]. / Ev hanimlarinin ev kazalarini önlemeye yönelik tutum ve davranislari ile ev kazalarina yönelik ilkyardim bilgi düzeyleri.

BACKGROUND: This research has been designed to to assess first aid knowledge levels of housewives, determine the attitudes and behaviors of housewives in the prevention of domestic accidents and examine factors related to first aid knowledge levels and attitudes and behaviors in prevention of domestic accidents. METHODS: In this cross-sectional type research, together with a query questioning sociodemographic characteristics, a test prepared to assess their first aid knowledge levels and a Likert-type form to determine their attitudes and behaviors levels in the prevention of domestic accidents have been applied to housewives of 180 household via face-to-face interview technique. RESULTS: First aid knowledge score increased with increasing levels of education of study population. First aid knowledge score of working women was higher than the unemployed ones. Attitude and behavior scores of the study population were increasing with increasing levels of education and economic status and were decreasing with increasing age. Preventative attitude and behavior score of women who had not experienced an accident at home was higher than the remaining. CONCLUSION: In this study, it has been determined that both first aid knowledge level and development of positive accident-preventative attitudes and behaviors were affected by the education levels. Increasing women's formal education level and raising women's social status are the keys in solving many social problems.

Assessment of the current status of playground safety in the midwestern region of Turkey: an effort to provide a safe environment for children.

This study aimed to identify and evaluate the degree of conformity to the playground standards and the level of compliance with current safety specifications of the playgrounds in the midwestern region of Turkey. An observational technique was used at a total of 57 public playgrounds. A playground safety control form was prepared based on the United States National Program for Playground Safety and the Consumer Product Safety Commission security standards, since there is no national law covering playground equipment and safety in Turkey. The study evaluated the surroundings of the playground, arrangement of equipment in the playground, and characteristics of the equipment. The percentage of playgrounds surveyed with inadequate or hard surfacing was 80.7%. Fifty-two percent of the equipment was found to be inappropriate. Equipment was higher than the recommended heights. The results of our study unfortunately point out that playgrounds for children do not meet many of the safety criteria.

Unintentional non-fatal home-related injuries in Central Anatolia, Turkey: frequencies, characteristics, and outcomes.

Injuries constitute a major public health problem worldwide. Homes are an important setting for non-fatal unintentional injuries. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency, the characteristics, and the outcome of unintentional non-fatal injuries in the household, and to describe the related risk factors through a community-based survey. The study was conducted using a household-based survey design. Eight hundred inhabitants were sampled from the entire population in the city centre by a stratified sampling method in 2004. All unintentional non-fatal home-related injuries occurring in the previous year were registered and examined, making special note of the mechanism of the injuries, the time and place of the incidents and their outcomes. The frequency of unintentional non-fatal home-related injuries requiring some form of medical attention was established as 10.8%. Falls were the most common injuries among all the study groups. Injury rates were highest among the oldest (aged > or =65) and youngest (aged <15) age groups, females, adults having incomes under euro 500, individuals living alone, or the unemployed. Contact with hot objects/substances or hot liquid/gas was the leading mechanism in children 4 years of age or younger, falls ranking second. Falls are a significant problem particularly among older adults. Multiple analysis revealed that participants with low incomes, living alone and single or divorced had a high risk for injury at home. The findings related to disability highlighted a need to focus attention on the prevention of residential falls among the elderly, and the burns and falls among young children. Preventive measures should be prioritised to risk groups such as individuals with low incomes and those living alone.

Improving control of high blood pressure among middle-aged Turkish women of low socio-economic status through public health training.

AIM: To assess the effects of health training course aimed at educating middle-aged women of low socio-economic status in Turkey how to better control high blood pressure. METHODS: The intervention study included 400 randomly selected women aged (mean+/-standard deviation) 34.1+/-8.6 years. After their body size and blood pressure were measured, the women were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group underwent public health training on high blood pressure control and obesity reduction, whereas control group had no training at all. After six months, blood pressure and body size of women in both groups were measured again. RESULTS: Overall, the initial high blood pressure and obesity ratio in the intervention and control group were 20.0% and 31.7%, respectively. After 6 months of the intervention program, the number of women within the optimal weight range significantly increased in the intervention group compared with control group (p=0.009). After the intervention program, the number of women with normal weight and normal blood pressure in the intervention group significantly increased (weight: 130 women before vs 150 after, p=0.001; blood pressure: 160 women before vs 173 after, p<0.001). After the intervention, the percentage of meals consisting of fried food in the intervention group was lower by 31.9%, and by 5.0% in the control group. After the intervention the percentage of boiled food increased by 15.7% in the intervention group, compared with no change in the control group. The consumption of food high in salt decreased by 5.5% in the control and by 72.2% in the intervention group. Similarly, the percentage of women who exercised almost doubled in the intervention group, whereas there was no change in the control group. CONCLUSION: The changes in the lifestyle significantly reduced hypertension and obesity ratio among women. The public health center can provide initial health training support as a part of the broader public health management program, aimed at helping people tackle health problems.