Ahmet Nesimi Kişioğlu

Socio-demographical examinations on disability prevalence and rehabilitation status in southwest of Turkey

Purpose: Disability is one of the most important social issues in the community. In contrast to the developed countries, Turkey has, unfortunately, no goods records on the current issues of disability such as the number of disabled and handicapped, and their socio-demographic properties due to the lack of sufficient studies in the specified area. The present study was, therefore, aimed to determine the status of disabled in the entire region of Isparta and to establish relationships between the distinctive disability properties in order for a better understanding of its important aspects. Materials and Method: Data were collected in 2002 from 3500 people residing throughout the region by the gradual sampling method according to the evaluation criteria of International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH) by WHO. Results: The disability prevalence in the studied group was found to be 5.3%, and 4.8% of the disabled were previously rehabilitated. Forty one percent of the disabled were found to have two types of disability. In the study, it was shown that the disability prevalence significantly increased by the age. The disabled were shown to be under-educated and not benefit from the rehabilitation services in one hand, and there were insufficient activities of rehabilitation established in the region in other hand. Conclusion: We concluded that the medical and social rehabilitation services must be initiated and freely provided to these local people, particularly to those young disables whose life will greatly change to a better living standard.

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.

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.

Assessing the Indoor Environment of Primary Schools in the Southwest of Turkey

In developing countries, the effects of natural disasters and accidents are often more serious in those buildings with a high number of occupants as a consequence of deficiencies in the built design and insufficiency of inspections. We have surveyed a number of state primary schools to examine their interior physical environment with respect to school safety and security. We studied all the 37 state primary schools located in the Isparta region of Turkey during the period between March and May of 2002. The results showed that all the schools of the region had a number of inadequacies because they had not been adequately adapted to comply with existing standards. Most of the schools had over-large class sizes, had one or more classrooms in an underground floor (proscribed in areas where there is a high risk of earthquakes), inadequate security and safety precautions to ensure pupil safety and had no proper air ventilation within the classrooms. The survey showed that local and central official bodies must reinforce the need for standards and ensure the implementation of high standards in the schools to ensure the pupil health, safety and security, and that they should work together with parents and other local associations.

Inspection of Turkish Baths (Hamams) with Regard to Public Health

This study was carried out to evaluate the physical structure and state of hygiene of nine Turkish baths in three provinces, Isparta, Burdur and Afyon, located in the northwest Mediterranean region called the Lake District. The physical conditions of the hamam were assessed according to Article 23922 in Turkish Law which outlines the rules for setting up hamams. A new hygiene assessment form was prepared specifically for the hamams by the public health practitioners in our university department. All the hamams investigated had an appropriate physical structure, although no regular inspections were made. Most of them had been restored and re-structured because of earthquake damage and other reasons. Most of microbiological samples taken from the hamams produced Staphylococcusspp., E. coli and other enteric flora species. No yeast cells were isolated from these samples. No bacterial growth was observed on the water samples although the water sample taken from a swimming pool produced E. coli, enteric flora species and gram-positive micrococcus.