Elif Okşan Çalıkoğlu

Fertility Preferences of Women in a Province Center

Objective Fertility preferences and status are important parameters involved in reproductive health. The aim of the present study was to define some characteristics of the fertility preferences of women aged 15-49 years in our region. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2013 and 2015. The study population consisted of 627 married women aged 15-49 years living in a city center. A questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics, pregnancy and birth traits, and fertility preferences was applied. Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Spearman correlation tests were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.00 (IBM, SPSS Corp.; Armonk, NY, USA) software for statistical analyses. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The mean age of the women participating in the survey was 33.03±7.1 years. Median age at marriage was 20 years, mean age at first pregnancy was 21 years, and mean number of pregnancies was 3.07 years, with 14.6% having had more than five pregnancies and 34.6% having experienced previous miscarriages. The mean number of live births was 2.2, and 21.5% of women had waited 24 months between pregnancies. Additionally, 77.7% reported using family planning of any kind, with 62.1% using the modern method. Womens ages at first marriage varied significantly depending on education (p<0.001) and working status (p<0.001), whereas ages at first pregnancy varied significantly depending on educational status (p<0.001). The total number of pregnancies varied significantly depending on level of education, working status, and family income (p<0.001). Times between two pregnancies among women with histories of more than two pregnancies differed significantly depending on educational status (p<0.05). Conclusion The most important factors in womens fertility preferences are education, work, and income. Increasing womens educational levels can lead to safe and healthy pregnancies and births.

Levels of burnout and their associated factors among physicians working in Northeast Anatolia

Context: The concept of burnout is a condition seen in occupational groups working face-to-face with people and resulting in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low professional productivity. Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine burnout levels and associated factors in physicians practicing in Erzurum, Northeast Anatolia, Turkey. Settings and Design: This research was designed as a cross-sectional descriptive study. The research sample size was calculated at 663 participants with a 99% confidence interval and a 3% margin of error using Epi Info software. A 10% incomplete or nonresponse rate was added, for a target cohort of 730 individuals. Seven hundred and eleven physicians agreeing to take part were enrolled. Subjects and Methods: A questionnaire consisting of questions concerning sociodemographic characteristics and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used as the data collection tool. The questionnaires were distributed by the authors and completed by the physicians in person. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive data were expressed as percentage, mean, median, and standard deviation. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests and binary logistic regression analysis. P < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Statistical analyses were performed on SPSS 15.00 software. Results: The mean age of the physicians in the study was 34.4 ± 7.7 years. Mean MBI subdimension scores were 15.6 ± 7.0 for emotional exhaustion, 5.7 ± 3.9 for depersonalization, and 21.0 ± 4.4 for personal accomplishment. Mean emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores were significantly higher and personal accomplishment scores significantly lower in physicians aged under 25, not taking vacations, working in public hospitals, who were working as research assistants. Conclusions: Burnout levels among the participants were low (emotional exhaustion in 75%, depersonalization in 76.2%, and low personal accomplishment in 69.6%).

Sexism, attitudes, and behaviors towards violence against women in medical emergency services workers in Erzurum, Turkey

ABSTRACT Background: In Turkey, almost every 4 out of 10 married women have been subjected to physical abuse by their spouses. Although studies on the prevalence of domestic violence in Turkey abound, little has been published about first responders’ attitudes and behaviors towards violence against women and on sexism. Objective: Our study examined the attitudes and behaviors of Erzurum City medical emergency services workers towards violence against women, and their relationship with sexist attitudes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 370 medical emergency service personnel using a self-administered questionnaire of 35 items, which included two scales utilizing a three-point Likert format; 15 questions measured attitudes and behaviors towards violence against women (VAW) and 12 items measured sexist attitudes. Results: The mean age of participants was 29.6 ± 8.0 years with a sex distribution of (47.6%) women and 194 (52.4%) men. Less than half of the participants (48.5%; n = 173) felt competent in recognizing and managing VAW; moreover, when faced with such cases, 18.5% (n = 67) said they would try to reconcile the victim with the perpetrator. Male participants had higher mean scores both on VAW (20.7 ± 5.2 vs. 16.9 ± 2.8; t = 7.927; p < 0.001) and on sexist attitudes (24.3 ± 5.3 vs. 18.6 ± 4.3; t = 1.714; p < 0.001). Age (B = 0.067; 95% CI: 0.014–0.119; p = 0.013) and sexism scores (B = 0.487; 95% CI: 0.407–0.566; p < 0.001) were revealed as independent significant predictors of the VAW attitude scores. Conclusions: Educational and public health measures must be instituted to change attitudes and behaviors towards violence against women; measures must focus not only on violence but also on sexism. Health care professionals need to reflect on their own gender biases in clinical practice and prevent gender discrimination.