Seva Öner

Prevalence and risk factors of Internet addiction in high school students

AIM In this study, the prevalence and risk factors of Internet addiction in high school students was investigated. MATERIAL AND METHOD This cross-sectional study was performed in the Mersin Province in 2012. The study sample consisted of students attending high school in the central district of Mersin. The data were summarized by descriptive statistics and compared by a binary logistic regression. RESULTS Our study population included 1156 students, among whom 609 (52.7%) were male. The mean age of the students was 16.1 ± 0.9 years. Seventy-nine percent of the students had a computer at home, and 64.0% had a home Internet connection. In this study, 175 (15.1%) students were defined as Internet addicts. Whereas the addiction rate was 9.3% in girls, it was 20.4% in boys (P < 0.001). In this study, Internet addiction was found to have an independent relationship with gender, grade level, having a hobby, duration of daily computer use, depression and negative self-perception. CONCLUSION According to our study results, the prevalence of Internet addiction was high among high school students. We recommend preventing Internet addiction among adolescents by building a healthy living environment around them, controlling the computer and Internet use, promoting book reading and providing treatment to those with a psychological problem.

A cross-sectional prevalence study of depression at various times after delivery in Mersin province in Turkey.

BACKGROUND Postpartum depression (PPD) is defined as a major depression occurring after delivery. Depression in mothers postpartum may affect the development of the infant and life quality of the mother negatively. In this study, PPD prevalence in the first 2 months after delivery was compared with the prevalence in later periods. METHODS This study was conducted in 2001 in the province of Mersin in Turkey. In-home questionnaires were given to nonpregnant married women age 15-44 years from primary healthcare centers identified through a multistage, stratified sampling method. Depression was defined as a score of 13 or higher on the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). RESULTS Data were available on 1447 women. PPD prevalence was 29.0% at 0-2 months, 36.6% at 3-6 months, 36.0% at 7-12 months, and 42.7% >or= 13 months postpartum. PPD prevalence in the 0-2-month postpartum period was lower than in the other groups (F = 4.6, p < 0.01). The prevalence increased with the time since delivery. When compared with the prevalence in months 0-2, PPD risk was 1.41 times greater in months 3-6, 1.37 times greater in months 7-12, and 1.82 times greater in months >or=13 (chi-square for trend test = 11.7, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In this Turkish population, PPD prevalence was substantial at all time points. The prevalence was at its lowest level before the second postpartum month and increased with time. The decrease in the intensive social and physical support given to the mother immediately after delivery may explain this trend.

Awareness of emergency contraception among university students in Mersin, Turkey

Aim:  The aim of this study is to determine the degree of knowledge, behavior and attitude of university students in Mersin towards emergency contraception (EC).

The sociodemographic factors related with the adolescent pregnancy

Abstract Objective The adolescent pregnancy is one of the most important problems in the 21st century. The adolescent pregnancies pose more health risks to both mothers and babies when compared with the adult pregnancies. Of all the births in the world, 11% are given by the adolescents. The aim of the study was to determine the sociodemographic factors concerning with the adolescent pregnancy. Methods This study was conducted at 18 primary health care centers in Mersin, Turkey. The adolescent group was comprised of pregnant women younger than 19 years, the adult group was comprised of pregnants aged between 20–29 years. The questionnaire was conducted with face-to-face interviews. Results Respondents included 107 pregnant adolescents and 110 pregnant adults. The median age of adolescent group and adult group was 18 and 26 years, respectively. About 61.7% of the pregnant adolescents and 94.5% of the pregnant adults were officially married. In the adolescent group, the family frequency without social security was more than that in the adult group. In the adult group, the frequency of opposing the adolescent pregnancy for their families was more than that in the adolescent group. The adolescent pregnancy among sisters and friends of the adolescent pregnants was more frequent compared with that in the adult group. Conclusions The family frequency without social security was more in the adolescent group. This situation is certain to cause more problems for the adolescents in benefiting from the health care services. We are absolutely think that efforts should be made so as to improve the society in terms of social and cultural aspects.

Occupational Risk Factors among Primary Health Care Workers in Mersin, Turkey

ABS TRACT Objective: The current study aims to identify the occupational health risks faced by primary health care workers in Mersin city center. Material and Methods: Data were collected between June-July 2009. The target population of this cross-sectional study was 807 health workers serving in the primary health care centers in Mersin city center and related villages. No sampling was carried out; this study aimed to reach all of the health care centers and health care workers in the city center and surroundings. The consent of the ethics committee and the consent of the participants were obtained after informing them about the study. Six hundred sixty six (82.5%) of the workers were reached and agreed to participate in this survey. The workers filled out the forms by themselves. The health risks faced by the health workers within the past year were accepted as the dependent variables. It was compared with independent variables such as the workplace risks, location of the workplace in the urban or suburban regions, occupation group, and sex. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data while Chi-square test was employed to compare categorical variables. Results: 40.7% of the health care workers were working as midwifes and 73.0% were females; 87.2% of them had experienced at least one health risk within the past year. The most frequent health risks faced by the health workers were physical-ergonomic (78.8%), biological (56.8%), psychological (54.4%) and chemical (18.0%) risks. Ninety one percent of them believed that their life was not in safe in the workplace. The rate of physical-ergonomic risks were higher in doctors, in midwifes, and in non-married participants, the biological risks were higher in female health care workers, doctors, in non-married workers; the psychological risks were in non-married participants while the chemical risks were higher for those working in suburban areas. All of the risks were at a higher level among those participants who thought that their workplace was not safe. It was also understood that experiencing psychological risks decreased despite the increase in work period. Conclusion: Primary health care workers face many health risks in the workplace.

Kronik kan transfüzyonu alan beta-talasemi major ve orak hücreli anemi hastalarında görülen komplikasyonlar

Ozet Amac. Mersin Devlet Hastanesi tarafindan izlenen hemoglobinopatili hastalarda gelisen komplikasyonlarin sikliklarini ve olasi risk faktorlerini belirlemektir. Yontem. Hastalarin dosyalarindan sosyo-demografik ozellikleri, tanisi, tani yasi, transfuzyona baslama yasi, yilda aldiklari transfuzyon sayisi ve unitesi bilgileri elde edildi. Gelisen komplikasyonlar, HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HCV, anti-HIV tetkik sonuclari kaydedildi. Bulgular. Calismaya 46 hasta alindi. Yas ortalamalari 18.4±10.9 yildi. beta-talasemi major hastalari tani yasi, transfuzyona baslama yasi, yilda aldiklari transfuzyon sayisi ve unitesi sayisi acisindan orak hucreli anemi ve talasemi intermedia hastalarindan farkliydi. Kirk dort hastada en az bir komplikasyon gelismisti. Hastalarin 2’sinde HBsAg, 2’sinde anti HCV pozitifligi saptandi. HBsAg pozitif olan hastalarin yillik transfuzyon unitesi ortalamasi HBsAg negatif olanlara gore yuksekti. Karaciger komplikasyonlari ilk 25 yasta daha sik gorulurken, endokrin komplikasyonlar 0-15 yasta hic gorulmedi. Hastalarin cinsiyetleri ile gorulen komplikasyonlar arasinda iliski saptanmadi. Sonuclar. Talasemi major hastalarinda, orak hucreli anemi ve talasemi intermedia hastalarina gore demir birikimi nedeniyle gelisen karaciger, kalp ve endokrin komplikasyonlar daha sik gorulmektedir. Hastaligin mortalite ve morbiditesini azaltmak bakimindan erken donemde komplikasyonlarin varligini belirlemek, duzenli olarak izlemlerini yapmak gerekmektedir. Anahtar sozcukler: Beta-talasemi major, orak hucreli anemi, kan transfuzyonu Abstract Aim. To determine the frequency of complications and possible risk factors observed in patients with hemoglobinopaties in Mersin State Hospital. Methods. The data on socio-demographic properties, diagnoses, age of diagnosis and first transfusion, the duration of transfusion and amount of transfusion per year were obtained from patients’ files. The complications, HbsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HCV, anti-HIV results were recorded. Results. Forty six patients were enclosed study. The average age was 18.4±10.9 years. The data from beta-thalassemia major patients concerning age, age of first transfusion, the amount of transfusion and the duration transfusion per year were different from patients with sickle cell anemia and thalassemia intermedia. At least one complication was observed in 44 patients. HbsAg and anti-HCV positivity were observed in 2 patients each. HbsAg positive patients needed more transfusion units than patients with negative HbsAg. While liver complications were observed during the first 25 years of life, endocrine ones were not present in the first 15 years. There is no relationship between sex and complications with patients. Conclusions. Thalassemia major patients had more frequent liver, heart and endocrine complications associated with iron deposition when compared to sickle cell anemia and thalassemia intermedia patients. To minimize mortality and morbidity, early detection of complications and regular follow-up of patients are necessary. Key words: Beta-thalassemia major, sickle cell anemia, blood transfusion