Yasemin Açik

Epidemiological features of irritable bowel syndrome in a Turkish urban society.

Background and Aim:  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a widespread functional bowel disorder and its prevalence in Western societies ranges from 3‐20%. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of IBS in eastern Turkey, particularly in urban parts of Elazig where 250 000 people live.

Prevalence and risk factors of female urinary incontinence in eastern Turkey.

Objectives:  To evaluate the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) and determine risk factors for its development in women living in eastern Turkey.

Prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among urban school children in Elazig city, Eastern Turkey, 2007.

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing dramatically all over the world. Very little data are currently available on the prevalence of childhood obesity in Turkey, and more research on the risk factors is required before preventive public health programmes can be put into practice. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and related factors in primary school students in Elazig, a city in eastern Turkey. Subjects and methods: In March–June 2007 a cross-sectional study of children aged 6–11 years old was performed. A total of 1782 girls and 1860 boys were observed. Weight and height were measured. Overweight and obesity using age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) cut-off points as defined by the International Obesity Taskforce were used. Results: Prevalence of overweight and obesity were 13.2% and 1.6%, respectively. According to gender, the prevalence of obesity in boys was 2.0% and overweight was 13.9%, while in girls, obesity was 1.2% and overweight was 12.5%. We found that overweight and obesity may be related to factors such as eating while watching television, and eating fast food. Conclusion: It was noted as a health problem that there are overweight students aged between 6 and 11 years attending primary schools in Elazig province.

The epidemiology and factors associated with nocturnal enuresis among boarding and daytime school children in southeast of Turkey: a cross sectional study

BackgroundNocturnal enuresis is an important problem among young children living in Turkey. The purpose of this study was to determine the possible differences in the prevalence of enuresis between children in boarding school and daytime school and the association of enuresis with sociodemographic factors.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional survey. A total of 562 self-administered questionnaires were distrubuted to parents from two different types of schools. One of them was a day-time school and the other was a boarding school. To describe enuresis the ICD-10 definition of at least one wet night per month for three consecutive months was used. Chi-square test and a logistic regression model was used to identify significant predictive factors for enuresis.ResultsThe overall prevalence of nocturnal enuresis was 14.9%. The prevalence of nocturnal enuresis declined with age. Of the 6 year old children 33.3% still wetted their beds, while the ratio was 2.6% for 15 years-olds. There was no significant difference in prevalence of nocturnal enuresis between boys and girls (14.3% versus 16. 8%). Enuresis was reported as 18.5% among children attending day time school and among those 11.5% attending boarding school (p < 0.05). Prevalence of enuresis was increased in children living in villages, with low income and with positive family history (p < 0.05). After multivariate analysis, history of urinary tract infection (OR = 2.02), age (OR = 1.28), low monthly income (OR = 2.86) and family history of enuresis (OR = 3.64) were factors associated with enuresis. 46.4% of parents and 57.1% of enuretic children were significantly concerned about the impact of enuresis.ConclusionEnuresis was more frequent among children attending daytime school when compared to boarding school. Our findings suggest that nocturnal enuresis is a common problem among school children, especially with low income, smaller age, family history of enuresis and history of urinary tract infection. Enuresis is a pediatric public health problem and efforts at all levels should be made such as preventive, etiological and curative.

Prevalence and Consultation Behavior of Self-Reported Rectal Bleeding by Face-to-Face Interview in an Asian Community

Background and Aim: Although rectal bleeding is a common gastrointestinal symptom, there are very few community-based studies, and all of these studies were conducted in the West. So far the epidemiologic characteristics of rectal bleeding have not been defined in an Asian country. We aimed to characterize self-reported rectal bleeding and its association with functional bowel disorders in Turkey. Factors affecting healthcare-seeking behavior were reviewed as well. Subjects and Methods: In this study, 760 subjects were chosen randomly. Questionnaires were completed by nurses during face-to-face interviews with each participant. Results: Of the 707 (93%) subjects included in this study, 9.5% had functional dyspepsia, 8.6% had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), 24.5% had functional constipation, and 13.8% had functional abdominal bloating. The prevalence of rectal bleeding in the previous year was 14.7%. The recent onset of rectal bleeding was 2.7%. Rectal bleeding was more common among subjects younger than 45 years. Subjects who had functional constipation or constipation-dominant IBS reported rectal bleeding more frequently than others. The rate of consultation was only 41.3% among the subjects with rectal bleeding. Subjects aged ≧45 years and who had marked bleeding or bleeding more than twice a day or fear of cancer sought healthcare more frequently than others. Conclusion: Rectal bleeding is as common a symptom in Turkey as in Western countries. Advanced age and fear of cancer were independent predictors of consultation behavior in this group.

The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Elazig, Eastern Turkey

BACKGROUND To investigate the prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the urban and rural areas of the Elazig Region of Turkey. METHODS A questionnaire was conducted and spirometric measurements were made, based on the BOLD protocol. A total of 1270 individuals, over 18 years of age, were included in the study, comprising 610 individuals from the city center and 660 from the rural area. The questionnaire included demographics, symptoms and possible risk factors. The description and staging of COPD were in accordance with GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease). RESULTS Of the 1270 cases, 1206 (94.9%) were able to complete the questionnaire and undergo spirometric analysis. Of these 1206 cases, 1188 (98.5%) were used in the final assessment; the remainder were excluded due to errors in the spirometric analysis. Of the cases included in the study, 43.2% (25.9% female; 56.7% male) were current smokers. The prevalence of COPD at ≥ 18 years old was 4.5% (female 2.5%; male 6%); the prevalence at ≥ 45 years old was 11.5% (female 5.9%; male 15.1%). The majority of the COPD cases were at stages I and II (22.6% and 66%, respectively). The prevalence of COPD was higher among current and former smokers (5.8%) than non-smokers (2.8%). In general, the risk factors for COPD were found to be age, male gender, smoking, living in a rural area, and low income. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of COPD in Elazig, Turkey was highest among the elderly and smokers, and constituted primarily stages I and II of the disease.

Investigation of the level of safety and appropriateness of playgrounds in Elazig city in Turkey

This study was conducted to identify and evaluate the degree of appropriateness of childrens playground standards and the level of compliance with the current safety specifications of the playgrounds in Elazig city in Turkey. This was accomplished by on-site observation and measurement in the total of 24 playgrounds present in this city centre. It was determined that 83.3% of the playgrounds were next to a street and in 60% of these playgrounds there were no fences or any barrier to keep children from running into the street. In 87.5% of playgrounds the surfacing was not in proper depth and good order. Separate playgrounds for different ages were provided in only 12.5% of the playgrounds. In 62.5% of the playgrounds children were supervised to make sure they were safe. There was unsafe equipment in 95.8% of the playgrounds. In 83.3% of the playgrounds there were sharp edges, pinch points, or playground debris that might injure a child. The findings of the present study indicate that nearly all of the playgrounds in Elazığ city center do not meet the criteria for playground standards and are not in compliance with the current safety specifications and need improvement.

Doğu Anadolu\'da yeni açılan bir üniversitenin öğrencilerinde kaygı düzeylerinin sağlık, sosyal ve demografik faktörler ile ilişkisi

Objectives: This study is carried out to determine possible anxiety levels and related factors in Tunceli University students. Materials and methods: Totally 604 students receiving education from Tunceli University included. Field work of the study is done in May, 2010. A questionnaire including a group of questions about socio-demographical features, health, social and demographical factors, and about continuous anxiety that are thought to be related to anxiety is made under direct supervision to the students. Results: 52.2% of the students are men and 47.8 % are women, and the average age of them is 21.38±3.59 years. The students’ average point of state anxiety inventory is found to be 43.37±10.46 and continuous anxiety inventory 45.17±8.79. According to our results if the students parent’s monthly income is less, started to study in the department of the university unwillingly, had sheltering problems at the beginning of the university, expressed that they had chronic diseases, evaluated their health conditions as bad, feel ambiguous or desperate about finding a job after graduation and described their char acters as introverted had higher anxiety scores (p 0.05). Conclusion: Continuous anxiety level of the university students was found at a significant level and affected by several variables. It is thought that counseling and intervention units, particularly for related factors, will be useful.

Effect of Urinary Incontinence and Its Subtypes on Quality of Life of Women in Eastern Turkey

OBJECTIVE To determine the bothersomeness and effect on quality of life (QOL) of different types of urinary incontinence (UI) in married women living in eastern Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 1049 married women was evaluated in the present population-based, cross-sectional study. QOL was assessed using a validated form of the Turkish version of the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form. The effects of UI subtype on the overall QOL score and on the individual domain scores were determined. The relationship between several demographic characteristics such as age, weight, education level, number of pregnancies, number of live deliveries, and presence of pelvic organ prolapse and the QOL changes was examined. RESULTS The mean age of the women was 44.62 ± 11.01 years (range 17-80). Of the women with UI, 76.2% stated that the UI had a negative effect on their QOL. Women with mixed UI and severe UI had the worst QOL scores. The QOL changes for the different domains revealed that entertainment activities were affected least, and emotional health and feelings of frustration were the 2 domains that showed the most significant deterioration. Furthermore, older and unemployed women, housewives, women living in urban areas, and women with multiple births, difficult labor, and increased weight experienced significant negative effects on their QOL. CONCLUSION Our results have shown that, regardless of different factors, UI has significant negative effects on QOL. The presented data emphasize the importance of the high prevalence of UI in our region and its negative effects on QOL. Thus, additional policies are needed for the prevention of the negative effects of UI.

Hearing in workers exposed to low-dose radiation for a long period

The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in hearing thresholds with standard and high frequency audiometry in workers exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation for a long period. A total of 57 (49 male and 8 female) technical staff working in radiology-related jobs who were exposed to occupational radiation were included in the study. The control group consisted of 32 (27 male and 5 female) volunteer subjects with normal hearing. The symptoms like tinnitus, vertigo, weakness and lack of appetite were evaluated. A standard ascending/descending method was applied to the subjects of the study and the control groups in order to determine their hearing thresholds at eleven different frequencies between 250 and 16,000 Hz. In the study group, the working duration of subjects ranged from 4 to 23 years, and the percentage of tinnitus, weakness, vertigo and lack of appetite were 47%, 28%, 24% and 17%, respectively. It was observed that pure tone hearing thresholds were markedly increased for 4,000, 6,000, 8,000, 14,000 and 16,000 Hz frequencies in the study group compared to the control group (p<0.01). Levels of static compliance and middle ear pressures of the study group were similar to the control group. Tinnitus, vertigo and hearing loss in high frequencies were observed in the subjects exposed to the radiation for a long period. Subjects under high risk should be evaluated periodically. We suggest that the use of standard and high frequency audiometry together could be beneficial in the evaluation of these subjects.