Are primary health care workers aware of cervical cancer risk?

BACKGROUND: We here examined the awareness of female health employees (doctors, nurses, midwives) working in primary health care service about cervical cancer and its risk factors. Additionally attitude and behavior for gynecologic examination and pap smear screening were researched. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive study concerned female health employees working at primary health care services in two southern cities of Turkey, over a four month period in 2013. Participants were recently or previously sexually active research was explained and verbal informed consent was obtained face to face. The questionnaire consisted of two parts; socio-demographic characteristics and level of knowledge about cervical cancer and its risk factors. RESULTS: The average age of the participants (midwives 43.7%, n=143; nurses 40.4%, n=132; doctors 6.4%, n=21; emergency medical technicians and others, 9.5%, n=31; total, n=327) was 30.9±6.41 years. 64.2% (n=210) were working in Diyarbakir and 35.8% (n=117) in Batman. A large proportion reported low knowledge and inadequate screening practice Conclusions: Health employees should be better informed about the importance of screening for cancers, given their preventive roles for the general population.

[How is quality of life affected in women in the presence of anxiety and depression symptoms?]. / Kadinlarda yasam kalitesi anksiyete ve depresyon belirtilerinin varliginda nasil etkileniyor? kesitsel bir alan çalismasi.

OBJECTIVE: To assess how quality of life is affected among reproductive age women from the presence of anxiety and depression symptoms and the risk factors related to both. METHOD: A cross sectional analytic study was performed in person with 461 women. General Health Questionnarie-12 and WHOQOL-BREF were used. RESULTS: 35.5% of the women displayed symptoms of anxiety and depression and those who had experienced domestic violence had a 2.61-fold increase in symptom frequency and those with an income below 500 TL had a 2.49-fold more frequent occurrence of symptoms compared to others. General health quality mean score was 3.33 ± 0.804, the mean overall quality of life was 3.62 ± 0.791; Physical Health Domain: 15.95 ± 2.422; Psychological Health Domain: 14.70 ± 2.337; Social Relations Domain 14.64 ± 3,027; Environmental Domain 14:27 ± 2.20; National Domain 14:29 ± 2.144l. The total score of GHQ-12 and the first two questions of WHOQOL-BREF had a negative, moderate and highly significant correlation, whereas the Psychological HD score had a a negative,, strong and significant correlation All other domains and the total score of GHQ-12 had negative, moderate and significant correlations. CONCLUSION: Screening with GHQ-12 as well as offering the possibility of early diagnosis and treatment, is also important to prevent impairment in all areas of quality of life among women. Early diagnosis and treatment of psychological problems of women with risk factors such as exposure to domestic violence and low socio-economic status are the intervention areas with priority.

Tetanus seroepidemiology and factors influencing immunity status among farmers of advanced age.

OBJECTIVES: Tetanus, which is a vaccine preventable disease, remains a significant health concern. The mortality is especially high in elderly and farming is a significant risk factor for the disease. This study evaluates the serological immunity of tetanus and the related factors, in a farmer population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in a village located in the western part of Turkey. Volunteer farmers over the age of 50 were included in the study. The study group was determined by the systematic sampling method. IgG class tetanus antibody was measured in sera of each participant. A structured questionnaire evaluating the demographic characteristics was completed by the investigators. RESULTS: A total of 293 participants (55.3% female, 44.7% male) were recruited from March 2010 to June 2010. A serum protective tetanus antitoxin level (> 0.1 IU/ml) was detected in 99 out of 293 (33.9%) of participants. According to univariate analysis; advancing age, female gender, lower education, low monthly income, presence of chronic disease, absent or incomplete vaccination history or being unvaccinated in the last ten years were risk factors for insufficient tetanus immunity. After multiple logistic regression analysis, up-to-date vaccination, gender and age were the only factors that remained independently associated with immune status (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Farmers of advancing age are a population at risk for tetanus due to their work environment and their absent or incomplete immunization to the disease. Low rates of immunity detected highlight the importance to explore strategies in order to improve immunization status in this risky population.