The development of pressure scale toward marriage and fertility in social structure.

In some cultures, giving birth and marriage adds value to women, while being single can cause women to be exposed to social and individual pressures. There are currently no instruments available in the literature for assessing how pressure women feel to be married and have children. This study aimed to develop the Marriage and Fertility Pressure Scale (PSMF) by measuring the marriage and fertility pressure on single women. The study contacted 360 single women via women's health and social groups on social networking sites. Cronbach's alpha values of the marriage pressure and fertility pressure were 0.94 and 0.82, respectively. The factor analysis of the marriage and fertility pressure subscales revealed a six-dimensional structure explaining 59.26 percent and 60.54 percent of the total variance, respectively. In conclusion, this study was important in developing a highly reliable and valid PSMF measurement tool to measure the pressure on women in terms of marriage and fertility. The widespread use of the scale in public health research will increase the sensitivity and awareness of the people about the pressure on single women. Moreover, this scale will contribute to the evaluation of the social and individual pressure differences in the research to be carried out on marriage and childbirth between societies.

The effect of fatalism perception of pregnant women on taking precautions against the risk of virus transmission in the Covid-19 pandemic in Turkey.

Covid-19 pandemic has affected all over the world, particularly affecting risky groups and causing the deaths of millions of people. Owing to the systemic changes that occur during pregnancy, pregnant women are among the risk groups. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of the fatalism tendency of the pregnant women on the precautions they take to protect themselves from the risk of virus transmission. We conducted this study as descriptive cross-sectional. We collected the data between February 11th and March 24th, 2021. The sample of this study comprised of 418 pregnant women. Fatalism tendency was high in the pregnant women with low education and income levels and housewives. It was determined that the pregnant women with a high tendency of fatalism wore less masks. The beliefs of individuals should not be ignored while creating health policies in the fight against the pandemic.

Psychological and social impact and lifestyle changes among pregnant women of COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the challenges faced by pregnant women and their daily life activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assess the psychological impacts of the pandemic and their expectations to improve women's mental health, thereby increasing the awareness of healthcare professionals of the subject. METHODS: The research was conducted with the participation of 30 pregnant women, who were selected by purposive sampling using the phenomenological approach, between 15 June 2020 and 15 August 2020. Telephone interviews were conducted with pregnant women due to social isolation measures during the Coronavirus pandemic. RESULTS: In the study, the following four themes were determined: (a) measures taken against the pandemic, (b) problems regarding the antenatal period during the pandemic, (c) gestation period and change in social life, (d) psychological effects of the pandemic and methods for coping with them. Also, 14 sub-themes were determined regarding these themes. CONCLUSION: The results of the study revealed that the pandemic had multidimensional impacts on pregnant women, including their social life and physical health. Psychologically, it caused many negative emotional states, particularly concerns and fears. During the pandemic, healthcare professionals should be aware of the needs of pregnant women and plan protective and informative interventions for both their physiological and psychological health.

Determining the relationship between anxiety levels, stress coping styles, and emotional eating of women in the COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the relationship between women's anxiety levels and their style of coping with stress and emotional eating in the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study and data were collected using online surveys. The sample of the study consisted of 450 women between the ages of 18-65, who have no understanding and perception problems, and who are willing to participate in the study. The data were obtained using the "Introductory Information Form", "Coronavirus Anxiety Scale", "Stress Coping Styles Scale" and "Emotional Eating Scale". Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Increased emotional eating was increased helpless approach, submissive approach and Coronavirus anxiety increase while decreasing the self-confident approach. Increased Coronavirus anxiety was increased the total scores of helpless approach, submissive approach, disinhibition, guilt, and emotional eating increased while decreasing the scores of the self-confident approach and optimistic approach. BMI, weight change in pandemic, age, self-confident approach to coping with stress and helpless approach score explained emotional eating 30.8 %. CONCLUSION: Considering the emotional eating score average (11-20), women were emotional eating, and their Coronavirus anxiety score was below the average. In minimizing emotional eating in women, first of all, emotional eating awareness should be created, and it is recommended to increase their awareness of stress coping styles for the stress that causes this situation.

Ameliorative effect of edible Halopteris scoparia against cadmium-induced reproductive toxicity in male mice: A biochemical and histopathologic study.

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal affecting the reproductive system. Halopteris scoparia (brown algae) is generally consumed as a salad in the Far East countries. This study was conducted to compare and determine the possible protective effects of H. scoparia and vitamin E and C combination (VEC) against cadmium chloride (CdCl2 )-induced reproductive toxicity. A total of 36 male mice were equally divided into as control, CdCl2 (2 mg/kg), CdCl2  + H. scoparia (900 mg/kg), CdCl2  + VEC (200 mg/kg), H. scoparia alone and VEC alone groups. Blood and testis samples were taken for biochemical, histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses. H. scoparia was also examined for antioxidant activity (by DPPH assay) and mineral/trace element content (by ICP-MS method). CdCl2 exposure caused a significant deterioration in body weight, sperm parameters (count, motility, viability and morphology) (p < .001), histopathology, immunoreactivity and testosterone levels. However, H. scoparia improved CdCl2 -induced deterioration effects more successfully than VEC-treated group. The present study suggests that edible H. scoparia can be used as a natural protective agent against Cd-induced testicular damage by possibly enhancing essential element levels or increasing antioxidant defence system.

Investigation of the Relationship Between Maternal Attachment and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Affecting Factors in Turkish Sample.

PURPOSE: This research aimed to investigate the factors affecting the perception of mothers about breastfeeding self-efficacy and their maternal attachment between the fourth and eighth postnatal weeks and their relation. DESIGN AND METHODS: This research, which is descriptive, was conducted on 351 postpartum women between December 2017-2018. The study used the Mother Descriptive Information Form, Maternal Attachment Inventory (MAI), and the Short Form of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES-SF). RESULTS: It was found that, mothers' mean scores on the BSES-SF and MAI were affected by their educational level, the status of regular health checkups during the last pregnancy, the number of visits for health checkups during the last pregnancy, the place where they held their babies, the status of breastfeeding previous babies, prenatal breastfeeding training, the status of finding their own breast milk sufficient, the time when they first breastfed the baby, the first food the baby received, the status of being willing to breastfeed, the status of having fatigue due to breastfeeding, the planned duration of breastfeeding, the status of using additional infant formula, and the status of having a close relative or friend also breastfeeding. It was also determined that there was a low positive relationship between breastfeeding self-efficacy and maternal attachment. CONCLUSIONS: The level of breastfeeding self-efficacy and maternal attachment status of mothers should be determined in the postpartum period, and health personnel should intervene on alterable factors that adversely affect breastfeeding self-efficacy and attachment status, especially in mothers at risk.

An examination of the sexual functions of patients who underwent a gynecologic cancer operation and received brachytherapy.

OBJECTIVE: This study was planned as a descriptive study for the purpose of examining the sexual functions of patients' who underwent a gynecological operation and received brachytherapy. METHODS: The study was conducted with 118 women who attended the Radiation Oncology Unit at Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital in Izmir Province for Gynecological Oncology follow-up, who participated voluntarily and were assigned using the random sampling method. The participants were married, sexually active, had a diagnosis of gynecologic cancer, underwent an operation and received brachytherapy for four months after the operation. The Individual Identification Form and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were used as the data collection tools. RESULTS: The average age of women who participated in study was 50.90±7.98 and 41.5% of them had completed primary school. About 60% of the participants had cervical cancer and 69.5% had a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy. The FSFI average score was determined to be 15.77±8.71. It was found that 97.5% of the participants received fewer than 30 points from the scale and these participants thus experienced sexual dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings obtained from the study, almost all thewomen that had an operation as a result of adiagnosis of gynecologic cancer and received brachytherapy experienced sexual dysfunction.

Chicken RAPS: Chicken Robot-assisted Pyeloplasty Simulation. Validation Study of a Novel Chicken Model for Wet Laboratory Training in Robot-assisted Pyeloplasty.

Background: Since the introduction of minimally invasive surgery, the number of simulation models available for teaching new surgeons has continued to increase. Objective: To evaluate and validate use of a model for teaching robot-assisted pyeloplasty. Design setting and participants: Twenty simulated robot-assisted pyeloplasty procedures were performed by experienced (n = 4) and novice (n = 16) surgeons using a chicken crop model at two different training centers using third- and fourth-generation robotic systems. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: We evaluated the time needed to perform the procedure, and the sufficiency and patency of the anastomosis. Participants rated the efficiency, face validity, and possible acceptance of the model as part of a structured curriculum on a scale from 0 to10. Statistical significance for comparison of results was set at p < 0.05. Results and limitations: Robot-assisted pyeloplasty was successfully performed by 75% of the participants. The completion time was significantly higher in the novice group (p = 0.016). The model was deemed to be similar to the human ureteropelvic junction by the novice group. Both groups regarded the model as a useful simulation task as part of a standardized training curriculum, with mean scores of 6.5 versus 8.69 (p = 0.046) for face validity and 8 versus 9.25 for acceptance (p = 0.053) reported by the experienced versus novice group, respectively. Limitations of the study are the costs associated with the robotic system and the unequal number of participants in the groups. Conclusions: The chicken crop model is a low-cost and reproducible simulation model for accomplishing both the resection and reconstructive steps during the learning phase for robot-assisted pyeloplasty. Patient summary: We assessed the use of chickens as a model for practicing a robot-assisted operation called pyeloplasty to fix narrowing of the ureter (the tube that drains urine from the kidney to the bladder) where it attaches to the kidney. This model can be used for simulation of robot-assisted pyeloplasty when training new robotic surgeons.

Accumulation of some heavy metals in Hysterothylacium aduncum (Nematoda) and its host sea bream, Sparus aurata (Sparidae) from North-Eastern Mediterranean Sea (Iskenderun Bay).

The sea bream's nematode and Sparus aurata, sampled from the Iskenderun Bay, Mediterranean, in March 2008 were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry for their some heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mg, Pb, and Zn) levels. The metal concentrations of the parasites were compared to different organs (liver, muscle, gill, intestine, and skin) of the fish hosts. There were significant differences in Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Hg, Mg, and Pb concentrations in tissues of fish and its parasite. The parasite Cd, Cu, and Pb concentration was higher than the other tissues. Furthermore, significant differences were detected in the heavy metal accumulations between the parasitized and unparasitized fish tissues in Cd, Cu, Hg, and Pb concentrations. The Cd, Hg, and Pb concentrations were found in fish muscle at mean concentrations over the permissible limits proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization.

The effect of university students' violence tendency on their attitude towards domestic violence and the factors affecting domestic violence attitudes.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the tendency of violence and the factors affecting their attitudes towards domestic violence in university students studying health sciences. METHODS: The research was conducted with a total of 318 voluntary students studying in the senior year of nursing department in Faculty of Nursing, Ege University, Turkey and bearing the appropriate criteria for the participation and data were collected in the period June-July 2017. "Personal Information Form", "Violence Tendency Scale (VTS)" and "Domestic Violence Attitude Scale (DVAS)" developed by the researchers have been used in data collection. RESULTS: The research was conducted with a total of 318 students with average age of 22.41±1.49. Average VTS scores of the students were found to be 28.13±6.28. The factor effective on violence tendency has been determined to be the student's sex. DVAS of the students has been found to be 19.90±6.76. CONCLUSIONS: Violence phenomenon directed to youth was conducted on senior university students being a more developed group socially. However, young people's exposure to violence was found high (42.8%). Nevertheless, their scores on violence tendencies and domestic violence attitude were ascertained low.