Examining the correlation between sexual and reproductive health stigmatization level and gender perception: a case of a university in Turkey - a descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract BACKGROUND Stigmatization, which emerges depending on the sexual behavior of young individuals, leads to negative health and social outcomes, such as shame, social marginalization, violence, and mental health morbidity. Objective: This study aimed to examine the correlation between the level of sexual and reproductive health stigma and gender perception in female university students. DESIGN AND SETTING: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Health Sciences of a university in Turkey. METHODS: The data of this study were collected from digital media between July and October 2020 from a study population of 385 students. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, including the socio-demographic characteristics of students, the Sexual and Reproductive Health Stigmatization Scale in Young Women and the Perception of Gender Scale. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation test were used to assess the data. RESULTS: It was determined that there was a negative correlation between the Sexual and Reproductive Health Stigmatization Scale in Young Women and the Perception of Gender Scale (r = -0.173, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: It was determined that as the gender perception in the young women who participated in the study increased, the sexual and reproductive health stigmatization level decreased. The sexual and reproductive health stigmatization levels of the participants were at an above average level, and gender perception was at a medium level.

Examining the correlation between sexual and reproductive health stigmatization level and gender perception: a case of a university in Turkey - a descriptive cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Stigmatization, which emerges depending on the sexual behavior of young individuals, leads to negative health and social outcomes, such as shame, social marginalization, violence, and mental health morbidity. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the correlation between the level of sexual and reproductive health stigma and gender perception in female university students. DESIGN AND SETTING: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Health Sciences of a university in Turkey. METHODS: The data of this study were collected from digital media between July and October 2020 from a study population of 385 students. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, including the socio-demographic characteristics of students, the Sexual and Reproductive Health Stigmatization Scale in Young Women and the Perception of Gender Scale. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation test were used to assess the data. RESULTS: It was determined that there was a negative correlation between the Sexual and Reproductive Health Stigmatization Scale in Young Women and the Perception of Gender Scale (r = -0.173, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: It was determined that as the gender perception in the young women who participated in the study increased, the sexual and reproductive health stigmatization level decreased. The sexual and reproductive health stigmatization levels of the participants were at an above average level, and gender perception was at a medium level.

The effect of health promotion training provided to elderly individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic on healthy lifestyle behaviors.

BACKGROUND: One of the areas most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is health promotion. In order to improve the quality of life of elderly individuals, it is important to develop and implement effective intervention strategies that can prevent negative health outcomes. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of health promotion training provided to elderly individuals on healthy lifestyle behaviors. METHODS: This study was conducted as a randomized-controlled experimental study. The study was completed with 140 elderly individuals over 65 years of age, including 70 participants in intervention group and 70 participants in control group. The data were collected using the Information Form and the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale-I. Training was provided to the intervention group as one session a week for three weeks. Percentage, arithmetic mean, and standard deviation as well as chi-square, dependent samples t-test, and independent samples t-test were used to assess the data. FINDINGS: While the pretest mean score of the intervention group for the overall Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale-I was 103.90 ± 16.96, their posttest mean score was 136.17 ± 19.60 and it was found that there was a statistically significant difference between the results (p = 0.000). While the pretest mean score of the control group for the overall Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale-I was 107.22 ± 21.09, their posttest mean score was 106.57 ± 21.49 and it was found that there was no statistically significant difference between the results (p = 0.609). CONCLUSION: It was observed that healthy lifestyle behaviors of elderly individuals in the intervention group improved positively.

The Effect of Religious Attitudes on Anxiety and Psychological Well-being in Risky Pregnancies: A Cross-Sectional Study from Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine how religious attitudes of risky pregnant women affect their anxiety and psychological well-being. This is a cross-sectional study. It was carried out on 137 women diagnosed with risky pregnancy between December 2021 and February 2022 in a state hospital in Osmaniye, located in the southern Turkey. The findings of the study revealed that the participants' religious attitudes affected their trait anxiety and psychological well-being. Being religious in fact, boosted psychological well-being of the participants and lowered their trait anxiety level. They had a moderate religious attitude and a moderate psychological well-being but they also suffered from high trait anxiety levels.

Effects of the pandemic on women's reproductive health protective attitudes: a Turkish sample.

OBJECTIVES: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's reproductive health protective attitudes. METHODS: The study sample included 306 women and data were collected through a web-based, online questionnaire. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Determination of Married Women's Reproductive Health Protective Attitudes Scale. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, ANOVA test were used to assess the data. RESULTS: The mean scores for Determination of Married Women's Reproductive Health Protective Attitudes Scale significantly differed in terms of education, employment status, income, health insurance and perceived health status (p < 0.05). A total of 69.3% of women had their first pregnancy at the agerange of 21-34 years, 17.6% of the women had four or more pregnancies, 55.6% of the women gave birth 1-3 times, 13.4% of the women gave birth at home and 57.8% of the women did not use modern family planning methods. A total of 23.2% of women experienced a problem with their reproductive organs during the pandemic, 70.6% of them did not present to a health center for their problems and 74.5% of these women did not present to a health center to avoid the risk of COVID-19 transmission. A total of 40.2% of women used the methods they already know at home to relieve their problems and 16.0% of the women used them edications previously prescribed by their doctors. CONCLUSION: The pandemic negatively affects there productive health of women. In the COVID-19 pandemic, health policies should be planned in accordance with the continuation of reproductive health and sexual health services.

Impairment of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and inability to use sexual and reproductive rights are an important public health problem during pandemics. Reproductive healthcare services are limited to pregnancy and childbirth-related care during pandemics. This study was conducted to examine the effects of the pandemic on women's protective attitudes towards reproductive health. In women in Turkey, education level, income status, health assurance, health perceptions, obstetric history and contraceptive methods are the factors that affect the reproductive health. The women presenting to health centers with reproductive health problems before a pandemic do not receive healthcare for their genital problems during the pandemic due to the risk of disease transmission.

Adults' State of Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Complementary and Alternative Medicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aimed to explore the attitudes of adults living in Turkey toward complementary and alternative medicine in the period of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and identify whether Turkish adults used complementary and alternative medicine during the pandemic. The cross-sectional study covered 3242 adults across Turkey. The data were collected via a Personal Information Form and the Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Questionnaire. The participants had positive attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (33.8 ± 4.7). The results indicated that the Turkish adults widely used complementary and alternative treatment methods (70.5%) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they were more oriented toward the use of herbal treatment (35.5%). It was identified that the primary reasons for using complementary and alternative medicine were to be protected from COVID-19, and if infected with COVID-19, to recover from it quickly with only mild symptoms.

Effect of sleep hygiene training given to elderly individuals on daytime sleepiness and fatigue: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the effect of sleep hygiene training given to elderly individuals on daytime sleepiness and fatigue. DESIGN AND METHODS: The sample size was calculated by G. Power and determined as 134 elderly individuals. The experimental group was trained in sleep, two sessions a week for a total of 2 weeks. FINDINGS: The difference between Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Fatigue Severity Scale posttest mean scores of the elderly individuals in the experimental and control groups were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Sleep hygiene training reduced daytime sleepiness and fatigue in older adults.

Evaluating the relationship between family role performance levels and health perceptions of individuals: a cross-sectional study in primary care

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between family role performance levels and health perceptions of individuals. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 438 participants who appliedto four Family Health Centers between 18 July 2020 and 18 November 2020. The data were collected using Personal Information Form, Family Role Performance Scale, and Perception of Health Scale. ANOVA, independent samples t test and regression test were used for statistics calculations. Ethics Committee approval and institutional permissions were obtained to conduct the study. Scale mean scores of the participants were 30.92 ± 6.41 for Family RolePerformance Scaleand 48.35 ± 7.73 for Perception of Health Scale. As a result of simple linear regression analysis, a significant correlation was found between Family Role Performance and Perception of Health Scale. According to regression analysis, it was determined that family role performance affected health perception at the rate of 15.1%. In this study, it was determined that as family role performance increased, the level of health perception also increased, and there was a correlation between family role performance and health perception. Family role performances and health perception for all participants were at a moderate level.

The determination of intercultural sensitivity and ethnocentrism levels among nurses and nursing students: A border of city, Turkey.

AIM: The current study is a descriptive-comparative study and aims to determine intercultural sensitivity and ethnocentrism levels among nurses and nursing students. METHOD: The study was conducted with 207 nurses working at a State Hospital and 211 nursing students studying at a University between November 30, 2019, and January 20, 2020. The data were collected using a descriptive characteristics form, the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale, and the Ethnocentrism Scale. FINDINGS: It was found that both nurses and nursing students (73.4% and 60.7%, respectively) struggled to communicate with foreign patients and experienced problems with cultural differences (49.8% and 22.7%, respectively). A statistically significant negative correlation was found for the nurses and nursing students in terms of their intercultural sensitivity and ethnocentrism scores (p < .05). PRACTICAL IMPLICATION: Nurses and student nurses should interact with people from different cultures to improve refugee health care.

The relationship between nomophobia level and worry severity in future healthcare professional candidates.

PURPOSE: This descriptive study was conducted to determine the relationship between nomophobia level and anxiety severity among university students. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was completed with a total of 745 students. A descriptive questionnaire and the nomophobia questionnaire and measure of worry severity. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses were used. FINDING: It was found positive correlation was determined between the nomophobia level and severity of anxiety. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Individuals with nomophobia should be given the necessary assistance before the current situation worsens. Information about the correct use of the smartphone should be provided.

Does social support affect menopausal symptoms in menopausal women?

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of perceived social support of menopausal women on their menopausal complaints. DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 505 women. The data were obtained using personal information form, menopause rating scale, and multidimensional scale of perceived social support. Frequency, percentage, t test, analysis of variance Skewness and Kurtosis (±1) and correlation were used in the analysis of the data. FINDINGS: In the study, it was found that there was a positive and significant relationship between menopausal symptoms and social support, and menopausal symptoms decreased as social support increased. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses should provide consultancy for women to increase their social support systems to decrease their menopausal complaints.

The effect of exercise training based on the health promotion model on menopausal symptoms.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the effect of exercise training provided based on the health promotion model on menopausal symptoms. DESIGN AND METHODS: The sample size was identified as 156 women. The women who were given exercise training applied a 30-min daily exercise program for 12 weeks, while those in the control group were not trained and did not exercise. FINDINGS: The difference between the mean scores of the groups was statistically significant (p = 0.000). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Exercise training given to women in the experimental group based on a health promotion model reduced menopausal symptoms.

The Effect of Virtual Reality and Kaleidoscope on Pain and Anxiety Levels During Venipuncture in Children.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to determine the effect of two different distractions on pain perceptions and anxiety during venipuncture in children. DESIGN: A randomized controlled study. METHODS: A total of 139 children aged between 4 and 10 years were included in the study: 46 of them in virtual reality goggle group and 43 in the control group. An information form, the Children's Anxiety Scale, Visual Analogue Scale, and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale were used in the collection of data. FINDINGS: Pain and anxiety scores were significantly lower in the virtual reality goggle and kaleidoscope group than in the control group (P < .000). CONCLUSIONS: The use of virtual reality goggle and kaleidoscope methods during venipuncture are effective in reducing children's perception of pain and anxiety. The most effective method of reducing perception of pain and anxiety is using the virtual reality goggle.

The Turkish standardization of the Meadow-Kendall Social-Emotional Assessment Inventory for Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Students.

THE ARTICLE present results of standardization of the Meadow-Kendall Social-Emotional Assessment Inventory for Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Students (Meadow, 1983), school-age version, for use in Turkey. The SEAI is a 59-item measure for assessing socioemotional adjustment of school-age deaf and hearing impaired students. A sample of 1,097 deaf students (609 boys, 488 girls), age range 7-19 years, was rated by their teachers (275 teachers: 149 female, 126 male) using the SEAI. Data were drawn from four types of educational settings: residential, day, special class, mainstream schools. Exploratory factor analysis of the data revealed three main factors of interest, which corresponded to the hypothesized constructs in the original American standardization: Social Adjustment, Self-Image, Emotional Adjustment. The data suggest high reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the SEAI relative to the original American version. Implications of adapting the SEAI for use in Turkey are discussed.

Factors Affecting Psychosocial Adjustment of Deaf Students.

Deafness is more than a medical condition. Recent theories have emphasized the importance of environmental factors on the psychosocial development of deaf children. As part of a larger scale study, this article aims to investigate the impact of the following variables on deaf students' psychosocial adjustment in Turkey: student-related background and experiential characteristics, parent-related variables, school-related factors, and teacher-related variables. The sample of 1,097 deaf students enrolled in the elementary, secondary, and high schools was drawn from 34 schools in 24 cities on a national geographical spread. The multiple regression analysis revealed that degree of hearing loss, additional handicap, and age at onset of deafness were negatively related to psychosocial adjustment of deaf students. However, there was a positive relationship between psychosocial variables and some of the independent variables, such as use of hearing aids, speech intelligibility, academic achievement, parental hearing status, and communication methods used at school. The findings of the study do not support a "pathological" view of deafness, suggesting that it was not deafness per se but that some environmental factors were also influential on the psychosocial adjustment of deaf students.