Knowledge and Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses in Turkey Regarding Human Papillomavirus Vaccination of Their Children.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitudes of physicians and nurses as parents about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and their views on vaccination in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 72 physicians and 128 nurses who had children. Data were collected using questionnaires prepared by researchers. Descriptive statistical analysis and chi-square tests were used for data analysis. RESULTS: In this study, 84.7% of physicians and 70.3% of the nurses knew that HPV is a cancer factor, and two-thirds of the healthcare professionals believed that the HPV vaccine is protective. Moreover, 62.5% of physicians and 74.2% of nurses reported that they did not intend to vaccinate their children. The reasons for vaccination hesitancy of healthcare professionals was believing it was unnecessary, thinking it was expensive, having insufficient knowledge about vaccine, thinking it may have side effects, and not trusting the vaccine. In this sample, 70.8% of physicians and 53.9% of nurses stated that they could have their children vaccinated only if the HPV vaccines were in the national vaccination schedule. DISCUSSION: Further studies should be conducted to include the HPV vaccine in the childhood national vaccination program to reduce vaccine hesitancy.

Comparison of Computed Tomography Findings between Adult and Pediatric COVID-19 Patients.

PURPOSE: This study aims to compare chest computed tomography (CT) findings between adult and pediatric patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pneumonia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 30 pediatric patients aged 1 to 17 years and 30 adult patients over 18 years of age with COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) who have findings related to COVID-19 on Chest Computed Tomography. The CT findings of adult and pediatric patients were compared with a z-test. RESULTS: Bilateral involvement (p:0.00056), involvement in all five lobes (p<0.00001), and central and peripheral involvement (p:0.01928) were significantly higher in the adult group compared to the pediatric group. In the pediatric group, the frequency of unilateral involvement (p:0.00056), involvement of solitary lobe (p:0.00132), and peripheral involvement (p: 0.01928) were significantly higher than in the adult group. The most common parenchymal finding in adults and pediatric patients was ground-glass opacities (100% and 83%, respectively). Among the parenchymal findings in adults, ground-glass opacities with consolidation (63%) were the second most common finding, followed by air bronchogram (60%) in adults, while in pediatric patients, halo sign (27%) and nodule (27%) were the second most common, followed by the ground-glass opacities with consolidation (23%). CONCLUSION: The CT findings of pediatric COVID-19 patients must be well-known as the course of the disease is usually less severe, and the radiological findings are uncertain when compared with adults.

State and trait anxiety levels of adolescents in a changing society, Kirikkale city, Turkey.

Adolescents face rapidly changing challenges. Psychosocial health problems during adolescence are relatively common in all cultures. This study was designed to evaluate the state and trait anxiety status and influencing sociodemographic and other factors, thought to pertain to youth, on anxiety among school children in Kirikkale. It was carried out at three public primary and two high schools representative of two different socioeconomic statuses. 430 Turkish school children (246 girls, 184 boys) were asked voluntarily to answer a set of questionnaires in their classrooms at the beginning of a training programme. Then the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children was administered. Mean age of the students was 14.16 ± 1.87 years. The mean total STAI-CS and STAI-CT scores were 40.24 ± 11.64, and 44.71 ± 9.64, respectively. There were no differences in STAI-CS and STAI-CT scores between boys and girls in both schools and in all age groups. Among girls, a positive body image had a significant effect on state anxiety scores. There was a positive correlation between age and anxiety scores (r = .17, F:12.176, p < .001). Students identifying their families SES as bad and/or moderate scored significantly higher in comparison to the other groups (p < .05). STAI-CS scores were higher for lower educational grade, higher body weight and sleep problems. In Kirikkale, a city faced with substantial changes in cultural and traditional norms, adolescents could be expected to be under stress and appear to be responding to stress with anxiety.

Computed tomography findings of COVID-19 in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the thorax Computed Tomography (CT) findings of pediatric patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and to discuss these findings in light of the results of adult patients from the literature. METHODS: The CT scans of pediatric patients (1-18 years old) with a diagnosis of COVID-19 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in our hospital between March 2020 and January 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The scans were interpreted regarding the distribution and localization features, and involvement patterns including ground-glass opacity, consolidation, halo/reversed halo sign, interlobular septal thickening, air bronchograms and bronchiectasis. The frequencies of these findings in pediatric cases in our study were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 95 patients with a mean age of 13±4.6 years were included in this study. Among them, 34 (36%) had lesions associated with COVID-19 on CT scans. Bilateral involvement was detected in 15 (44%) while unilateral in 19 (56%) patients. Eighteen (53%) patients had single lobe involvement. In 16 (47%) patients a solitary lesion was detected and in 18 (53%) multiple lesions were present. Ground-glass opacity appearance was observed in 28 (82%), consolidation in 9 (26%), and ground-glass opacity with consolidation in 8 (24%), halo sign in 9 (26%), reversed halo sign in 2 (6%), interlobular septal thickening (interstitial thickening) in 1 (3%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: As symptoms are relatively milder in children with COVID-19, CT findings are less extensive than in adults. It is essential to know the thorax CT findings that aid in the diagnosis and follow-up of the disease.

Difficulties in diagnosing sexual abuse in children with condyloma acuminata in Turkey.

Human papillomavirus is responsible for anogenital warts and could be regarded as an indicator of possible sexual abuse in children. A genital wart was detected during an investigation of anti-hepatitis C virus positivity in a four-year-old male patient. No pathological findings of another sexually transmitted disease were found except complete cleft palate and circumferential lesions in the perianal region. No family member was anti-hepatitis C virus positive, but the patient's uncle and his wife had genital condylomata. Although detailed physical examination uncovered no other findings indicative of sexual abuse, suspicion of abuse could not be eliminated. Therefore, we wanted to draw the attention of health professionals to the association of anogenital warts and sexual abuse.

Exposure to domestic violence and its effects on adolescents: A survey among Turkish students.

PROBLEM: Exposure to domestic violence is an important social problem. What remains unknown are the effects of domestic violence on Turkish adolescents. METHODS: This study was performed in Kirikkale, Turkey, to determine the state of verbal and/or physical domestic violence and its effects on adolescent behavior. A total of 1,807 students (44.4% female and 55.6% male) with a mean age of 15.1 ± 1.6 years at two high schools and five elementary schools were enrolled in the study and completed questionnaires that surveyed their exposure to domestic violence and its possible relationship to their disruptive behaviors. FINDINGS: Twenty-three percent of the students were exposed to violence. Among those, 75% had been exposed to violence within the family, 53% by their friends and 17% by their teachers. Of those exposed to domestic violence, 70% were exposed only verbally and 24% only physically. The economic level of the family, gender, marital status of the parents, and education level of the father were significant factors on violence exposure within the family. The results showed that the rates of being involved in a fight, getting injured at a fight, using a gun, bringing knives (mostly pocket knives) to school and using it were higher in children exposed to domestic violence than with the children who were not. CONCLUSIONS: To address the impact of domestic violence on teens and possibly decrease the adolescent's violent behavior and its consequences, policies aiming to reduce violence in the social environments of adolescents are needed.