Quality of Life and Perceived Social Support Before and After Sex Reassignment Surgery.

This study aimed to explore the pre- and postoperative differences in quality of life and perceived social support of Female-to-Male transsexual patients who underwent mastectomy and complete hysterectomy. Sixty-three Female-to-Male female individuals who underwent complete hysterectomy and mastectomy between November 2019 and November 2020 were included in this study. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form. The pre- and postoperative perceived social support mean scores of patients were 57.2 ± 9.0 and 74.9 ± 7.3, respectively. The pre- and postoperative quality of life mean scores of patients were 76.9 ± 8.3 and 107.8 ± 10.1, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the measurements (p < .05). In addition, the patients whose education level was primary school, whose income was less than their expenditure, whose father was a primary school graduate, whose family had a strict family opinion on sexuality, whose family had a traditional view, and who had a high body mass index were found to have higher postoperative social support perceptions and quality of life. The patients' postoperative quality of life and perceived social support improved after sex reassignment surgery.

Investigation of body image perception, self-esteem, and self-confidence in female-to-male transsexuals before and after sex reassignment surgery.

PURPOSE: The study was aimed at investigatting the changes in body image perception, self-esteem, and self-confidence of female-to-male transsexuals (FtM) after sex reassignment surgery (SRS). DESIGN AND METHODS: The quasi-experimental study was conducted with the female individuals who undergo FtM SRS between May 2018 and May 2019. The study data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Body Image Scale, Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, and Self-Confidence Scale. FINDINGS: It was observed that the patients' postoperative body image perception, self-esteem, and self-confidence improved. As their postoperative body image perception was higher than was their preoperative body image perception, their postoperative self-esteem and self-confidence levels were also higher. In addition, as their self-esteem increased, so did their self-confidence. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: It was found that the patients' postoperative body image perception, self-esteem, and self-confidence improved.

The relationship among aging in place, loneliness, and life satisfaction in the elderly in Turkey.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between aging in place, loneliness, and life satisfaction in older people. DESIGN AND METHODS: The descriptive and cross-sectional study has used the Aging in Place Scale (APS), the Life Satisfaction Scale (LSS), and the Loneliness Scale for the Elderly (LSFE). The study was examined the correlation among APS, LSS, and LSFE. FINDING: In our study, when we examined the subscales of the APS scale, we found that the perceived social support, physical competence, and achievable social support of the elderly were at a high level. These high levels led to increased life satisfaction and decreased loneliness. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results obtained in this study are particularly important for highlighting the importance of aging in place in reducing loneliness, which has a negative impact on the mental health of the elderly, and in shedding light on increasing life satisfaction in the later stages of life.

Investigation of the Relationship between Premenstrual Syndrome, and Childhood Trauma and Mental State in Adolescents with Premenstrual Syndrome.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed at investigating the relationship between premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and childhood trauma and mental state in adolescents with PMS. DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted with 702 students between September 2020 and November 2020. An Information Form, the PMS Scale, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Symptom Checklist (SCL)-90 were used as the data collection tools. RESULTS: The mean scores the participants with PMS obtained from the Symptom Checklist (SCL)-90 and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) were higher than were those obtained by the participants without PMS. The Pearson correlation analysis revealed a positive and weak statistically significant relationship between the PMS Scale, and SCL-90 and CTQ. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study demonstrated that adolescents with PMS suffered from childhood traumas and mental problems more.

Relationship of knowledge about and attitudes towards violence with recognition of violence against women among health staff in pre-hospital emergency medical services.

BACKGROUND: Domestic violence, specifically, violence against women, is prevalent in all segments of society regardless of social class, ethnicity, culture or country. In other words, domestic violence is a global concern. AIM: The study aims to investigate the relationship between the attitude and knowledge of the health staff in pre-hospital emergency medical services about violence against women and their recognition of such form of violence. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted on 1023 paramedics and emergency medicine technicians who work in the pre-hospital emergency health setting and are members of the Paramedic and Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine Association. The Attitudes towards Violence against Women Scale (ATVAWS) and Health Staff's Recognition of Signs of Violence against Women Scale (HPRSVAWS) were used for data collection. RESULTS: The mean scores for the ATVAWS and HPRSVAWS were 46.68 ± 6.92 and 20.31 ± 3.23, respectively. Of the participants, 48.5% had been subjected to violence, 43.93% had been subjected to violence perpetrated by their mothers, 41.53% had been exposed to physical violence and 4.2% remain exposed to domestic violence. Participants who had been exposed and those who remain exposed to domestic violence produced high scores in ATVAWS, which indicates an improvement in the traditional approach (less opposing view) to violence. High scores in the ATVAWS for (a) those who were exposed to violence in their workplaces, (b) who had never attended to actual or suspected cases of violence against women in their professional life, (c) who had attended to seven or more cases of violence against women, (d) who were less competent in physically examining actual or suspected cases of violence and (e) who had not been trained on violence against women, which indicates an increase in the traditional approach to violence. CONCLUSION: The study found that health staff in emergency health stations better recognised the signs of violence against women as their attitudes towards violence were less similar to the traditional approach. That is, they mostly held non-violent views. The characteristics, attitudes, perceptions and values of health professionals were considered important factors in addressing violence.

Investigation of body image, self-esteem, and quality of life in women with urinary incontinence.

AIM: The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of urinary incontinence on body image, self-esteem, and quality of life. METHODS: The study was conducted with 218 women with urinary incontinence. The study data were collected using the Socio-Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, Body Cathexis Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire. RESULTS: There was a weak, statistically significant, positive relationship found between the Body Cathexis Scale total average scores and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale total average scores of the women and a weak, statistically significant, negative relationship with the Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire total average scores. In addition, a weak, statistically significant, negative relationship was found between the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale total score averages and Incontinence Quality of Life Questionnaire total score averages. Significant effects were seen for body image score with pad usage; for self-esteem in relation to number of deliveries, duration, and frequency of urinary incontinence; and for incontinence quality of life and duration and frequency of urinary incontinence and pad usage. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that most of the women with urinary incontinence had negative body image and that more than half of them had moderate or low self-esteem and a moderate quality of life.

Sexual function and Dyadic adjustment in women with urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: This study was planned to evaluate the effects of urinary incontinence (UI) on sexual function (SF) and dyadic adjustment. METHODS: The study was conducted with 203 women with urinary incontinence. This study was conducted at Urogynecology Outpatient Clinic of our hospital between September 2017 and February 2018. Data were collected using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), and "Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). RESULTS: The incidence of sexual dysfunction (SD) was higher in the patients who were in advanced age, had a husband older than them, entered menopause, had lower levels of education, had the higher frequency of UI and changed pads more frequently, and these patients had lower DAS scores. CONCLUSION: It was determined that the majority of the participating women with UI experienced SD and that those with SD had lower DAS scores.

Knowledge and perception of female nursing students about human papillomavirus (HPV), cervical cancer, and attitudes toward HPV vaccination.

Objective: The researchers aimed to evaluate the knowledge and perceptions of first-year female nursing students about human papillomavirus (HPV), cervical cancer (CC), and HPV vaccination. Participants: The sample included 690 female nursing students from sampled universities between April and June 2015. Methods: Students were surveyed by using a pretested HPV and CC awareness questionnaire. Results: More than half of the students (65.1%) answered questions incorrectly with a mean HPV knowledge score of 6.085 ± 3.38. The majority of students (82.6%) did not hear HPV vaccine. Only, 2.8% of the students had been vaccinated. A statistically significant relationship was found between HPV knowledge score and hearing about HPV vaccine (U = 28280.500, p = .015), and believing HPV vaccine protectiveness (χ2 = 14.153, p = .001). Conclusions: This study highlights the lack of knowledge and low level of awareness about HPV, CC, and HPV vaccination among first-year nursing college students.

Opinions and Attitudes About Vasectomy of Married Couples Living in Turkey.

This study was conducted as a descriptive study, designed to determine the opinions and attitudes of married couples living in Turkey about vasectomy. The sample consisted of 350 women. Researchers used a questionnaire to collect data. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were used. The results showed that 14% of women and 43.0% of men were of the opinion that undergoing a vasectomy procedure was a sin. Chi-square analysis determined statistically significant differences between the male and female groups ( p < .05). More than 88.0% of the men were not willing to have vasectomy and 35.4% thought that vasectomy had a negative effect on marriage and sexual health. In addition, 58.9% thought that vasectomy had a negative effect on men's health. Women were more likely than men to see vasectomy as merely a cultural taboo instead of a sin. Sociocultural factors, such as ideas that contraception is the woman's responsibility, that sterilized men lose status in society, or that sterilized men lose authority in the family, as well as misconceptions about vasectomy such as concerns about sexual functioning, psychological effects, and effects on physical strength, were determined to be the main barriers for vasectomy use in Turkish culture. The study recommends determining strategies for overcoming sociocultural barriers by raising awareness and increasing the utilization of vasectomy. Couple-specific family planning programs can make an important contribution toward improving awareness of the benefits of vasectomy.

What Do Married Couples Think About Induced Abortion?

This study examined the opinions of married couples concerning induced abortion in a sample of 674 married couples obtaining services at a large obstetrical/gynecological outpatient service. Although approximately half of the sample were not using birth control, a similar percentage felt that curettage (selective abortion) should never be performed. A larger percentage felt that selective abortion is a sin and should be banned. Sex differences in attitudes were minimal. Couples may benefit from a birth control education program in a hospital that is designed to cover abortion in order to provide accurate information in a more professional environment.

Spontaneous vaginal delivery or caesarean section? What do Turkish women think?

The aim of this study was to describe women's feelings, attitudes and beliefs about different modes of childbirth. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the obstetrics clinics of Ege University and Dr Ekrem Hayri Ustundag Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital in Izmir, Turkey. Three-hundred forty-two women who had given birth via spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) or caesarean section (C/S) between June and December 2009 voluntarily agreed to participate. Fifty-seven per cent of participants were aged 20-24. Sixty per cent of the women (n = 205) had undergone C/S during their last delivery; among these women, the birth method of 90% (n = 185) was decided by their doctors, whereas the remaining 10% (n = 20) made the decision themselves or with their partners. Sixty-three per cent (n = 250) of women who underwent C/S said that if they gave birth again, they would prefer to deliver via SVD. Eighty-eight per cent (n = 300) of women wanted the legal right to choose their birth method. Although the rate of C/S was high, most women stated that if given the choice, they would prefer a SVD if they had another child.