Factors associated with breastfeeding initiation time in a baby-friendly hospital in Istanbul.

AIM: To investigate perinatal factors that affect breastfeeding of newborns delivered at a baby-friendly public hospital in Turkey, including the time of the first physical examination by a pediatrician, the first union with their mothers, and the first breastfeeding time after delivery. METHOD: The research was conducted from May 2nd through June 30th, 2011, in a baby-friendly public hospital in Istanbul. The sample consisted of 194 mothers and their full-term newborns. The data were collected via an observation form developed by the researchers. In analyzing the data, the average, standard deviation, minimum, maximum values, Chi-square, and percentages were used. RESULTS: The results revealed that the first physical examinations of the newborns were performed approximately 53.02±39min (range, 1-180 min) after birth. The newborns were given to their mothers approximately 69.75±41min (range, 3-190 min) after birth. Consequently, the first initiated breastfeeding took place approximately 78.58±44min following birth, and active sucking was initiated after approximately 85.90±54min. A large percentage of the newborns (64.4%) were not examined by a specialist pediatrician within half an hour of birth, and 74.7% were not united with their mothers within the same period. Also, the newborns who initiated breastfeeding within the first half hour had significantly earlier success with active sucking and required significantly less assistance to achieve successful breastfeeding. CONCLUSION: The newborns in our study met with their mothers late in the birth ward because examinations of the newborns were delayed. The newborns began initial sucking later, and this chain reaction negatively impacted the breastfeeding success of the newborns.

The effects of healthy lifestyle behaviors of mothers on obesity in preschool children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between healthy lifestyle behaviours of mothers and obesity in their pre-school children. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was performed in a district of Istanbul, Turkey, between April and June 2011, and comprised children aged 4-6 years attending public pre-schools and their mothers.. Data was obtained using a questionnaire and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours Scale-II. Number Cruncher Statistical System 2007 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 531 children in the study, 246(46.3%) were girls. Overall prevalence of overweight was 136(25.6%), obesity 77(14.5%)Overweight mothers were 126(23.7%), and obese mothers were 31(5.8%). The mothers of obese children obtained lower scores in the physical activity (p<0.05) and nutrition (p=0.001) subscales, and their total score was also lower (p<0.05).. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle behaviours of mothers, especially with respect to nutrition and physical activity, may influence obesity among preschool children. Strategies should be developed to improve the physical activity and eating habits of mothers.

Effectiveness of external cold and vibration for procedural pain relief during peripheral intravenous cannulation in pediatric patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of external cold and vibration stimulation via Buzzy on the pain and anxiety level of children during peripheral intravenous (IV) cannulation. This study was a prospective, randomized controlled trial. The sample consisted of 176 children ages 7 to 12 years who were randomly assigned to two groups: a control group that received no peripheral IV cannulation intervention and an experimental group that received external cold and vibration via Buzzy. The same nurse conducted the peripheral IV cannulation in all the children, and the same researcher applied the external cold and vibration to all the children. The external cold and the vibration were applied 1 minute before the peripheral IV cannulation procedure and continued until the end of the procedure. Preprocedural anxiety was assessed using the Children's Fear Scale, along with reports by the children, their parents, and an observer. Procedural anxiety was assessed with the Children's Fear Scale and the parents' and the observer's reports. Procedural pain was assessed using the Wong Baker Faces Scale and the visual analog scale self-reports of the children. Preprocedural anxiety did not differ significantly. Comparison of the two groups showed significantly lower pain and anxiety levels in the experimental group than in the control group during the peripheral IV cannulation. Buzzy can be considered to provide an effective combination of coldness and vibration. This method can be used during pediatric peripheral IV cannulation by pediatric nurses.

Efficacy of distraction methods on procedural pain and anxiety by applying distraction cards and kaleidoscope in children.

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate two different distraction methods, distraction cards and kaleidoscope, on pain and anxiety relief of children during phlebotomy. METHODS: This study is a prospective, randomized and controlled trial. The sample consisted of 7-11 year-old children who required blood tests. Children were randomized into three groups: the distraction cards group, the kaleidoscope group, and the control group. Data were obtained by interviewing the children with their parents and the observer before and after the procedure. The pain levels of the children were assessed by the parent and observer reports as well as self report using the Wong Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. The anxiety levels of children were assessed by parent and observer reports using Children Fear Scale. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-eight children (mean age, 8.8 ± 1.5 years) were included. The pain levels of children showed significant differences among the groups (p = .005). Both the distraction card group (2.41 ± 2.49) and the kaleidoscope group (3.10 ± 2.16) had lower pain levels than the control group did (4.44 ± 3.64). The distraction card group had the lowest pain levels (2.41 ± 2.49) among all groups. The procedural anxiety levels of children were significantly different among the groups (p = <.001). Both the distraction card group (1.10 ± 1.20) and the kaleidoscope group (1.61 ± 1.12) had lower anxiety levels than the control group did (2.41 ± 1.30). The distraction card group had the lowest anxiety levels (p = <.001). CONCLUSION: The distraction cards were the most effective method for pain and anxiety relief of children during phlebotomy. Also the distraction method with kaleidoscope was an effective method for pain and anxiety relief during phlebotomy in children.

Emotional reactions of mothers who have babies who are diagnosed with Down syndrome.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore a deeper insight into experiences of Turkish mothers living with/diagnosed with Down syndrome (DS) baby. METHODS: Individual and audiotaped interviews were carried out with 11 women after amniocentesis in Karaman city of Turkey between August 2012 and February 2013. Transcribed semistructured interviews were qualitatively and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach to code and categorize emerging themes. RESULTS: Three principal themes emerged from the study: mothers' emotional reaction after diagnosed DS, mother and healthcare professional interactions, and mother's coping with diagnosed DS. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the experiences of women living with/diagnosed with DS baby enables nurses to devise appropriate strategies to provide better support at every stage and thus helping them to cope with daily life.

Effects of body mass index on adolescents' social comparisons and body cathexis in Istanbul.

This descriptive-comparative study was carried out to examine the relationship between the distribution of body mass index (BMI) values and scores on the Social Comparison Scale (SCS) and the Body Cathexis Scale (BCS). The study was carried out among 373 randomly selected students who were currently studying at a government private high school (N = 208) or a public high school (N = 165) located in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey. The students' BMI percentile ranges were compared with scores on the BCS and SCS. Data from the study were evaluated statistically by percentages, means, t-tests, tests of analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the Kruskall-Wallis test. The mean age (in years) of the participating adolescents was 16.1 +/- 0.8. In all, 61% of the participating students were male (N = 227), 45% were attending 10th grade (N = 169), and 56% (N = 208) were attending a government private high school. The great majority (92.5%) of the adolescents had a BMI between the 5th and 95th percentiles (5th to < 85th is normal; 85th to < 95th is overweight or at risk for obesity). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.93 for the BCS and 0.83 for the SCS. Judging from this study, social comparison and satisfaction with one's body are not related to BMI among Turkish adolescents. Also according to this study, female Turkish adolescents are more satisfied with their body image than are their male counterparts.

Health beliefs and breast cancer screening behaviors among female health workers in Turkey.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate health beliefs and breast cancer screening behaviors in female health workers in Turkey. This descriptive study was conducted in various health centers located in Erzurum, Turkey. The sample consisted of 268 female health workers (physicians, n=51; nurses, n=169; and midwives, n=48). Data were collected by using a self-administered questionnaire and the Turkish version of Champion's Health Belief Model Scales (CHBMS). The mean age of participants was 31.31 (S.D.=6.89), and 49.9% of them were married. It was found that only 21.9% of the female health workers performed breast self-examination (BSE) regularly, and 12.5% of them had a mammogram. Physicians' health motivation and BSE self-efficacy perceptions were higher than the nurses and midwives. Susceptibility, health motivation to BSE, BSE benefits, BSE self-efficacy perceptions of female health workers who performed BSE were significantly higher than those who did not, and a result indicating that positive health beliefs are effective in stimulating performance of BSE of female health workers. Among the variables related with mammography, only susceptibility perceptions of female health workers who had a mammogram was significantly higher than those who had not had a mammogram.