Improvement of Clinical Findings, Meibography and Tear Film Parameters in Pediatric Ocular Rosacea Patients After a Standard Treatment Protocol.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to illustrate the changes in ocular findings, meibography, and tear break-up time (TBUT) values in pediatric patients with ocular rosacea following a standardized treatment. METHODS: The study included consecutive patients diagnosed with ocular rosacea, referred to a tertiary hospital between 2021 and 2023. Each patient underwent biomicroscopic examinations, non-invasive TBUT assessments, corneal fluorescein staining (evaluated using the Oxford scoring system), and meibography. The standard treatment protocol involved warm compresses, eyelid hygiene, preservative-free sodium hyaluronate eye drops (administered four times daily), topical azithromycin 1.5% (twice daily for 3 days), topical steroids (loteprednol 0.5%, four times daily for 2 weeks), and either doxycycline 100 mg/day for 14 days or oral suspension of azithromycin 10 mg/kg for 3 days followed by an additional three-day course of treatment administered 10 days later (for patients above and below 14 years of age, respectively). RESULTS: The study included 18 patients, with 10 (55.5%) being female and 8 (44.4%) being male, with a mean age of 9.7 ± 4.5 years (range: 3-18). Four patients displayed cutaneous involvement. The treatments resulted in significant improvements in the Oxford scores, reduction in corneal neovascularization, and increased TBUT (p < 0.001, p = 0.016, p < 0.001, respectively). Meibomian gland loss area also significantly improved post-treatment (27.4 ± 6.7% vs 39.2 ± 13.4%, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that pediatric ocular rosacea patients may exhibit improved meibomian gland function, regression of corneal neovascularization, and enhanced tear film parameters following a standardized treatment protocol that includes both topical and systemic approaches.

Sutureless Amniotic Membrane Transplantation Using Pediatric Nasogastric Tube for Patients With Acute Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of the results of sutureless amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) using a pediatric nasogastric tube (NGT) for patients with acute Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) was aimed. METHODS: Twenty-six eyes of 13 patients with SJS/TEN with ocular involvement at a single tertiary care hospital between May 2020 and January 2022 were included in the study. An amniotic membrane was implanted to the ocular surface and conjunctival fornix using a modified symblepharon ring (MR) created by inserting NGT end-to-end. Patients were followed for at least 6 months. The mean duration of the surgery was recorded. The presence of corneal epithelial defect and vascularization, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) grade, conjunctival scarring, eyelid margin keratinization, symblepharon, and trichiasis were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 38.4±17.6 years. Amniotic membrane transplantation was performed only once for eight patients and twice for five patients. The mean duration of the surgery was 3.2±0.4 min. The modified symblepharon ring was removed 28 days after its application. At the first examination, 20 eyes (76.9%) had a corneal epithelial defect and 6 (23.1%) had early symblepharon. At the postoperative 6 months, although seven eyes (26.9%) had conjunctival scarring and 5 (19.2%) had eyelid margin keratinization, all patients were without any corneal defect, corneal vascularization, or symblepharon. Only 11 eyes (42.3%) showed MGD, and 1 eye (3.8%) showed trichiasis. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that sutureless AMT using pediatric NGT could be a potentially fast and inexpensive treatment option for the treatment of SJS/TEN with ocular involvement at the bedside without the need for general anesthesia.

Evaluation of macular vascular density and foveal avascular zone changes by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) after intravitreal dexamethasone implant in diabetic macular edema resistant to Anti-VEGF treatment.

PURPOSE: Analysis of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) width and vascular density (VD) changes before and after intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) treatment in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients resistant to anti-VEGF treatment. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients who were regularly treated with at least 5 doses of intravitreal Anti-VEGF (bevacizumab, ranibizumab or aflibercept) for DME and whose DME continued were considered resistant to Anti-VEGF and were treated with IDI for the first time. Thirty-four eyes of 34 patients were included in the study. FAZ and VD values of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) scans at 0, 1 and 3 months were examined. RESULTS: In OCT-A measurements, the pre-IDI superficial plexus FAZ (SFAZ) area (0.350 ± 0.120 mm2) was decreased at 1 (0.292 ± 0.132 mm2, p < 0.001) and at 3 months (0.311 ± 0.153 mm2, p = 0.017). Pre-IDI deep plexus FAZ (DFAZ) area (0.651 ± 0.313 mm2) was decreased at 1-month post-IDI (0.481 ± 0.247 mm2, p < 0.001) while no significant change was observed at 3 months (0.575 ± 0.259 mm2, p = 0.197). There was no significant change in the mean post-IDI total VD rate in both superficial (pre 39.2% ± 2.4; 1st month 39.2% ± 2.6%; 3rd month 39.5% ± 3.4%) and deep retinal plexus (pre 43.3% ± 2.6%; 1st month 43.5 ± 2.8%; 3rd month 43.6% ± 4.6%) (p = 0.408 and p = 0.607, respectively). CONCLUSION: The study showed that IDI caused a significant decrease in the FAZ area without any change in VD in patients with DME resistant to the anti-VEGF agents. IDI might be related to a decrease in the macular ischemia secondary to diabetic retinopathy.

An examination of the anxiety states of Turkish health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anxiety experienced by health care workers in different branches during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The cross-sectional study included 373 health care workers. Data were collected using an online questionnaire consisting of the Sociodemographic Form (32 items related to the working conditions of health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic) and the Penn State Concern Questionnaire. RESULTS: The anxiety levels of the female workers were significantly higher (p<0.001). The total Penn State Concern Questionnaire points were determined to be statistically significantly higher in those who need to protect the family during the pandemic (p=0.03), who were dissatisfied with their profession (p<0.001), and those whose workload had increased during the pandemic (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The study results demonstrated that the levels of anxiety of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic could be increased by young age, low level of experience, female gender, increased workload, and dissatisfaction with the profession.

Central Corneal Thickness Measurements with Different Imaging Devices: Ultrasound Pachymetry, Noncontact Specular Microscopy, and Tono-Pachymetry.

Objectives: Investigation of the compatibility between central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements in healthy eyes by comparing standard ultrasound pachymetry (USP) with noncontact tono-pachymetry (NCT) and specular microscopy (SM) devices was aimed. Methods: Forty-five eyes of 45 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 60 years were included in this study. CCT of all cases was evaluated with USP, NCT, and SM devices. The same examiner performed all examinations. Bland-Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the agreement between instruments. Results: The mean age of the patients was 31±10.2 years. Fifteen (33.3%) cases were male and 30 (66.7%) were female. The mean CCT measured using NCT (559.3±39 µm) was significantly higher than those measured using SM (534.8±41 µm) and USP (542.6±43 µm, p<0.001). Bland-Altman analysis showed that the difference between the first, second, and third measurements was evenly dispersed around the mean, with no clear trend toward over- or underestimation by either NCT, USP, or SM. The 95% limits of agreements were 0.30-48.72 µm for NCT, -12.63-46.04 µm for the USP, and -24.41-8.80 µm for the SM. Correlation analysis between the three devices showed a very strong positive correlation (p<0.001). Conclusion: Significant differences were observed between CCT measurements in healthy individuals used in ophthalmology practice and performed with different devices. This situation should draw attention to the fact that in diseases such as glaucoma and endothelial insufficiency, corneal thickness monitoring should be done with the same device and the devices should not be used interchangeably.

An examınatıon of the anxıety states of Turkısh health care workers durıng the COVID-19 pandemıc: a cross-sectıonal study

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anxiety experienced by health care workers in different branches during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The cross-sectional study included 373 health care workers. Data were collected using an online questionnaire consisting of the Sociodemographic Form (32 items related to the working conditions of health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic) and the Penn State Concern Questionnaire. RESULTS: The anxiety levels of the female workers were significantly higher (p<0.001). The total Penn State Concern Questionnaire points were determined to be statistically significantly higher in those who need to protect the family during the pandemic (p=0.03), who were dissatisfied with their profession (p<0.001), and those whose workload had increased during the pandemic (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The study results demonstrated that the levels of anxiety of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic could be increased by young age, low level of experience, female gender, increased workload, and dissatisfaction with the profession.

[Seroprevalence of pertussis toxin antibody in Manisa province of Turkey, after six years implementation of acellular pertussis vaccine]. / Hücre içermeyen bogmaca asi uygulamasinin altinci yilinda Türkiye'nin Manisa ilindeki pertussis toksin antikoru seroprevalansi.

Vaccination is the most effective way of preventing pertussis disease. Turkey commenced a routine infant immunization program using whole cell (wP) pertussis vaccine in 1968. Immunization accelerated in 1985 after participation of Turkey in the Expanded Programme on Immunization initiated by the World Health Organization. Acellular vaccine (aP) replaced wP in 2008 and a booster was added to age 6 in 2010. The immunization programme was successful in reducing the morbidity rate from 20.58 per 100.000 in 1970 to the lowest level of 0.01 per 100.000 in 2009. However, reduction of vaccine-induced protection and reduced natural boosting of circulating Bordetella pertussis are likely to increase the susceptibility of the population. As a result, morbidity rate increased from 0.09 per 100.000 to 0.41 per 100.000 in 2015 compared to the previous year. The aim of this epidemiological study was to determine the seroprevalence of pertussis toxin (PT) antibodies among healthy people and its association with various social determinants in Manisa province in Turkey, 6 years after aP replaced wP vaccine. The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study with a sample of 1250 people that was randomly selected from the over 2 years of age population in Manisa in 2014. Seroprevalence of PT antibody was determined as the dependent variable of the study. Independent variables of the study were; gender, age, migration in the last 5 years, occupational class, perceived income, house ownership, number of people per room, annually per capita equivalent income. The presence of anti-PT IgG was detected by quantitatively using a commercially available ELISA kit. The antibody levels were categorized into groups according to pertussis infection or vaccination immune response status. The groups consisted of undetectable (< 5 IU/ml), mid-range (5-< 62.5 IU/ml: more than one year previously), high (62.5-< 125: with in 12 months) and very high (≥ 125 IU/ml: with in 6 months) antibody levels. The test results with ≥ 5 IU/ml were defined as seropositive. Level > 100 IU/ml detected among adolescent and adult participants indicated acute or recently recovered pertussis infection. Chi-square test was used to evaluate association between social determinants and pertussis seropositivity. The seroprevalence of the whole study population was 58.1% (95% CI 55.32-60.79) and no association was found with any of the social determinants. The highest seroprevalence was found among 2-9 age group (68.3%) followed by 70-79 age group (63.5%). The lowest seroprevalence was found among 20-29 age group (50.9%) followed by 10-19 age group (51.6%). When seropositivity levels according to ages were compared, it was found that there was a decrease one year after the first vaccination at 2nd, 4th and 6th months and the booster at the 6th year, with a lowest rate (19%) in 11 year-old. The highest seropositivity (77.3%) with a level of >100 IU/ml (13.6%) were detected at age 15 among all adolescent and adult participants. Adding an adolescent booster to immunization schedule and recommendation of vaccine to elderly people should be considered to reduce the incidence of pertussis disease in Turkey.

Seroprevalence and social determinants of varicella in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: In Turkey, varicella vaccine was introduced into routine childhood immunization in 2013, with a single dose administered to children aged 12 months. However, there is limited information on the morbidity (incidence and seroprevalence), mortality and burden of disease of varicella in the overall Turkish population. AIM: To determine varicella seroprevalence and its social determinants in Manisa Province, Turkey in children aged > 2 years before single-dose varicella vaccination was introduced in 2013. METHODS: The presence of anti varicella-zoster virus IgG antibodies was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples collected from 1250 participants. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence was 92.8% and the seroprevalence was > 90% among all age groups except 2-9 years (55.7%). Seroprevalence was significantly associated with family size, annual per capita equivalent income, number of people per room and education level. After adjusting by age, only education level remained significantly associated with seroprevalence, reflecting the early age effect. CONCLUSION: High seroprevalance depends on natural exposure to the infectious agent itself and is not associated with social determinants. High vaccine coverage should be maintained for effective varicella control and switching to a 2-dose schedule may also be considered to reduce the number and size of outbreaks in the Turkish population.

The use of pre-test and post-test probability values as criteria before selecting patients to undergo coronary angiography in patients who have ischemic findings on myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.

OBJECTIVE: Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) is a diagnostic test which is frequently used in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CHD). MPS is generally interpreted as ischemia present or absent; however, it has a power in predicting the disease, similar to other diagnostic tests. In this study, we aimed to assist in directing the high-risk patients to undergo coronary angiography (CA) primarily by evaluating patients without prior CHD history with pre-test and post-test probabilities. METHODS: The study was designed as a retrospective study. Between January 2008 and July 2011, 139 patients with positive MPS results and followed by CA recently (<6 months) were evaluated from patient files. Patients' pre-test probabilities based on the Diamond and Forrester method and the likelihood ratios that were obtained from the literature were used to calculate the patients' post exercise and post-MPS probabilities. Patients were evaluated in risk groups as low, intermediate, and high, and an ROC curve analysis was performed for the post-MPS probabilities. RESULTS: Coronary artery stenosis (CAS) was determined in 59 patients (42.4%). A significant difference was determined between the risk groups according to CAS, both for the pre-test and post-test probabilities (p<0.001, p=0.024). The ROC analysis provided a cut-off value of 80.4% for post- MPS probability in predicting CAS with 67.9% sensitivity and 77.8% specificity. CONCLUSION: When the post-MPS probability is ≥80% in patients who have reversible perfusion defects on MPS, we suggest interpreting the MPS as "high probability positive" to improve the selection of true-positive patients to undergo CA, and these patients should be primarily recommended CA.

Determinants of inpatient costs of angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and heart failure in a university hospital setting in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the correlates of in-hospital costs for angina pectoris (AP), myocardial infarction (MI), and heart failure (HF) in a university hospital setting. METHODS: This is a retrospective cost-of-illness study using data from the records of patients who were admitted with AP, MI, or HF to Dokuz Eylül University Hospital during 2008. Direct medical costs were calculated from the Social Security Institute perspective using a bottom-up approach. Socio-demographic and clinical information was abstracted from patient files. Costs were presented in Turkish lira (TL). A generalized linear model was used in the multivariate analysis. RESULTS: We included 337 in-patients in total in the study. AP was present in 26.4% (n=89), MI was present in 55.8% (n=188), and HF was present in 17.8% (n=60) of patients. MI was the most costly disease (2760 TL), followed by HF (2350 TL) and AP (1881 TL). The largest proportion of the total cost was formed by medical interventions (27.5%), followed by surgery (22.2%). Presence of DM, smoking, diagnosis of MI, HF, need for intensive care, and resulting in death were strong predictors of treatment costs. CONCLUSION: Both preadmission characteristics of patients (diabetes mellitus, smoking, use of anti-aggregant before admission) and in-patient characteristics (diagnosis, coronary artery bypass grafting, intensive care need, death) predicted the hospital cost of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) independently. Our results may be used as input for health-economic models and economic evaluations to support the decision-making of reimbursement and the cost-effectiveness of public health interventions in healthcare.

[Falls from height in childhood in Diyarbakir province: a questionnaire study combined with clinical data]. / Diyarbakir'da çocukluk çaginda damdan düsmeler: Klinik çalisma ile desteklenmis bir anket çalismasi.

BACKGROUND: In Diyarbakir, the rate of falls from height increases during summer months since people sleep on the unprotected balconies and roofs of their houses. We aimed to determine the frequency of falls from height and the related risk factors. METHODS: We used questionnaire method and clinical data in this study. The questionnaire was administered in 1445 residences. Clinical data were obtained from files of patients hospitalized due to trauma in the Neurosurgery Clinic of Dicle University over the last six years. RESULTS: In this questionnaire study, it was determined that 246 people had fallen, their average age was 15.4 years, 98% of them had fallen accidentally (mostly from 3.6 m height in summer months), mortality was 6.9%, and the prevalence of falls from height over the previous six years was 472/100,000. Of 464 patients who were hospitalized during the last six years, 326 were cases of fall from height and 59% of these patients were falls from a roof. The average age of these patients was 8.9 years, and average height of the fall was 4.2 m. CONCLUSION: Falls from height, particularly from roofs in Diyarbakir, remain a serious problem in terms of public health.

Post abortion family planning counseling as a tool to increase contraception use.

BACKGROUND: To describe the impact of the post-abortion family planning counseling in bringing about the contraceptive usage in women who had induced abortion in a family planning clinic. METHOD: The Diyarbakir Office of Turkish Family Planning Association (DTFPA) is a nonprofit and nongovernmental organization which runs a family planning clinic to serve the lower socio-economic populations, in Diyarbakir-Turkey. Post abortion counseling is introduced by using proper communication skills and with using appropriate methods to women. In this study we introduced contraceptive usage of women who had induced abortion one year ago and followed by DTFPA's clinic. RESULTS: 55.3% of our clients were not using contraceptive methods before abortion. At the end of the one year, 75.9% of our followed-up clients revealed that they were using one of the modern contraceptive methods. There was no woman with IUD before induced abortion. At the end of one year 124 (52.3%) women had IUD. "A modern method was introduced immediately after abortion" was the most important factor increasing modern method usage. CONCLUSION: Our results advocate that post-abortion counseling may be an effective tool to increase the usage of contraceptives. Improved and more qualified post-abortion family planning counseling should be an integral part of abortion services.

Oxidative stress in smokers and non-smokers.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of some diseases such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and atheroscleorosis. Smoking may enhance oxidative stress not only through the production of reactive oxygen radicals in smoke but also through weakening of the antioxidant defense systems. In this study, we investigated the effects of smoking on lipid peroxidation and paraoxonase activity in a healthy population. The study consisted of (n = 30) smokers and (n = 30) nonsmokers. The age of the population which is studied was 44.74 +/- 10.59 yr. The levels of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and paraoxonase (PON1) activities were measured by the modified Buege method and the Eckerson method, respectively. Student's t-test was used to analyze the data. The serum MDA levels were significantly higher (p < .05) and serum PON1 activities were significantly lower (p < .001) in smokers than in nonsmokers. Thus, increased levels of serum MDA and decreased PON1 activities may be important in determining the oxidant/antioxidant imbalance in smokers.

The distribution of the intestinal parasitic diseases in the Southeast Anatolian (GAP=SEAP) region of Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: The physical alterations put in place by the Southeastern Anatolia Project will undoubtedly provide a remarkable economical growth and a social development in the area. In addition, the influence that formation of dam ponds, enlargement of irrigation areas, change of product and the way of cultivation, urbanization and industrialization will have an impact on the environment. To minimize the adverse effects of this process on human beings, a Community Health Project was completed by the teams participated by Ege, Dicle, Gaziantep and Harran Universities under the Directorate of Turkish Parasitology Association and by Southeastern Anatolia Project Regional Development Administration between 2001 and 2003. RESULTS: To identify individuals with parasite, feces samples were taken from a total of 4,470 individuals. Parasites were found in feces of 41.8% of men, 44.3% of women and 32.2% of children, 0-59 months old, who were included in the research and gave feces samples for parasites tests. These prevalence values indicate how widespread parasitic diseases are in the region. The high prevalence of parasitic diseases in this area is one of the causes of malnutrition in 40% of children. Parasites were detected in 44.2% of feces samples taken from rural areas and in 39.5% taken from urban areas. When the distribution of parasites detected in feces samples was studied, the most common parasites were Giardia intestinalis (18.1%), Entamoeba coli (11.8%), Ascaris lumbricoides (4.8%), Trichuris trichiura (4.5%) and Hymenolepis nana (3.9%). Distribution of parasites according to cities varied widely. The most frequently seen parasites were T. trichiura in Gaziantep; G. intestinalis in Batman, Mardin, Diyarbakir, Sirnak and Sanliurfa; and E. coli in Siirt, Kilis and Adiyaman. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first investigation of intestinal parasite prevalence in a large region, specifically, in this GAP region and in Turkey, in general. There is no direct relationship between irrigating the cultivation areas and diffusion of parasitic diseases because the existence of intestinal parasites mentioned above is not related to the range of irrigation of cultivation areas, but is related to factors already discussed.

Patterns of active and passive smoking, and associated factors, in the South-east Anatolian Project (SEAP) region in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is an important health threat in Turkey. This study aimed to determine the frequency of and main factors associated with smoking in persons of 15 years and over, and the frequency of passive smoking in homes in the South-east Anatolian Project (SEAP) Region in Turkey. METHODS: A cross sectional design was employed. The sample was chosen by the State Institute of Statistics using a stratified cluster probability sampling method. 1126 houses representing the SEAP Region were visited. Questionnaires about tobacco smoking and related factors were applied to 2166 women and 1906 men (of 15 years old and above) in their homes. Face-to-face interview methods were employed. Participants were classified as current, ex, and non-smokers. The presence of a regular daily smoker in a house was used as an indication of passive smoking. The chi-square and logistic regression analysis methods were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of smoking, in those of 15 years and over, was 11.8% in women and 49.7% in men. The prevalence of current smokers was higher in urban (34.5%) than in rural (22.8%) regions. The mean of total cigarette consumption was 6.5 packs/year in women and 17.9 packs/year in men. There was at least one current smoker in 70.1% of the houses. CONCLUSION: Smoking is a serious problem in the South-eastern Anatolian Region. Male gender, middle age, a high level of education and urban residency were most strongly associated with smoking.

Trace elements and oxidative stress in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVES: Many trace elements have activator or inhibitor roles in the antioxidative defense systems in diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). In this study, we aimed to show the levels of trace elements with action in oxidative stress, and to show the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of oxidative stress, and the activity of paraoxonase (PON1) as an antioxidant in COPD and smokers. METHODS: We included 25 patients with COPD, and 20 healthy non-smokers in the study. We selected them from the hospitalized patients at the Hospital of Dicle University, Turkey, between April 2003 and January 2004. The clinical condition of the patients was stable. RESULTS: The serum copper (Cu) and MDA concentrations in COPD patients were higher than the control group. There were no differences in zinc (Zn) concentration and Cu/Zn ratio between COPD patients and the control group. We found lower serum PON1 activities in COPD patients compared with the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in Zn concentration and Cu/Zn ratio between smokers and non-smokers in COPD. There were statistically significant differences in Cu, MDA concentrations and serum PON1 activities between smokers and non-smokers in COPD. CONCLUSION: We could suggest that trace elements such as Cu, oxidants and antioxidants such as MDA and PON1 have roles in oxidative stress, and in COPD.

An epidemic caused by measles virus type D6 in Turkey.

In this study, the extent of measles outbreak was investigated in the Idil and Cizre counties of Sirnak Province. New cases determined in patients who applied to primary care clinics and those detected during home visits were evaluated. In 2001, a total of 2,143 cases reported in Sirnak Province were signified as a probable outbreak. Three hundred and thirty-three patients in Cizre and 219 patients in Idil applied to the primary care clinics. Of the cases, in Cizre 8.4% (n=28) and in Idil 6.4% (n=14) were infants aged nine months and younger who had not yet been vaccinated. Totally, 17 new cases (8 in Cizre and 9 in Idil) in the exanthema phase were determined during home visits and these were considered as outbreak cases. Virus isolation was achieved in 12 cases. All isolates were sent to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for genotyping and classified as D6 group. In conclusion, measles epidemics are still seen in our country. Therefore, measles outbreaks necessitate intensive intervention by physicians who are employed in primary health care services.

Breastfeeding patterns, beliefs and attitudes among Kurdish mothers in Diyarbakir, Turkey.

AIM: The aim was to rapidly assess existing breastfeeding patterns, beliefs and attitudes in the province of Diyarbakir, a socio-economically disadvantaged region of Turkey. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey exploring demographic and breastfeeding patterns was carried out among 921 mothers with children 6-18 mo of age. Results were quantitatively analysed. Focus group interviews dealing with beliefs and attitudes were separately carried out among 107 mothers and analysed by qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Nearly all mothers had breastfed their infants at some time, but exclusive breastfeeding was rare. About 62.2% of the mothers had waited for at least 24 h before initiating breastfeeding. Almost half of the infants received sweetened water as a first feeding. There was agreement on the superiority of breastfeeding and awareness of its contraceptive effect. Early introduction of sugared water, water and supplementary feeds was considered desirable. Working in the fields and pregnancy were considered situations counteracting breastfeeding. CONCLUSION: The attitude to breastfeeding was highly positive, but more information is needed to encourage the use of colostrum, discourage early supplementation and promote exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 mo of life.

Genetic characterization of measles viruses isolated in Turkey during 2000 and 2001.

BACKGROUND: Molecular epidemiologic studies have made significant contributions to measles surveillance activities by helping to identify source and transmission pathways of the virus. This report describes the genetic characterization of wild-type measles viruses isolated in Turkey in 2000 and 2001. RESULTS: Wild-type measles viruses were isolated from 24 cases from five provinces in Turkey during 2001. The viruses were analyzed using the standard genotyping protocols. All isolates were classified as genotype D6, the same genotype that was identified in Turkey in previous outbreaks during 1998. CONCLUSION: Turkey has begun implementation of a national program to eliminate measles by 2010. Therefore, this baseline genotype data will provide a means to monitor the success of the elimination program.

Attitudes towards family planning in the Southeast Anatolian Project (SEAP) region of Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine attitudes towards family size and last pregnancies in order to improve family planning services in the Southeast Anatolian Project (SEAP) region. METHODS: A questionnaire survey in the nine SEAP regional provinces was carried out under the auspices of the 'SEAP Public Health Project' from 2001 to 2002. The participants comprised 1756 women and 661 men from 1126 households. RESULTS: For men and women aged 15 years and over the median ideal number of children was three. The rate of unintended last pregnancies (43.1%) in the present study was very high compared to the national average of 18.8%. Some 30.1% of the last pregnancies were unwanted by either partner. CONCLUSIONS: The number of pregnancies and children in this region is approximately twice as high as the ideal number. Families in the region are having more children than they want. Basic education must be given to women, particularly non-Turkish speakers, to improve their knowledge and use of family planning. Family planning education for men in rural areas also needs special attention.