The effects of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model-based educational program on genital hygiene behaviors: A randomized controlled trial.

In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model-based educational program on women's genital hygiene behaviors. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 120 women diagnosed with genital infections and assigned to the experimental (n = 60) and control (n = 60) groups. Educational intervention was designed based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model and implemented in the experimental group. Data were collected three times before (pretest), right after (posttest) and 1 month after the intervention using the personal information form, Data Form for Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs about Genital Hygiene and Genital Hygiene Behaviors Inventory (GHBI). After the educational intervention, the participants' hygiene-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors improved in the experimental group at the posttest and follow-up test from the baseline. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups. We concluded that PRECEDE-PROCEED model-based educational program positively affected the women's genital hygiene-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.

Using Levine's conservation model in postpartum care: a randomized controlled trial.

This randomized controlled trial was conducted with 117 puerperae who were assigned into 2 groups: the intervention group and the control group. While the participants in the intervention group participated in a full program based on the module trainings, the participants in the control group received routine care. There was a significant difference between the women in the intervention and control groups in terms of the variables such as fatigue, sleep, and quality of life. The women in the intervention group experienced less fatigue, and their quality of sleep and quality of life improved considerably. Levine's conservation model enables the provision of the integrative care to women in their postpartum period.

Incidence of pregnancy-related discomforts and management approaches to relieve them among pregnant women.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of pregnancy-related physical symptoms in healthy pregnant women and their management strategies. BACKGROUND: In normal progression of pregnancy, many symptoms were experienced. Pregnancy-related physical symptoms may have a negative effect on pregnant women's quality of life. However, pregnant women avoid taking medications from the fear that the medication they use may have a harmful effect on the foetus. Therefore, they practise nonpharmacological methods to help them manage their pregnancy-related physical symptoms. DESIGN: This study used a comparative and descriptive design. METHODS: The study population comprised of pregnant women who were visiting for routine check-up and/or examination in the obstetrics gynaecology outpatient clinics of three hospitals in Erzurum, Turkey. The data were collected via a questionnaire including socio-demographic items and questions to identify the pregnancy-related physical symptoms that they experienced and their management strategies. RESULTS: The top three most reported complaints were nausea-vomiting (87·8%), fatigue (77·9%) and breast pain-tenderness (76·2%) during the first trimester, whereas polyuria (79·9%, 88·4%), fatigue (75·6%, 88·4%) and heart burn (71·3%, 81·8%) during the second and third trimesters. Depending on the symptoms, the pregnant women either did nothing or took correct, incorrect or empirical actions to manage their problems. Data revealed that the major source of knowledge was based on their previous experience and that of close relatives. As their education level increased, the percentage of women taking scientifically proven action to correct the problem increased. CONCLUSIONS: Various physical symptoms were experienced by women in each trimester of pregnancy. The majority of the women did not do anything to alleviate their physical symptoms. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Midwives and nurses should question the strategies used by pregnant women. In this way, the inappropriate and incorrect practices can be determined, and education on the appropriate practices can be provided.

The prevention and reduction of postpartum complications: Orem's model.

This study was conducted using Orem's self-care model to investigate its impact on the reduction and prevention of women's postpartum complications. One group of 63 women was included in the study in which a pretest and posttest quasi-experimental method was used. For analysis of the data, descriptive statistics, dependent groups t test, and McNemar test were applied, 24 different nursing diagnoses were made. Self-care agency pretest mean score was 97.13 ± 17.20, posttest mean score was 114.44 ± 13.72, and the difference was statistically significant (p < .001). The study found that the care given to women in the postpartum period using Orem's self-care model prevented postpartum complications and increased the self-care agency of postpartum women.

Dysmenorrhea prevalence among adolescents in eastern Turkey: its effects on school performance and relationships with family and friends.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of menstrual pain duration and severity on education performance and attitudes towards family and friends among Turkish female adolescents. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: 26 high schools located in Erzurum, Northeastern Turkey. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1951 single female adolescents, aged 13 to 18 years, were selected for this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The effect of dysmenorrhea on female adolescents' relationships with families and friends and school performance. RESULTS: The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was high among female adolescents (68.1-72.2%). Pain mostly lasted for one to three days (56.6%), followed by less than 1 day (23.5%) and more than 4 days (14.9%), respectively. Several symptoms were observed including sweating, appetite loss, headache, distraction, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, diarrhoea, and fainting. School performance was negatively affected by dysmenorrhea. The main visible adverse effects were an inability to focus on the courses, absenteeism from school, and missing exams. One third of the subjects had problems with their families, and they reflected their problems onto family members. This situation also negatively affected their relationships with friends. Statistically significant correlations were observed between pain duration and severity, and school performance (P < 0.0001), relationships with their families (P < 0.001) and friends (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this research suggested that dysmenorrhea prevalence was high among female adolescents. The duration and intensity of pain adversely affected school and social attitudes towards their families and friends.

Evaluation of menstrual pain management approaches by Northeastern Anatolian adolescents.

We evaluated approaches taken by Northeastern Turkish adolescents to cope with menstrual pain. The questionnaire was prepared according to the facial pain rating scale and applied to 1,408 female high school students (16.05 +/- 1.05 years of age). We investigated the characteristics of dysmenorrhea in adolescents, dysmenorrhea management strategies used by adolescents, and use of medication. We evaluated the relationships among pain duration, severity, and duration of dysmenorrhea experience using the chi-squared test. Dysmenorrhea was considered to be painful menstruation during the past three cycles and was experienced by 81.7% of subjects. It mostly occurred during the past 1-3 years (65.6%). Pain was mostly initiated a day before (38.8%) or at the beginning of (45.8%) menstrual flow and lasted for 1-3 days. It was felt in multiple locations but most commonly in the lower abdomen and lumbar region. Major symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea were sweating, low appetite, headache, distraction, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, as well as varying degrees of pain severity. Approaches taken to deal with dysmenorrhea were: consulting a health professional (8.9%), medication (46.1%), nonmedicinal activities, and other empirical strategies (24.4%). Medication was recommended mostly by mothers (39.0%) and was taken when pain became unbearable (65.5%). More than one-third of the subjects did not know which drug they took. Major nonpharmacologic measures were: heating pad use (36.5%), sleeping (31.0%), walking (11.3%), and massaging (11.0%). Seeing a physician (p < .001), taking medication (p < .001), and applying empirical strategies to prevent dysmenorrhea (p < .01) were associated with prolonged dysmenorrhea. Medication was associated with shortening pain duration during one menstrual cycle. Except for empirical strategies to prevent dysmenorrhea, all other methods used to prevent dysmenorrhea were related to pain duration and severity. Adolescents should be encouraged to consult a physician and should be prescribed medication in addition to other measures to alleviate menstrual pain and shorten its duration. Moreover, school curriculum should be redesigned to address proper management strategies for adolescent problems. School nurses can also provide consultation services and arrange informative seminars to increase public awareness of this issue.

The evaluation of family planning services given in Erzurum mother-child health and family planning centerin Eastern Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: This study was done on women who attended to Mother-Child Health and Family Planning (MCH-FP) center asking for FP services or materials. Data were collected about their opinion of the services and about the performance of the service itself. METHODS: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study composed of 235 women. RESULTS: In Family Planning, counseling was done by midwifes in 67.3%, by nurses in 26.6%, and only 4.5% by doctors. Proper hygienic conditions were confirmed by 89% of the women, about the equipment the percentage was 91%. Privacy was taken care of properly in 95.5% of the cases. The quality of service with regard to waiting was expressed as not waiting at all in 22.6%, and 76.6% found free seats while waiting. The cleanliness of the waiting hall was appreciated by 97.4%. In general 95.7% of the attendants appreciated the kindliness of the staff. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that the performances of the MCH-FP service are well appreciated by the public.

Factors affecting sexual life during pregnancy in eastern Turkey.

This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study aiming to determine the factors affecting sexual life in pregnant women. The study was carried out in 238 women in Malatya, Turkey. It was found that 61.4% regarded coitus as a risk during pregnancy, 31.9% did not have any knowledge about this matter. In 81.5% sexual life was affected during pregnancy. The mean frequency of intercourse was 2.02 +/- 0.7/week before pregnancy and decreased to 1.51 +/- 0.6/week during pregnancy. The reasons for this decline are: exhaustion and fatigue (64.3%); waning of sexual desire (55.9%); harmful to the fetus (49.2%); causing abortions in early pregnancy (45%), and inducing preterm labor (34%). There was a significant relationship between changes in sexual life during pregnancy and the duration of marriage (chi2=10.8, p<0.05), education level (chi2=18.1, p<0.05), parity (chi2=11.1, p<0.05), and gravidity (chi2=6.8, p<0.05). The variables such as age, employment status, and number of abortions did not affect sexual life during pregnancy.