Turkish Validation of the Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers.

LAY ABSTRACT: It is important to diagnose autism spectrum disorder at an early age and to start an early intervention program without delay. In this study, we aimed to validate the Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers (RITA-T) in a group of Turkish children and found that the RITA-T which has been shown to be a valid and reliable screening test for 18- to 36-month-old children in studies conducted in different countries, is also valid in Turkish children. Similar to previous studies, our results showed that the RITA-T has good sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing children with autism spectrum disorder. We think that our study will contribute to the timely initiation of early intervention programs for many children with autism by enabling a valid test to be used in screening programs.

Did Financial Social Support for Tuberculosis Patients Lead to Better Treatment Outcomes in Türkiye during 2018-2019?

This study examined which factors, including the regular financial social support program, influence tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes and success rates. Patients with TB registered during 2018-2019 were included in this retrospective cohort study. We classified them into 2 groups: those who received financial support for at least one month, and those who did not. Of the 22,867 sampled patients, 5,033 received financial social support and 17,834 did not. The success rate was 11.9% higher among patients who received financial social support than among those who did not (97.34% versus 85.40%). After controlling for other factors, the success rate among all patients was 1.3 times higher for female, 2.6 times higher for those under 50 years, 1.5 times higher for extra-pulmonary TB, 1.5 times higher for a new case, 5.9 times higher for drug susceptible TB, and 5.8 times higher for those who received financial support. Crucially, this is the first study from Türkiye evaluating the effect of a regular financial social support program on TB treatment outcomes since the program began in 2018. We recommend regular financial support for patients with TB in all countries.

The Effects of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Body Satisfaction, Self-Esteem, Quality of Life, and Psychopathology in People with Female-to-Male Gender Dysphoria.

Purpose: Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is one of the most important therapeutic interventions sought by people with gender dysphoria (GD). In the present study, we aimed to examine the effects of GAHT on body satisfaction, self-esteem, quality of life, and psychopathology in people with female-to-male (FtM) GD. Methods: Thirty-seven FtM GD participants who did not receive any gender-affirming therapy, 35 FtM GD participants who received GAHT for over 6 months, and 38 cisgender women were included in the study. The Body Cathexis Scale (BCS), Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES), World Health Organization's Quality of Life Questionnaire Brief Form (WHOQOL-BREF), and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) were completed by all participants. Results: The BCS scores of the untreated group were significantly lower than both the GAHT group and the female controls (p<0.001); while the WHOQOL-BREF-psychological health scores of the untreated group were significantly lower than those of the female controls (p=0.003). The psychoticism subscale scores on the SCL-90-R of the untreated group were higher than those of the GAHT group (p=0.04) as well as the female controls (p=0.003). With regard to the RSES, there were no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that people with FtM GD who receive GAHT are more satisfied with their bodies and have less psychopathological problems compared to those who do not receive GAHT, but their quality of life and self-esteem do not change as a result of GAHT.

Years of potential life lost and productivity costs due to COVID-19 in Turkey: one yearly evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to calculate the years of life lost (YLL) and years of potential life lost (YPLL) due to COVID-19, according to age groups in Turkey in the first year of the pandemic and the cost of this burden. STUDY DESIGN: This is an observational study with quantitative analyses. METHODS: YLL due to premature deaths was calculated for men and women by interpolating the number of deaths and the expected life expectancy. YPLL was calculated according to the age 65 years. Productivity loss is an estimation of the cost of time lost at work-related activities-in a scenario analysis-using predetermined wage rates with the human capital theory. RESULTS: Men lost 205,177 (67.57%) years of life, whereas women lost 125,330 (32.43%) years of life. The YLL average age in men was 63.66 ± 14.66 years, and the YLL average age in women was 66.07 ± 15.46 years. The average YLL age in men was younger than in women (P < 0.001). Men lost 65,180 (70.16%) YPLL, whereas women lost 27,723 (29.84%) YPLL. The average YPLL age in women was younger than in men (P < 0.001). During one year of the pandemic, premature death cost Turkey 227,396,694 USD, the cost for one premature death was 14,187 USD, and the cost of any year of life lost was 1261 USD. CONCLUSION: YLL and YPLLs are very closely associated with COVID-19 deaths in the country. The economic dimensions of the pandemic with human losses are quite high.

An Evaluation of the Factors Related to Internet Gaming Disorder in Young Adults.

Background: Game addiction is a growing problem all over the world. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and psychological, social, and behavioral effects of internet gaming disorder (IGD) on young adults. Methods: A preliminary study was conducted and the game types most commonly played on the internet were determined. Then, approximately 60 gaming site managers were contacted. After obtaining consent, the questionnaires were sent to gaming site members and they were asked to complete the questionnaires. Data were collected through a sociodemographic form, Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Findings: The study was conducted with 613 participants. The age of the participants ranged from 15 to 30 years, with a mean age of 20.80±4.63 years. The prevalence of IGD was 10% (n=67). Those with low-income families and low academic performance were identified as more likely to develop IGD. Moreover, IGD was revealed to be more likely in individuals with fewer close friends, playing games from an early age, and those with a habit of devoting extensive time to watching online game videos on Twitch or YouTube. In addition, the risk of gaming disorder was approximately two times higher in individuals who preferred First Person Shooter (FPS) games and Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG). Conclusion: The results of this study could be useful for estimating the level of IGD and carrying out more comprehensive studies to possibly be able to control IGD.

Comparison of clinical characteristics in adult patients under 65 years of age with and without Covid-19 pneumonia.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause asymptomatic, mild upper respiratory tract symptoms and pneumonia in young persons. How the disease will progress in each patient is still unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prognostic markers of the development of pneumonia and the clinical characteristics of patients under 65 years with COVID-19 confirmed by a positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test. Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 271 patients admitted in our unit were included. The patients were divided into two groups, those who did and those who did not develop pneumonia. Their clinical features, treatment protocols, and laboratory parameters were recorded retrospectively. Results: Pneumonia developed in 67.9% (n = 184) of the cases. The age in the pneumonia group was higher than that in the non-pneumonia group (p < 0.001). In the logistic regression analysis, the symptom and co-morbidity status were examined according to the presence of pneumonia; hypertension (HT) (OR: 4525, 95% CL: 1,494-13,708) was the most important risk factor for pneumonia. When age and laboratory values were examined according to the presence of pneumonia, advanced age (OR: 1.042, 95% CL: 1.01-1.073), low albumin (OR: 0.917, 95% CL: 0.854-0.986), and high troponin (OR: 1.291, 95% CL: 1.044-1.596) were identified as risk factors for pneumonia. Conclusion: In this article, HT (22.3%, P < 0.001) has been considered as an important risk factor, whereas association of diabetes mellitus (21.2%, P 0.029) and smoking (25.0%, P 0.038) was also significant. The median age of the group was 51 (41.5-58) in the group developing pneumonia and 41 (30-48) in the non-developing group. Young patients with these predictive factors should be more carefully evaluated by further diagnostic procedures, such as thoracic computed tomography.

Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of the Turkish version of the obesity-specific quality of life questionnaire: quality of life, obesity, and dietetics (QOLOD) rating scale

Background/aim: Obesity is one of the main public health issues in many countries including Turkey. The aim of the study is to test cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, and validity of QOLOD rating scale in the Turkish language. Materials and methods: This methodological study was conducted among the overweight and obesity people between February-March, 2018 in Ankara Atatürk Training and Research Hospital. The data was collected through self-report and face to face interviews. The QOLOD rating scale has 36 items, a 5-point Likert scale (1­5) is used for each question. Results: In the study, of the 180 participants, 101 (56.1%) were female, 79 (43.9%) were male, and the mean age was 43.36 ± 14.28 (min-max 18­87) years. According to the CFA, the Turkish version of QOLOD rating scale shows a multidimensional structure consisting of 34 items. Two items (item 11 and item 35) were excluded from the scale according to the CFA. Cronbach's Alpha value changes between 0.927­0.930. Conclusion: Finding shows that the Turkish version of QOLOD rating scale had sufficient validity and reliability for Turkish population, had strong psychometric characteristics.

The Effectiveness of Community-based Social Distancing for Mitigating the Spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effects of community-based social distancing interventions after the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case in Turkey on the course of the pandemic and to determine the number of prevented cases. METHODS: In this ecological study, the interventions implemented in response to the first COVID-19 cases in Turkey were evaluated and the effect of the interventions was demonstrated by calculating the effective reproduction number (Rt) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coro navirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) when people complied with community-based social distancing rules. RESULTS: Google mobility scores decreased by an average of 36.33±22.41 points (range, 2.60 to 84.80) and a median of 43.80 points (interquartile range [IQR], 24.90 to 50.25). The interventions caused the calculated Rt to decrease to 1.88 (95% confidence interval, 1.87 to 1.89). The median growth rate was 19.90% (IQR, 10.90 to 53.90). A positive correlation was found between Google mobility data and Rt (r=0.783; p<0.001). The expected number of cases if the growth rate had not changed was predicted according to Google mobility categories, and it was estimated to be 1 381 922 in total. Thus, community-based interventions were estimated to have prevented 1 299 593 people from being infected. CONCLUSIONS: Community-based social distancing interventions significantly decreased the Rt of COVID-19 by reducing human mobility, and thereby prevented many people from becoming infected. Another important result of this study is that it shows health policy-makers that data on human mobility in the community obtained via mobile phones can be a guide for measures to be taken.

Levels of Depression and Anxiety, Sexual Functions, and Affective Temperaments in Women With Lifelong Vaginismus and Their Male Partners.

BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety levels, sexual dysfunctions, and affective temperament characteristics of women with lifelong vaginismus (LLV) and their male partners may have important effects on the development, maintenance, and exacerbation of LLV. AIM: We aimed to investigate depression and anxiety levels, sexual dysfunctions, and affective temperament characteristics of both women with LLV and their male partners. METHODS: 56 women with LLV, their 56 male partners, and 44 couples with no complaints of any sexual function as a control group were included in this study. Dyadic data were analyzed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. OUTCOMES: The Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction, and Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Auto Questionnaire Scale were completed by all participants. RESULTS: Women with LLV had higher levels of anxiety and depression and had more sexual dysfunctions except for avoidance than those of female controls. Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Auto Questionnaire Scale scores were significantly higher in women with LLV for depressive (odds ratio [OR] = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.09-1.49), cyclothymic (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.15-1.49), anxious (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.09-1.38), and irritable (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.04-1.42) temperament than in female controls. It was found that anxiety levels of male partners of women with LLV were higher than those of male controls and that they experienced less sexual satisfaction. Depressive (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.07-1.61) and cyclothymic (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.04-1.34) temperament scores were significantly higher in male partners of women with LLV than in male controls. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model analyses show that hyperthymic temperament in male partners of women with LLV and anxious and depressive temperament in women with LLV have a negative effect on their own sexual functions. In terms of partner effect, it was found that men with hyperthymic temperament had a negative effect on the sexual functions of women with LLV and men with depressive temperament had a positive effect. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The individual characteristics of both the women and their male partners have an impact on LLV. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: The sample size was relatively small to assess affective temperaments. The inclusion of male partners in the study contributed to our understanding of couples with LLV. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that affective temperaments detected in women with LLV (depressive, cyclothymic, anxious and irritable) and their male partners (depressive and cyclothymic) have an effect on the development, maintenance, and exacerbation of LLV, and affective temperaments have an effect on both their own and partner's sexual functions. Turan S, Usta Saglam NG, Bakay H, et al. Levels of Depression and Anxiety, Sexual Functions, and Affective Temperaments in Women With Lifelong Vaginismus and Their Male Partners. J Sex Med 2020;17:2434-2445.

2D:4D Finger Length Ratios in Individuals with Gender Dysphoria. / Cinsiyet Hosnutsuzlugu Olan Bireylerde 2D:4D Parmak Uzunlugu Oranlari.

OBJECTIVE: The neurobiological basis of Gender Dysphoria (GD) is not yet fully known. In recent years, the role of prenatal exposure to testosterone has been emphasized in the development of the GD. The aim of this study was to compare the 2D:4D digit ratio, which is considered to be a morphological indicator of exposure to testosterone in the prenatal period, in individuals with GD. METHOD: The study included 99 participants diagnosed with GD comprising 54 assigned the female gender at birth [AFB-GD], 45 assigned the male gender at birth [AMB-GD], and 58 female and 58 male participants making up the control group. The right and the left hands of the participants were photocopied and finger lengths were measured using digital calipers. RESULTS: The 2D:4D digit ratio on the right hand of the AFB-GD group was significantly lower (p=0.028) than that of the female controls, but it did not differ significantly as compared to male controls. The ratio on the left hand of the AFB-GD group did not significantly differ from that of the female controls, but it was higher than that of the male controls (p=0.045). The 2D:4D digit ratio on the right hand of the AMB-GD group did not differ significantly from that of the male controls, but they had a lower finger ratio as compared to the female controls (p<0.001). The ratio on the left hand of the AMB-GD group did not differ significantly from those of the male and female controls. CONCLUSION: The results of this study present suggestive evidence that the AFB-GD individuals were exposed to testosterone in the prenatal period.

[Evaluation of Infections in Intensive Care Units: A Multicentre Point-Prevalence Study]. / Yogun Bakim Ünitelerindeki Enfeksiyonlarin Degerlendirilmesi: Çok Merkezli Nokta Prevalans Çalismasi.

Infection control is a top priority for hospitals, especially in intensive care units (ICU). In intensive care units, prevalence of infection is estimated to be 30% worldwide, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Many factors are known to increase the risk of infection in ICU patients. Since each of these may lead to different infections, it is important to recognize and identify predisposing factors for early diagnosis and treatment. The regional health care-associated infections (HCAI) prevalence and distribution of risk factors are important strategies in infection control. In this regard, the aim of this point prevalence study was to obtain data related to infections, the prevalence of HCAI among these infections, the epidemiology, agents and antibiotics used among adult ICU patients in the university hospitals, training and research hospitals and public hospitals located in eight of the cities of our region. In the light of these data, we aimed to review and emphasize the guidelines on HCAI prevention. The study included adult ICU patients followed up in nine hospitals in the Eastern and South-eastern Anatolia Regions of eight different cities (Sivas, Erzurum, Mardin, Batman, Diyarbakir Elazig, Van, Adiyaman) in Turkey. Of the hospitals six were university hospitals, one was training and research hospital, and two were public hospitals. The number of beds ranged from 358 to 1418. A specific day was determined on which the researchers concurrently carried out a prospective surveillance in all adult intensive care unit patients. The researchers collected data and recorded the demographic characteristics (age, gender), underlying diseases, length of hospital stay, presence of invasive intervention (urinary catheter, central venous catheter, external ventricular drainage, mechanical ventilator, presence of risk factors such as burn, trauma and surgery, number of infection cases, type of infection (hospital-acquired, community-acquired), type of microorganisms and whether polymicrobial or monomicrobial, which antibiotics were administered, and duration of antibiotic treatment. Our study assessed data of 429 inpatients in the adult ICU of nine hospitals in eight different cities. There were a total of 881 intensive care beds in these hospitals, and 740 (84%) beds were occupied. Of the study group 49.7% was male with a mean age (min-max) of 64.08 ± 18.78 (2-97) years. The point prevalence of HCAI was 21.7% (n= 93). Of the patients who were followed-up 182 (42.4%) presented infections. Of these infections, 21.4% were diagnosed as community-acquired pneumonia, 18.6% were ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), 16.3% were communityacquired urinary tract infection (UTI), and 16.3% were bloodstream infection. In addition, the most commonly administered antibiotics in the study group were piperacillin/tazobactam, carbapenem, quinolone and ceftriaxone, respectively. The most common types of HCAI were community-acquired pneumonia (10.7%), ventilator-associated pneumonia (8.9%) and bloodstream infections (8.2%). The mean length of hospital stay was 32.05 ± 66.85 (1-459) days and the mean duration of antibiotic therapy in patients with HCAIs was 7.76 ± 7.11 (1-41) days. The most widely accepted method to handle infection is to carry out active, prospective and patient-based surveillance studies on a regular basis, and to take control measures and arrange appropriate treatment in the light of the data obtained. We attribute the high prevalence of HCAI in our region to lack of personnel, lack of materials, inappropriate use of antibiotics, insufficiency of physical conditions, and little support for infection control committees. In conclusion, we emphasize that it is of importance to work closely with the hospital administration to take measures and that necessary assistance is provided.

Is it possible to determine the level of functional impairment that distinguishes the patients with ADHD from those without ADHD?

INTRODUCTION: Functional impairment in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can occur in many areas such as in family, social activities, and problems related to school and may also persist during adulthood. The Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale-Parent Form (WFIRS-P) is designed to measure the functional impairment related to ADHD symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine the level of functional impairment that distinguishes the patients with ADHD who were diagnosed through semi-structured interviews from those without ADHD. METHOD: This study consists of ADHD patients who were diagnosed through semi-structured interview aged 5-18 years (n = 250) and same age gender-matched healthy controls (n = 250). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed by calculating the sensitivity and specificity of the scale cut-off values. RESULTS: An area under the curve (AUC) of 0.974 (95% CI 0.956-0.986) was found in this study. For WFIRS-P subdomains, AUC curves, which range from 0.76 to 0.95, were also having strong power for differentiation between groups. The optimal cut-off value for WFIRS-P using Youden's J Index is 0.32. There is no significant gender and age group differences in AUC for either the total or subdomain scores. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide that Turkish version of WFIRS-P could be a reliable way of distinguishing the level of functional impairment in ADHD from controls.

The validity of self-reported vs. measured body weight and height and the effect of self-perception.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to assess the validity of self-reported body weight and height and the possible influence of self-perception of body mass index (BMI) status on the actual BMI during the adolescent period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted on 3918 high school students. Accurate BMI perception occurred when the student's self-perception of their BMI status did not differ from their actual BMI based on measured height and weight. Agreement between the measured and self-reported body height and weight and BMI values was determined using the Bland-Altman metod. To determine the effects of "a good level of agreement", hierarchical logistic regression models were used. RESULTS: Among male students who reported their BMI in the normal region, 2.8% were measured as overweight while 0.6% of them were measured as obese. For females in the same group, these percentages were 1.3% and 0.4% respectively. Among male students who perceived their BMI in the normal region, 8.5% were measured as overweight while 0.4% of them were measured as obese. For females these percentages were 25.6% and 1.8% respectively. According to logistic regression analysis, residence and accurate BMI perception were significantly associated with "good agreement" (p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrated that in determining obesity and overweight statuses, non-accurate weight perception is a potential risk for students.

Dry eye disease and depression-anxiety-stress: A hospital-based case control study in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between dry eye disease (DED) and psychosomatic conditions, such as depression, stress, and anxiety, and the distribution of associated risk factors. METHODS: In this case control study, the sample consisted of 121 DED subjects and 242 control subjects. Each subjects was diagnosed as having DED or not by an ophthalmologist. Ocular Surface Disease Index and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales were administered to all subjects. Data were analysed using chi-square and Mann Whitney U tests as a univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression as a multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of 1,458 consecutive outpatients, clinically diagnosed DED was present in 121 individuals (8.3%). There was a significant relationship of family history of DED (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.84-2.41), chronic disease history (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.66-4.87), OSDI score (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.97-4.06), depression (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.30-3.27), anxiety (OR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.67-4.23), and stress (OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.48-3.67) with DED. CONCLUSION: Individuals with depression, anxiety and stress are more likely to experience DED. In addition to confirming some well-known risk factors, this study has found new associations between DED and a family history of DED and the presence of stress.

Adolescent obesity and associated cardiovascular risk factors of rural and urban life (Eskisehir, Turkey).

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of obesity and to compare the associated risk factors between the adolescent children living in rural and urban areas. MATERIALS: This cross-sectional study conducted among 3,918 high school students getting education in the city centre and rural areas of Eskisehir. A specially designed questionnaire form included questions about socio-demographic characteristics as well as cardiovascular risk factors including smoking status, diet habits (breakfasting, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit and vegetable consumption), physical activity and time spent on computer and/or television. RESULTS: The prevalence of being overweight was 10.4% and 12.2% and the prevalence of obesity was 7.9% and 11.3% in rural and urban areas, respectively. In urban areas, being overweight was accompanied by prehypertension (OR=2.3, 95% Cl 1.6-3.3), hypertension (OR= 2.3, 95% CI 1.6-3.2), and family history of cardiovascular disease (OR =1.3, 95% CI 1-1.7), and obesity was accompanied by prehypertension (OR= 2.3, 95% CI 1.6-3.3), hypertension (OR=3.9, 95% Cl 2.9-5.3), excessive use of computer/TV (OR=1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.7), having no breakfast (OR=1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.7), physician-diagnosed diabetes mellitus (OR=4.2, 95% CI 1.3-14.1) and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (OR=0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.8). In rural areas, although the variables accompanying being overweight were parallel with those in urban areas, obesity was only associated with prehypertension (OR=6.1, 95% CI 2.6-14.1), hypertension (OR=22.1, 95% Cl 9.9-49.3) and family history of cardiovascular disease (OR=1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.6). CONCLUSION: Risk factors may differ in the adolescents from rural and urban areas. It is important in overweight and obese children to assess the family history of cardiovascular disease, blood pressure and blood glucose, to ask about the habit of regularly breakfasting, and to evaluate time spent on computer/TV. As in urban areas, environmental regulations also become important in rural areas. Appropriate social activities for children to spent more time outdoor, e.g. in parks or playgrounds, are important in urban as well as in rural areas.

Prevalence of domestic violence and associated factors among married women in a semi-rural area of western Turkey.

UNLABELLED: Objective : To determine the prevalence of domestic violence and associated factors among married women in a semi-rural area of western Turkey. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted between March 1 and April 29, 2011 on married women aged 15-49 years. Exposure to at least one of these types of violence at least one time within the past one year was regarded as the presence of domestic violence. Chi-square test and Logistic Regression analysis was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Prevalence of domestic violence against women was found to be 39.0%. About 38,4% and 26.8% of women reported verbal and psychological violence respectively. The risk factors found for the domestic violence included youngest age group, an educational level of secondary/high school for men, form of the first marriage, number of children, alcohol and gambling habits of the husband. CONCLUSION: Our study found higher prevalence of domestic violence than expected. Verbal violence is also a significant problem particularly in terms of its consequences. It was concluded that further informative studies are needed on domestic violence to find out the causative factors to chalk out preventive strategies.

The Prevalence of Infertility and Loneliness among Women Aged 18-49 Years Who Are Living in Semi-Rural Areas in Western Turkey.

BACKGROUND: To determine the correlates and the prevalence of infertility in a group of women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 570 subjects aged 18-49 years in a town of western Turkey between July and August 2012. Women who have inability to become pregnant despite regular sexual intercourse during the last year were considered to be infertile. UCLA Loneliness Scale was used to assess the severity of loneliness. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis, Mann Whitney U and Chi-square tests. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 35.48 ± 8.39 years. The frequency of the infertility in our study was 12.8% (n=73). The prevalence of infertility was higher in those with a history of gynecological disease or gynecologic surgery and in those with menstrual irregularity (p<0.05; for each). The mean score on the UCLA Loneliness Scale was 32.16 ± 9.49 (from 20 to 70). In this study, no difference was found between the level of loneliness and who is responsible for infertility among infertile/fertile women (p≥0.05). Level of loneliness among the women with primary infertility was higher compared to the women with secondary infertility (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of infertility among the women was relatively high. It was concluded that prospective studies are needed in order to expose the relationship between the infertility and the level of loneliness in women.