Analysis of patients admitted to the emergency unit of a university children's hospital in Turkey.

A retrospective analysis of the computerized data of patients admitted to our Emergency Unit Inpatient Service in 1991 was conducted to obtain data about age, sex, referred sources, admission period, monthly admission rates, diagnoses and eventual outcome. More than 47% of patients were younger than one year of age. The most common causes for hospital admission were infectious, respiratory and neurological diseases. The mean hospitalization period was 3.26 days. More than 60% of patients were treated by the Emergency Unit staff. The net mortality rate was 2.9%, infectious diseases being the most common cause of mortality. We conclude that demographic and diagnostic data regarding admissions to the Emergency Unit can be utilized to develop new strategies for patient care and to reorganize education programs for pediatric residents.

Psychological adjustment of children with mild and moderately severe asthma.

The relationship between the severity and duration of asthma and psychological adjustment was investigated in 29 children with mild and 31 children with moderately severe asthma, who were compared with 60 healthy control children. The severity of asthma was evaluated using the Pearlman-Bierman classification. Psychological adjustment was measured using the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and a semi-structured interview. The results of the interviews indicated that regressive symptoms such as clinging, childish behaviour, dependence, and a demanding nature were widespread. Using the illness in the service of achieving other aims was also common in the asthmatic children. CBCL total problem behaviour scores, social competency, and broad band scores were significantly higher in the asthmatic group than the control sample. Problem scores for asthmatic children were significantly correlated with parental friction at home, unsatisfactory relationships with siblings and other health problems in children. However, neither the CBCL total problem scores nor the social competency scores were correlated with the severity and the duration of illness.

Estimation of annual height velocity based on short- versus long-term measurements.

We assessed the relationships between annual height velocity, calculated from two measurements taken at intervals of 6, 12 and 24 months, in 69 healthy prepubertal children (34 male, 35 female) aged 6.5 years (range 6.25-6.75 yrs) who were followed for 2.5 years and measured biannually. Initial height values for age were within normal ranges except for one child with a height SDS of -2.0. Mean annual velocities also conformed to British norms. Significant differences were observed between consecutive six-monthly velocities and these values failed to predict annual velocities calculated from measurements taken at 12- or 24-month intervals. Seasonal effects were thought to have some impact on the six-monthly velocity differences. Height velocity, based on measurements taken at intervals of 12 months, was essentially similar to two-year velocity values. The results indicate that in estimating annual height velocity, six-month intervals between measurements may be misleading while 12-monthly measurements are as reliable as height velocity values based on measurements taken at two-year intervals.

[Contraceptive methods used in Istanbul and factors affecting method choice and continuation]. / Istanbul'da kullanilan gebelikten korunma yontemleri, bu yontemlerin tercih ve kullanimini surdurmede etkili faktorler.

PIP: This paper presents and discusses the results of a collaborative research to investigate use of modern versus traditional contraceptive methods in a new settlement area in Istanbul. Two lay interviewers administered a questionnaire to a total of 867 women on current and past contraceptive use. 90% (778) of the 867 currently nonpregnant women of mean age 31.4 years were using a method of contraception at the time of the study. The majority of women practicing contraception (46%) employed withdrawal, alone or in combination, followed by 29% who used an IUD. Among ever-users, withdrawal and IUD remain the two most common methods. The use of these methods was found to be unrelated to age, family size, or education, but there was a negative association of withdrawal use and a positive association of permanent method use with long-term residence in Istanbul. Contraception is widely acknowledged in Turkey. Almost every woman has heard of every method. People believe that there are side effects, and some side effects may actually be occurring, as also supported by the present data. In this community, despite the high failure rate of withdrawal, it appears that convenience and cleanliness of the method also play important roles in the choice. (author's modified)^ieng