We examined correlates of antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity in individuals with COVID-19 infection. Sera from 156 patients were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence on Hep-2 cells for ANA pattern and semi-quantitative titer. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of ANA (1:100) by gender (P = 0.0294). Male gender was correlated with ANA positivity and association persisted in multivariable analyses (OR = 0.354; CI: 0.139–0.816; P = 0.0200). Age (OR = 1.932; CI: 0.929–4.121; P = 0.0814), warm weather (OR = 1.307; CI: 0.611–2.921; p = 0.4989), geographic location (or = 0.886; CI:0.353–2.442; P = 0.8042), and diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.765; CI:0.513–5.477; P = 0.3369) were not correlated with ANA positivity. In this analysis, hospitalization was used as indicator for a more severe course. Of the 156 COVID-19 patients, 18 (11.5%) were hospitalized. Among 18 hospitalized patients, 4 (22.2%) were ANA positive (Table 2), although this did not reach statistical significance (OR = 0.841; CI: 0.227–2.527; p = 0.7725). In conclusion, although males were more prone to produce ANA during COVID-19 infection, this was not correlated with severe course.
Aim: To determine the behaviors, expectations and experiences about health-sickness of women from society, to evaluate the socio-cultural characteristics of these behaviors. Method: This research is qualitative, planned as "case study". The research is sampled as goal-oriented maximum variation and 31 women included who are between 17-77 with different socio-cultural characteristics. Four focused interviews were conducted. Before the study, participants were informed and a questionnaire was used to question socio-demographic characteristics. The interviews were made at participants' houses. One interviewer and two observers was ready in each session. The voice recordings and observers' notes were trasncripted. No names have been transcribed. Each of the interviews were analyzed thematically, were commonised to reach research findings. Results: According to the analysis, there are five theme topics. 1. Physician (professionalism) characteristics affecting the choice of doctor (skills, attitude, gender, knowledge). 2. Expectations and behaviours about services related to women's health (afraid of the examination style, expectations of confidentiality and sympathy, prejudices). 3. Reasons for choosing health institutions (attitude of health workers, gender of doctor, hospital facilities, accessibility, prejudices, queue waiting). 4. Unmet health needs and thoughts about the causes (fear of malpractice, shyness, financial impossibilities, advanced appointments). 5. Attitudes on Family Health Centers (reasons for not using: lack of equipment, crowd, existing habits, doctor's attitude, distrust to doctor's knowledge). The participants repeated that dental health services are the most difficult to obtain. Conclusion: Socio-cultural characteristics, health services presentation and attitude of health workers influences expectations of individuals about utilization of health services. Therefore, when planning trainings of health workers, the applicants' health perceptions affected by the socio-cultural characteristics, learning methods which allows the development of a positive attitude and improves communication skills should be considered. Also, in the organization of health services, taking into account the factors affecting applicants' utilization of health services will be effective for the elimination the unmet needs.
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