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There are various factors related to postpartum depression. In this study we have aimed to determine the effect of mode of delivery on the risk of postpartum depression. A total of 318 women who applied for delivery were included in the study. Previously diagnosed fetal anomalies, preterm deliveries, stillbirths, and patients with need of intensive care unit were excluded from the study. Data about the patients were obtained during hospital stay. During the postpartum sixth week visit Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) was applied. There was no significant difference between EPDS scores when compared according to age, education, gravidity, wanting the pregnancy, fear about birth, gender, family type, and income level (P > 0.05). Those who had experienced emesis during their pregnancy, had a history of depression, and were housewives had significantly higher EPDS scores (P < 0.05). Delivering by spontaneous vaginal birth, elective Cesarean section, or emergency Cesarean section had no effect on EPDS scores. In conclusion healthcare providers should be aware of postpartum depression risk in nonworking women with a history of emesis and depression and apply the EPDS to them for early detection of postpartum depression.

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The purpose of this study was to estimate prevalence and risk groups of domestic violence during pregnancy in Manisa, Turkey, and to determine antenatal complications or health problems and health service use. This study was a population-based, cross-sectional, and household survey. The study universe included two primary health units situated in two different socioeconomic areas (rural and urban) in the city of Manisa, Turkey, from January to June 2004; the homes of 246 women were visited and the study sample included 217 women. A questionnaire was used that comprised sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics, and the Domestic Violence Against Women Determination Scale, developed by Yanikkerem in 2002 to measure the frequencies of type and severity of violence. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 10.0 for Windows) was used to analyze the data. Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to evaluate data. Results indicated that 9.7% of women were beaten by their partner during the pregnancy (17.3% in the rural area and 2.7% in the urban area) and 14.3% of women were beaten before pregnancy. A total of 10.6% of women said they had been slapped, 9.1% reported an object was thrown at them by their partner, and 6.5% admitted to having been kicked during pregnancy. A total of 36.4% of women reported experiencing forced sexual activity. Abused pregnant women were less educated, had lower income, were unmarried, were multiparous, had more children, had a longer duration of marriage, lived rural areas, were more likely to have unplanned pregnancies, had miscarriage, had an interpregnancy interval of 2 years or less, smoked more cigarettes, did not visit a health institution for control during pregnancy and did not know the sex or knew the fetus was female when compared with nonabused women. Abused women who live with various problems during pregnancy and are victims of violence tend to feel isolated, insecure, and depressed. Our results indicate that most pregnant women do not report that their prenatal care providers discussed violence with them. Healthcare provides have an important role in this issue. Antenatal care protocols should be modified to address domestic violence and contributing factors during pregnancy so that identified women can be counseled appropriately and attempts can be made to intervene to prevent further episodes of domestic violence in primary care settings.

Health-care professionals should understand women's attitudes towards menopause, in order to give optimal information and help the women create positive attitudes and healthy perceptions of this period of life.

Women with UP had engaged in fewer healthy practices and experienced more depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Health-care providers should screen for UP at an early stage and offer health education programs to help women to develop positive health practices and to improve their emotional health.

We aimed to identify knowledge about cervical cancer (CC) and Pap test (PT) and the barriers why women do not have Pap test done. The study was conducted with a sample of 1,036 women. Overall, 64.4 % had heard of CC, 43.1 % had heard about PT and 24.7 % had had a test at least once. It was determined that women had moderate knowledge of cervical cancer but poor knowledge of Pap test. Knowledge of CC and PT was significantly better among employed and single women, who had higher education, no prior delivery, a higher income level and regular gynaecological examination. Common barriers to PT were lack of awareness, being uncomfortable with the procedure and not knowing where to go for a PT. Utilization of the PT will not increase unless knowledge is improved and barriers are eliminated. Healthcare professionals are the key persons to provide both knowledge and facilities towards the goal of CC prevention.

Infertility is a major life crisis affecting couples' psychosocial and physical health. We aimed to assess the quality of life in Turkish infertile couples. This cross-sectional survey was carried out in 127 infertile couples admitted to a University Hospital. The quality of life was measured using the fertility quality of life tool (FertiQoL) scale. Women had lower overall quality of life than men. Women and men who were married for fewer than 10 years had a significantly lower emotional score. Women who had a history of infertility treatment, men who have lived in the town or village men with primary infertility and men who have had primary education or lower, had lower scores for mind/body subscale. Social scores were found lower in women under the age of 30, women with middle or low income, men who were married for fewer than 10 years, men who did not have children for 5 years or more and men with primary infertility. The tolerability and environment scores were significantly higher in women who had been married more than once. We conclude that health care providers should be aware of the factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) and give counselling to improve couples' quality of life at infertility clinics.