Background: Bonding is the process of an emotional relationship between mothers and babies. Pregnancy and postpartum periods are most important of developing a mother-child bonding. Here we aimed to determine the level of mother-baby bonding and identify the influencing factors during pregnancy and the postpartum period and to examine the relationship between bonding level during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study included twelve districts across a range of socioeconomic structures. Every district was selected by a simple random sampling method. Data were collected with

The use of herbal remedies is common in Turkey. This study aimed to define the patterns of herbal remedy use among subjects aged 18 or above and to describe factors associated with use of herbal remedies. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a multistage sampling method between September 2007 and April 2008. A total of 3876 adults participated (98.1% response rate), and 1518 (39.2%) admitted using herbal remedies (95% CI 37.6-40.7%). Univariate analyses showed that compared with non-users, herbal users were mostly female, were more highly educated and were more likely to live in smaller households of one to four people. Logistic regression showed that being aged 18-27 (OR = 1.23, P = 0.028), being female (OR = 2.22, P < 0.001), being educated in a secondary school (OR = 1.47, P < 0.001) or high school (OR = 2.77, P < 0.001), perceiving their health status as 'good' (OR = 2.61, P < 0.001) and having health-related problems (OR = 2.80, P < 0.001) were the factors associated with the use of herbal remedies. The most commonly used herbs were lime, mint, rosehip and lemon. The reasons for using herbal remedies included that they are natural products (79.8% of the 1518 users), for health enhancement (58.9%) and to overcome health problems (32.2%). The decision to use herbal remedies was mainly based on recommendations from the mass media (45.1%). Only 29.1% of users obtained information from their physicians or health providers, and only 37.9% informed their doctors. Nearly three in five people in this study reported using a herbal remedy to overcome health problems or for health enhancement. Herbal remedies are likely to be used by the young people, females, those with higher education, those with good or excellent perceived health status and those with chronic illness, and it seems essential to offer informational programmes for them. The lack of communication on herbal remedies between patient and physician needs to be addressed.

Young students' HRQOL is affected by socioeconomic, demographic, and behavioral factors. To improve student's HRQOL, any health-promoting strategies should focus on modifiable risk factors and socioeconomic supports for students.

Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer in women. The objective of this study was to determine the level of knowledge about risk factors for breast cancer and screening behaviors among 468 female teachers who work in Sivas, Turkey. In this cross-sectional survey, a self-administered, structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Up to one-half (52.4%) of the teachers thought that they had enough knowledge about breast cancer. The sources of that information were television (59.0%), newspapers (48.9%), and health professionals (24.1%); 58.5% of the teachers had a sufficient knowledge level about breast cancer risk factors. The most frequently reported risk factor was family history of breast cancer (94.9%), followed by getting older, high fat diet and having a first child at a late age (68.6%, 51.7%, and 45.1%, respectively). No significant differences were found in knowledge by age groups, having breast-related complaints, teaching experience, or marital status. Among the teachers, 43.9% had performed breast self-examination; yet only 10.5% of them performed it monthly. Only 22.3% of the teachers reported having at least one clinical breast-examination. Among the 136 women over the age of forty years, only 37.5% had had at least one mammogram. A significant association was noted between level of knowledge about breast cancer risk factors and use of breast self-examination. Also, being married and having breast-related complaints were significantly related to practicing clinical breast-examination and mammography. This study revealed a relatively low awareness about the knowledge and practice of screening methods among teachers. The relatively low rates of breast self-examination, clinical breast-examination, and mammography practiced by this group of teachers are of concern and suggest that increased awareness of these methods, their value, and how they should be conducted is needed.

Amaç. Gebelerin stresle başa çıkma tarzları ile anksiyete ve depresyon düzeyi arasındaki ilişkiyi belirlemektir. Yöntem. Bu çalışma Mart ve Eylül 2013 tarihleri arasında Sivas merkezde basit rastgele örnekleme yöntemiyle seçilen 12 mahallede 227 gebe ile ev ziyareti şeklinde yapılmıştır. Veriler sosyo-demografik kişisel bilgi formu, Stresle Başa Çıkma Tarzları Ölçeği (SBTÖ), Epidemiyolojik Araştırmalar Merkezi Depresyon Skalası (EAMDS) ve Beck Anksiyete Envanteri (BEA) ile toplanmıştır. Bulgular. Gebelerin yaş ortalaması 27,4 ± 5,7 yıldır. EAMDS puan ortalaması 17,6 ± 10,1 (min-max: 2-55) BAE puan ortalaması da 19,2 ± 10,1'dir (min-max: 0-47). Gebelerin %50,7'sinde depresyon riski saptanmıştır. Gebelerin depresyon ve anksiyete düzeyini çalışma, eğitim düzeyi ve ekonomik durum algısı etkilemiştir. Ayrıca anksiyete düzeyini kronik bir hastalığa sahip olma durumu da etkilemiştir. Stresle başa çıkmada kendine güvenli yaklaşım, iyimser yaklaşım ve sosyal destek arama tarzını kullanma ile gebelikte depresyon riski arasında negatif, boyun eğici ve çaresiz yaklaşım tarzını kullanma ile gebelikte depresyon riski ve anksiyete düzeyi arasında ise pozitif ilişki bulunmuştur. Sonuç. Stresle başa çıkmada kendine güvenli yaklaşım, iyimser yaklaşım ve sosyal destek arama tarzını kullanan gebelerin depresyon riski düşmekte iken, boyun eğici ve çaresiz yaklaşım tarzını kullanan gebelerde ise depresyon riski ve anksiyete düzeyi yükselmektedir.Anahtar sözcükler: Gebelik, stresle başa çıkma tarzı, anksiyete, depresyon Abstract Aim. To determine relationship between anxiety and depression level and coping styles with stress of pregnant women. Method. This study has been conducted in Sivas center between March and September 2013 in twelve districts which was selected by simple random sampling method in the form of home visits with 227 pregnant women. Data were collected by using Sociodemographic Personal Question Form, Ways of Coping with Stress Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results. Mean age of pregnant women was 27.4 ± 5.7. The mean scores CES-D of the pregnant women was 17.6 ± 10.1 (minmax: 2-55), mean scores of BAI scores was 19.2 ± 10.1 (min-max: 0-47). The risk of depression was found in 50.7% of pregnant women. Depression and anxiety levels of pregnant women was affected by working status, education level and perception of economic situation. In addition, the level of anxiety was also affected by having a chronic disease. It was determined that there is negative relationship between confident approach, optimistic approach, seeking for social support coping style and the risk of depression during pregnany. Also positive relationship was found between submissive and helpless coping style and risk of depression and anxiety level during pregnancy. Conclusion. Pregnant women who use confident approach, optimistic approach and seeking social support style to cope with stress are at a decreased risk for depression whereas risk of depression and anxiety are at an incr...