Purpose This study aims to characterize adolescent development and knowledge, opinions, and attitudes toward sexuality in adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Methods Sixty students in occupational school with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, aged between 15 and 20 years, formed this study's sample from Turkey. The data taken from questionnaires was evaluated with the SPSS 13.0 package program. Results These results demonstrate that 51.7% of adolescents have not been educated professionally with regard to sexuality. In addition, 46.7% of them have never talked about sex with their parents. The level of knowledge among adolescents of both sexes is quite low. Most adolescents do not know the male and female differences in reproductive organs. While more than half of adolescents describe sex as kissing and intimate touching, about half of them think only married couples have sex. Conclusion Adolescents with intellectual disabilities in this study have very low levels of correct information about sex and the characteristics of the adolescent stages of development.

The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge, opinions, attitudes and concerns of the parents regarding sexuality of their children with intellectual disabilities. Forty parents who have children with intellectual disabilities formed this study's sample from Turkey. The children had mild to moderate intellectual disabilities aged between 15 and 21 years in an occupational school. The data taken from questionnaires was evaluated with SPSS 13.0 package program. 87.5% of the parents consisted of mothers and 12.5% consisted of fathers. Seventy five percent of the parents had not received any professional education on sexuality and 32.5% never talked on sexuality with their children. Fifty-five percent of the parents thought that sexual education should start during elementary school years. While 45% of the parents acknowledged their children engaging in masturbation, more than half had false opinions on masturbation. 57.5% of the parents stated that they inform their children on the physical characteristics of the adolescence period and 27.5% of them provide information to their children on subjects like the reproductive organs. In addition, a large majority of the parents (72.5%) had concerns regarding the future of their children. The parents of the adolescents with intellectual disabilities had not received any professional education on sexual development. It is very crucial that parents with children who have special needs be informed by health care professionals.

This research was conducted to analyse the violence experienced by nurses employed at six university hospitals. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted. The research sample consisted of 441 nurses who worked in the emergency, intensive care and psychiatry units of six university hospitals in Turkey between June 2008 and June 2009 and who voluntarily agreed to participate. It was found that 60.8% of the nurses were subjected to verbal violence and/or physical violence from patients, visitors or health staff. Of the nurses who were subjected to workplace violence, 42.9% stated that their experience of verbal and/or physical violence had a negative impact on their physical and/or psychological health, and 42.9% stated that their work performance was negatively affected. Of these nurses, 1.8% stated that they received professional help, 13.6% stated that a report was made and 9.5% stated that they contacted the hospital police in some way. According to the findings of this research, similar to the situation worldwide, nurses in Turkey are subjected to verbal and/or physical violence from patients, visitors and health staff.

To sustain medical treatment and prognosis of thalassaemia, it is important for nurses to consult with their patients and parents regarding the use and potential risks of some complementary and alternative medicine.