Objective
This study aimed to determine the level of anxiety in elderly individuals during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Ankara province of Turkey and determine its associated factors.
Methods
A quantitative, qualitative mixed‐method study performed in 1–10 June 2020 during the compulsory home‐stay for elderly people in Turkey. The quantitative study was conducted using a structured online questionnaire with 278 participants aged 65 or older. The Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) was used to assess the anxiety. An in‐depth interview with 20 participants was used to fill the gap of face‐to‐face interview due to pandemic situation and strengthen the results of quantitative survey. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed separately.
Results
Of all participants, 88 (31.7%) had a score above the cut‐off point for GAI. The prevalence of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) was significantly higher in female (37.8%) than in male (23.8%). Female gender, economic loss, uncertainty, and the time participants expend to follow news about COVID‐19 pandemic were risk factors of GAD. On the other hand, higher education level, hobbies, and regular physical activity were protective factors against GAD.
Conclusion
During the pandemic, social isolation and lockdown for elderly people make serious risk factor for their mental well‐being. Measures must be taken to support the psychological well‐being of elderly by promoting physical activity and hobbies at home, and reducing their economic concerns.
Aims: Obesity is a health problem caused by excessive fat deposition in the body, which spreads rapidly, threatening the age group of children as well as adults. When it occurs in childhood, it probably continues in adulthood. This study aims to determine the factors related to overweight and obesity in primary and secondary school children in Mersin. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out with the children aged between five and 14 years in primary and secondary schools in Mersin, following the school health activities done by Mersin Public Health Directorate. Minimum sample size was calculated as 1.735 and questionnaires were sent to 2.000 people considering the variables of the class and school location. The independent variables of the study were sociodemographic characteristics, feeding habits, time allocated for physical and other activities, children's body mass index (BMI) categories according to the parents' declarations and parents' BMI categories according to their declarations. And, the dependent variable was the children's BMI values calculated by our measurements. The data of 1.980 students were analyzed. Results: The mean age of the study group was 9.28±2.53 (minimum-maximum: 5-14) years, and 50.9% of them were male. It was found that 14.6% of the group were obese and 21.5% were overweight. While 38.3% of boys were in the overweight or obese category, this rate was 33.8% for girls (p>0.05). The prevalence of overweight or obesity was significantly higher in secondary school students than in primary school students (p<0.05). Conclusions: The factors affecting childhood obesity identified in the studies conducted in Turkey have also become apparent in the current research we did on the school children aged 5-14 years in Mersin.
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