Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of mothers about wetnursing and human milk banking in Kayseri, Turkey.Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in the family healthcare centers of four community health care centers in Kayseri Province. The questionnaire form was fulfilled with face-to-face interviews of 614 participants.Results: Of the mothers, 88.9% had heard about wet-nursing, 10.9% had a wet-nurse of her own, 5.2% had a wet-nurse of her child, and 5.0% had been a wet-nurse of another child. Wet-nurses were chosen mostly from relatives. Of the mothers, 93.6% stated that they had not heard about milk banking, whereas 97.2% did not know its purpose and services. More than half of the mothers (61.6%) thought human milk banking as a right application, whereas 75.4% of the mothers who thought that it was not right were against it because they believed marriage between foster milk siblings was religiously forbidden. Most of the mothers (79.8%) stated that they could milk for another child, and 56.2% identified that they could donate breast milk to the human milk bank. Conclusion:More than half of the mothers thought that milk banking was a correct application. Mothers who were opposed to milk banking showed religious justifications as reasons. Placing the subjects "milk banks" and "human milk donorship" during education on breast milk in hospitals is important in terms of increasing the awareness of mothers.

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SummaryAim: This study was conducted to determine problems in lactation and risk factors affecting breastfeeding. Material and Method: This descriptive study was conducted with mothers who had children aged 24-60 months and who presented for any reason to Family Healthcare Centers of two Public Healthcare Centers in Kayseri province. The study was performed with 500 mothers who gave a verbal consent and a questionnaire was used to collect data. Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Committee (2011/20) the approval and verbal consent was obtained from the mothers. Results: The mean age of the mothers was 29.8±5.3 years, while the mean age of the children was 35.7±10.0 months. 38,6% of the children were born by cesarean section, 8.8% had low birth weight and their mean breastfeeding period was 17.7±8.0 months. The main breastfeeding problems included painful and cracked nipples (46.0%), inadequate lactating (34.2%), excessive lactating (29.8%), flat or inverted nipples (11.6%), mastitis (9.2%), extreme-fullness of the breast (9.0%) and plugged milk ducts (8.2%). Being housewife, moderate and low income status, caesarean delivery, low birth weight and less than 8 lactations a day were the risk factors for inadequate lactating. A maternal age younger than 25 years old, caesarean delivery, premature delivery, less than 8 lactations a day were the risk factors for painful or cracked nipples. The median exclusive breastfeeding duration and total lactation time of the mothers who had concerns about inadequate lactating were significantly lower than the others. The total lactation time of the mothers who had flat and inverted nipples was also shorter. Conclusions: Lactation problems are observed with a high rate. Awareness of the healthcare professionals and supports given by them may reduce these problems. (Turk Arch Ped 2013; 48: 145-151)

Objective: The present study aimed at investigating obesity prevalence and related factors in medical students in Kayseri. Materials and Methods:A total of 849 medical students were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected using a questionnaire form. Body weight, height, and waist and hip circumferences were measured. Statistical data analysis was performed with chi-square test and logistic regression analysis.Results: Of the 849 students, 52.8% were males and mean age was 21.37±1.95 years. More than half of them (64.7%) ate three meals a day, while 78.9% skipped meals; 22.4% ate fast food for more than two times a week, 36.9% consumed soft drinks everyday, and 35.3% had a habit of eating at night. Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and central obesity was 22.9% (31.3% males and 13.5% females), 2.5% (4.0% males and 0.7% females) and 23.2% (37.5% males and 7.2% females), respectively, the values being significantly higher in males than in females. For obesity, being male, age ≥22 years, living in a dormitory, not eating fruits and vegetables everyday were determined to be risk factors; and for central obesity, being male, age ≥22 years, not eating fruits and vegetables everyday and eating fast food for more than two times a week were determined to be risk factors.Conclusion: Turkish medical students have unhealthy nutritional habits. Male students are at higher risk for obesity and central obesity than are female students. The consciousness of being an example to the community in terms of health and nutrition should be constituted in medical students.

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