The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and psychological fatigue as a mental health issue among the population of Istanbul, Turkey. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Istanbul, Turkey, between March and June 2020, where a total of 4,700 persons were approached and 3,672 (78%) of participants (64.4% males and 35.6% females) completed the Knowledge Attitude Practices (KAP) and Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) questionnaires. In this study, 64.1% of participants were categorized as psychologically fatigued and 35.9% as normal. There was a significant difference between fatigued and normal participants with respect to age, educational level, occupational status, place of residence and number of family members (p < .001). Other differences related to knowledge of COVID-19 were symptoms, treatment, ways of spreading (p < .001), prevention by avoiding crowded places (p = .008) and isolation (p = .002). For attitudinal items, normal participants generally showed more positive attitudes than the fatigued in believing that COVID-19 will finally be controlled, satisfaction with preventive measures taken by the authorities, reporting suspected cases with symptoms and trusting that Turkey can overcome the COVID-19 pandemic (p < .001). Multivariate stepwise regression analysis indicated that level of education, avoiding going to crowded places, eye, nose and mouth organs are sensitive organs to the virus, keeping physical distance due to epidemic affect by COVID-19 virus, isolation and treatment of people reduce the spread of COVID-19 virus and 14-days period of time, COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with the respiratory droplets of an infected person, occupational status, health education programme needed and antibody treatment variables were significantly associated with fatigue after adjusting for age, gender and income variables. The current study provides valuable information for policymakers and mental health professionals worldwide regarding associations between the mental health of individuals and the ongoing outbreak, COVİD-19.

Rational drug use is a pivotal concept linked with morbidity and mortality. Immigration plays a significant role as a determinant affecting individuals’ health-related attitudes, behaviors, and the pursuit of health services. Within this context, the study was initiated to assess the factors influencing health literacy and rational drug use among Syrian immigrants in Istanbul. A cross-sectional study was undertaken on 542 Syrian adults utilizing a three-part questionnaire encompassing sociodemographics, rational drug use, and the e-health literacy scale (eHEALS). With an average age of 39.19 ± 13.10 years, a majority of participants believed medications should solely be doctor-prescribed (97%) and opposed keeping antibiotics at home (93.7%). Yet, 62.5% thought excessive herbal medicine use was harmless. The mean eHEALS score stood at 20.57 ± 7.26, and factors like age, marital status, income, and duration of stay in Turkey influenced e-health literacy. Associations were seen between low e-health literacy and being female, being older, having a lower education level, and regular medication use. Syrian immigrants displayed proper knowledge concerning antibiotics yet exhibited gaps in their understanding of general drug usage, treatment adherence, and herbal medicines. Approximately 80.3% had limited health literacy, pointing to the need for targeted interventions for enhanced health and societal assimilation.

The global migration trend has brought attention to the mental health of immigrant populations, especially postpartum women. The prevalence of postpartum anxiety and depression among these populations remains a growing concern. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with postpartum anxiety and depression among immigrant women, with a special emphasis on Syrian migrants in Turkey. A cross-sectional design was employed, enrolling postpartum women who visited the Strengthened Migrant Health Center in Istanbul between July and December 2022. Data were collected using a three-part questionnaire comprising sociodemographic details and scores from the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and Beck Anxiety Scale (BAI). The average age of participants was 25.73 years. The mean EPDS and BAI scores were low at 1.27 and 3.85, respectively. Notably, 97.1% of women scored below the EPDS cut-off point of 13. EPDS scores showed a significant relationship between income levels and COVID-19 vaccination status, while BAI scores were significantly associated with educational levels. There was an inverse correlation between EPDS scores and the number of cohabitants in a household. The observed low rates of postpartum depression and anxiety could be attributed to the accessible health services and psychosocial support for immigrants in Turkey. It would be useful to conduct multicenter and comprehensive epidemiological studies on migrant puerperas.

Amaç: Bu çalışmada İstanbul’da sağlık alanında (tıp, diş hekimliği, eczacılık, hemşirelik, ebelik, fizik tedavi ve rehabilitasyon, diyetisyenlik, odyoloji, sağlık yönetimi) yükseköğrenim görmekte olan öğrencilerin aşı tereddüdü düzeyini, dağılımını ve öğrenim yılına göre değişimini ortaya koymak amaçlanmıştır.Yöntem: Çalışmamız bir anket çalışmasıydı ve belirlenen fakülte ve bölümlerde kayıtlı (T.C. Ölçme, Seçme ve Yerleştirme Merkezi 2019 verilerine göre) 17.488 üniversite öğrencisinin %10’una ulaşmak hedeflendi. Anket Google Formlar® platformunda çevrimiçi olarak gerçekleştirildi.Bulgular: Çalışma toplam 1559 öğrenci içerdi. Öğrencilerin %15,1’i “Gerekli durumlarda (riskli maruziyet, rutin korunma) kendinize tereddüt etmeden aşı yaptırabiliyor musunuz?” sorusuna “Hayır” yanıtını verdi. Bu oranın öğrenim yılı arttıkça azaldığı görüldü (χ2=21,523; p<0,001). Aşı tereddüdü tıp (%9,2) ve ebelik (%11,2) öğrencilerinde en düşük, fizik tedavi (%31,3) ve odyoloji (%30,4) öğrencilerinde ise en yüksek düzeydeydi. Aşı tereddüdü düzeyi eğitim düzeyine göre anlamlı farklılık gösterdi (χ2=63,034; p<0,001); öğrenim yılı arttıkça aşılara duyulan güven artmaktaydı. Ancak öğrencilerin %78,6’sının grip aşısına dair tereddütleri olduğu ve bunun öğrenim yılı ile anlamlı biçimde değişmediği (p=0,053) görüldü. Kızamık ve suçiçeği aşıları ile ilgili tereddütlerin başlıca nedeni “hastalığı geçirmenin aşı olmaktan daha koruyucu” olduğu düşüncesi; hepatit B, tetanos ve kuduz aşıları ile ilgili tereddütlerin başlıca nedeni ise “yan etkilerden duyulan kaygı” idi.Sonuç: Sağlık çalışanları arasındaki aşı tereddüdü toplumun aşılanma tutumu üzerinde oldukça etkilidir. Öğrenim yılı arttıkça azalmakla birlikte, sağlık öğrencilerinde aşı tereddüdü düzeyi yüksek görünmektedir. Bu tereddütlerin yükseköğretim sırasında belirlenip doğru bilgilendirmeyle giderilmesi son derece önemlidir. Sağlık yükseköğretimindeki içerik ve yöntemler bu gözle yeniden değerlendirilmelidir.

With the global migrant population on the rise, it’s imperative to focus on the health status of more vulnerable groups within these communities. The elderly immigrants face myriad physical and psychosocial challenges that significantly impact their health and quality of life. This study aims to investigate the nutrition, daily life activities, and clinical frailty status of elderly immigrants residing in Türkiye. A cross-sectional design was employed in the Sultanbeyli District, focusing on Syrian immigrants aged 65 and over. Participants were surveyed face-to-face by interpreters proficient in Arabic. The questionnaire comprised sociodemographic details, health status, and scales like Katz Daily Life Activities, Clinical Frailty, and Mini Nutritional Assessment. The data analysis was executed using SPSS 22. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and median, while categorical ones were expressed in numbers and percentages (%). A significance level of P < .05 was considered for the analyses. The average age of the participants was determined as 71.64 ± 6.20 years. In the study group, 49.7% were female, 75.5% were younger than 75 years old, 47.7% had less than primary school education, 56.3% were married, 42.4% had a low income level, and 56.9% lived in the same household with 5 or more people. Among the participants in the study group, 47% had walking and balance problems, 29.1% had a history of falls in the last year, 10.6% were disabled, 69.5% complained of pain, 82.8% had a chronic illness, and 43% had polypharmacy. The median value of the KATZ Daily Living Activities scale was 6, the mean score of the Clinical Frailty Score scale was 3.25 ± 1.25, and the mean score of the Mini Nutritional Assessment scale was 12.40 ± 2.15. Among immigrant elderly individuals, 88.1% were able to sustain their lives independently, 13.9% were clinically frail, and 3.3% were at risk of malnutrition. Factors such as age, level of education, socioeconomic status, marital status, number of cohabitants in the household, BMI, neurological problems, walking-balance disorders, disability, and presence of chronic diseases are associated with daily life activities, frailty, and malnutrition status. It is believed that broader field research with greater participation would be beneficial for evaluating the nutritional status of immigrant elderly individuals.