Background: Women with perinatal depression and their children are at increased risk of poor health outcomes. There is a need to implement non-stigmatizing interventions into existing health systems which reduce psychosocial distress during pregnancy and prevent perinatal depression. We adapted the WHO-endorsed Thinking Healthy Programme (THP) to be delivered universally to all women attending routine online pregnancy schools in Istanbul, Turkey. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention. Methods: This mixed-methods study incorporated a two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial and qualitative evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted THP – Brief Group version (THP-BGV) to a range of stakeholders. We recruited pregnant women at 12-30 weeks’ gestation through pregnancy schools within the University Hospital’s catchment area. Women in the intervention arm received five online sessions of the THP-BGV delivered by antenatal nurses. The intervention employed principles of cognitive behaviour therapy to provide psychoeducation, behaviour activation, problem-solving strategies and group support to participants. In the control arm, women received usual care consisting of routine online educational pregnancy classes aided by the antenatal nurses. The women were assessed for depressive symptoms with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at baseline and 4-6 weeks post-intervention and also evaluated for anxiety, perceived social support, partner relationship, level of disability and sleep quality. In-depth interviews were conducted with women and other key stakeholders. Results: Of the 99 consecutive women referred to the pregnancy schools, 91 (91.9%) were eligible and 88 (88.8%) consented to participate in the study and were randomized. Eighty-two (83%) completed the final assessments. Our main findings were that this preventive group intervention was feasible to be integrated into routine antenatal educational classes and it was valued by the women and delivery-agents. While the study was not powered to detect differences between intervention and control conditions, we found small trends towards reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms favoring the intervention arm. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Given the paucity of preventive interventions for perinatal depression in low and middle-income countries, a fully powered definitive randomized controlled trial of this feasible and acceptable intervention should be conducted. Trial registration: The study was registered at Clinical Trails.gov (NCT04819711) (Registration Date: 29/03/2021).

Immigrant children are among the groups that are sensitive to problems related to dental health. The aim of this study was to examine the dental caries of Syrian immigrant children. The study is a descriptive and retrospective study. Its population consists of Syrian immigrant children aged 6–12 years who were screened for dental health in the year 2022 in Istanbul. DMF-T (permanent teeth) and dmf-t (milk teeth) indices were used, which are the (t-T) criteria obtained by dividing the sum of caries (d-D), caries extracted (m-M) and caries-filled (f-F) teeth by the number of people examined. Higher dmft and DMFT scores indicate worse dental health. Dental screening was performed on 549 Syrian immigrant children. In total, 27.2% (n = 149) were brushing their teeth once a day and 97.3% of the children (n = 534) had at least one decayed tooth. The dmft score for the 6–7 year age (6.45 ± 3.33) group was significantly higher than the 8–9 year (4.98 ± 2.78) and 10–12 year (3.22 ± 2.02) age groups (p < 0.001). In our study, the dental caries were seen at a very-high frequency among immigrant children and the habit of tooth brushing remains at a low level. Lower age was the relevant factor for dental caries in our study.

High levels of oral health literacy (OHL) and appropriate health-seeking behaviors are required for oral health and general well-being. This study aims to determine the level of OHL and health-seeking behavior in a multicenter setting. The population of this cross-sectional research consists of people aged 18–65 years residing in Sultanbeyli, Fatih and Eyüpsultan districts. Sultanbeyli has the lowest, Eyüpsultan the middle, and Fatih has a high socio-economic development index. The questionnaire includes sociodemographic questions, questions related to oral hygiene and care habits, dental visit history. The second section includes the Oral and Dental Health Literacy Scale (ODHLS) and the Health-Seeking Behavior Scale (HSBS). The HSBS dimensions are online health-seeking behavior, professional health-seeking behavior, and traditional health-seeking behavior. The four dimensions of the ODHLS are Comprehension/Understanding, Support, Economic Barriers, and Service Use. For both scales, higher scores indicate a higher level of the relevant condition. The data of 839 participants were analyzed in the study. The total ODHLS and HSBS scores were significantly higher in the Fatih district compared to the Eyüpsultan and Sultanbeyli districts, among individuals under the age of 40 years, and those with a higher education level (p < 0.05). Individuals who used interdental brushes or dental floss and those who brushed their teeth 2–4 times a day had significantly higher ODHLS and HSBS scores (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between the total ODHLS score and its dimension scores (except for the Support dimension) and the total HSBS score (p < 0.05). The positive correlation between the OHL score, the total health-seeking behavior score, and the online health-seeking behavior score, indicating that as oral health literacy increases, individuals are more likely to engage in health-seeking behaviors in general, particularly through online sources. Several public health strategies can be proposed to improve oral health literacy and promote appropriate health-seeking behaviors.

In this study, we examined breastfeeding self-efficacy levels, well-being and sociodemographic factors in pregnant women. The population of this descriptive study consisted of women with a pregnancy of 27 weeks or more in the Sultanbeyli district of Istanbul, Türkiye. A questionnaire was administered via telephone calls to pregnant women aged 18 years and older. The first part of the questionnaire included questions regarding breastfeeding history and sociodemographic information. The second part included the Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale, and the last part included the Personal Well-Being Scale. Higher scale scores indicate higher levels of self-efficacy and well-being. In total, 385 women participated in the study. The median age of the pregnant women was 28.0 years (18.0–43.0). The median gestational week was 33.0 (27.0–42.0). Among women who had received breastfeeding counseling, those with a higher level of knowledge about breastfeeding had higher breastfeeding self-efficacy (p < 0.05). Women with better economic status also had higher well-being scores (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between well-being and breastfeeding self-efficacy approaching the statistical significance level (p = 0.052). It is important to consider factors that may be associated with women’s well-being and self-efficacy.

Background Previous studies indicate an increasing prevalence of depression among university students worldwide. Besides, university students are more likely to excessively use smartphones, making them more susceptible to smartphone addiction. Pandemic conditions can also have negative effects on mental health. Thus, this study aims to investigate the frequency of depression among university students during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The study population for this mixed-method research, which includes both qualitative and quantitative components, consists of students studying health sciences at a state university in Istanbul, T & uuml;rkiye. No sample was selected for the quantitative data collection; instead, it was aimed to reach the entire population. Sociodemographic characteristics, the 10-item Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), and the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used. In the qualitative part of our study, semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 12 students. Statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results The study, involving 819 students, found that 25.2% had moderate depression and 5.7% had severe depression. A statistically significant relationship was found between self-perceived smartphone addiction and the presence of moderate-severe depression (p < 0.001). Participants who spent more than 4 h a day on their smartphones, those who checked their smartphones more than 30 times a day, those who perceived themselves as smartphone addicts, and those who experienced smartphone-related sleep problems obtained statistically significantly higher scores from BDI compared to others (p < 0.05). According to our qualitative results, some participants thought that smartphone use could cause a depressive mood by isolating people, while others believed it could do so through the negative effects of social media. All participants reported that the quarantine period increased their smartphone usage. Conclusion Our results suggest a potential interaction between smartphone addiction and depression. This indicates the potential benefit of assessing and addressing both conditions simultaneously.

Background: Perinatal mental health is a major public health concern. In Turkey, public hospitals operate pregnancy schools which provides an opportunity to integrate an evidence-based Thinking Healthy Programme (THP) for perinatal depression. The aim of this study is to adapt the THP for universal use in the group setting and to understand its acceptability and feasibility for integration into the existing antenatal care programme for both face-to-face and online delivery. Methods: Following an expert-led adaptation process using the Bernal Framework, field testing was conducted on a group of women and facilitators followed by in-depth interviews (n:8) and group discussions (n = 13). Data were analysed using Thematic Framework Analysis. Results: Minor but significant adaptations were made to the individually delivered THP for use in the universal group pregnancy schools. Initial findings indicate that the THP-group version was acceptable to its target population and could be integrated into the antenatal care plan for delivery during face-to-face and online group classes. Conclusion: THP is transferable to the Turkish cultural and healthcare context. The THP–group version has the potential to add value to Turkey’s existing perinatal healthcare programme.