Antiretroviral treatment (ART) appropriately and regularly used decreases the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load in the bloodstream, preventing HIV-infected people from spreading the infection to others. Disparities in ART adoption persists in East and Southern Africa, with low HIV-positive status knowledge being the primary factor. We investigated individual and household characteristics of HIV-positive status awareness among adults with long-term HIV infection in four East and Southern African countries: Eswatini, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. The study analyzed data from surveys conducted in Eswatini, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe in 2015–2016. Only individuals who tested positive for HIV through rapid tests were included in the analysis. Those who already knew they were HIV-positive were categorized as aware, while those who reported being negative, never tested, or didn’t know their status were categorized as unaware. Statistical models were used to examine various factors related to HIV awareness. Pooled and country-specific odds ratios were computed. The percentage of people who knew they had HIV ranged from 58% (Tanzania and Malawi) to 87% (Eswatini). After adjusting for other variables, young persons in all countries were less likely to be aware of their HIV-positive status. Gender, marital status, education, working status, household wealth, and urbanization level of households were also associated with HIV-positive status awareness but inconsistent across countries. HIV-positive status awareness in these four East and Southern African nations remained unsatisfactory as compared to the United Nations’ 95% guideline, indicating that testing and knowledge of HIV testing in this region still has a lot of potential for improvement. The observed variations among nations may be attributable to differences in HIV pandemic culture and policies. The findings of this study will assist governments determining which subpopulations to target to boost adoption of HIV testing services, as well as in designing and development of policies.

The limitations encountered by aging individuals 65+ in Turkey in their basic and instrumental activities of daily living were examined according to gender and age i.e., specifically for 65-74 and 75+ age groups. Microdata from the Turkey Health Survey implemented by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) in 2019 were used in the analyses. According to the findings of this country-wide research, the results indicated that of the 2457 people aged 65+ living in their own homes, 11.2% were limited in activities of daily living (ADL), and 45.8% were limited in their instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The ADL and IADL limitations also increased significantly according to age and gender. The prevalence of ADL limitations across Turkey was 4.5%, 1.9% in men aged 65-74, and 7.2% in women aged 65-74. In elderly individuals aged 75+, the prevalence of ADL limitations was found to be 13.7% in men and 21.7% in women. Based on the results of the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living module (IADL) results, 46.9% of men between the ages of 65-74 were limited in IADL, while this rate was found to be 72% for women. In both activities, the prevalence of limitations in women was more than twice as high as in men. The prevalence of ADL and IADL limitations differed significantly by gender and age groups (p<0.05).

This chapter examines the entrapment of individuals in Türkiye’s sex work industry through the intersecting lenses of gender, migration, and war. It explores how systemic inequalities, forced displacement, and conflict-driven trauma shape their vulnerability and limit access to health and social services. Drawing on statistics and existing research, this chapter highlights health risks and structural vulnerabilities while identifying the gaps and shortcomings in current health policies. It advocates for trauma-informed, gender-sensitive, and migration-aware approaches, emphasizing the urgent need for inclusive health policy reform that addresses the complex realities faced by those at the intersection of structural violence and social exclusion.

Equitable access to healthcare services remains a major public health concern, particularly for vulnerable populations. Despite significant improvements fo

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of neck pain in the Turkish population and its association with sociodemo graphic factors, work status, self-rated health, obesity, depression, physical activity, non-prescribed medications, and vitamin/nutritional supplements. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2019 Türkiye Health Survey, which included 17 084 participants aged ≥15 years. Descriptive and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the prevalence of neck pain and its associated risk factors. Results: Neck pain prevalence increased with age, peaking between 35 and 65 years old. Women were 3.2 times more likely to experience neck pain than men. Married and divorced individuals had higher risks than single individuals did. There was no significant relation ship between neck pain and educational level or physical activity. Self-rated health showed a strong inverse relationship with neck pain: “good” health increased risk 11 times, “fair” 64 times, “poor” 145 times, and “very bad” 387 times compared to “very good” health. House workers had a lower risk (0.8 times) compared to employees, while pre-obese and obese individuals had a 1.2 times higher risk. Neck pain was twice as common in those using non-prescribed drugs and 1.3 times more common in those using vitamins and supplements. Conclusion: Neck pain is prevalent in Türkiye, with factors such as age, sex, marital status, employment, health status, obesity, and use of non-prescribed drugs and supplements as significant risk factors. This study provides a reference for understanding neck pain, its associ ated factors, and guiding future research. Cite this article as: Aydın HZ, Karaboğa HA, Yıldız NG, et al. Prevalence and associated risk factors of neck pain in the turkishTurkish population: A population based study. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc., 2025;59(6):463-469.