• ÖZ

Objectives: This study aimed to determine society's tendency to vaccination from the views of family physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The population of the study was family physicians working in primary care and the data collection was done in November 2019 and December 2020 in the Erzurum province of Turkey. In 2019 and 2020, the total number of family physicians working in Erzurum city were 135 and 134, respectively. The participation rates in both study periods were 120 doctors (around 88.9-89.5% response rate). Results: The medians of the physicians’ durations in the profession in 2019 and 2020 were 8.0 (4.0-11.0) years and 8.0 (3.0-12.0) years, respectively (p=0.990). The proportion of doctors who perceived social media as the reason for vaccination refusal increased from 56 (46.7%) to 92 (76.7%) within one year (p<0.001). Besides, 22 (18.3%) of the participants, who claimed that the patient prefers catching the disease instead of being vaccinated in 2019, had increased to 45 (37.5%) in 2020 (p<0.001). Furthermore, 103 (85.8%) of the participants reported that adult vaccination rates have increased with the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the proportion of doctors, who takes a signed refusal instead of convincing the anti-vaxxers, had increased to 96 (80.0%) from 73 (60.8%) (p=0.001). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced the views of family physicians on the impact of social media on vaccine refusal. Considering the increasing social media activity during the pandemic process, accurate information activities on vaccination should be planned.

• ÖZ

Objectives: The violence observed before pregnancy seems to continue and even flare-up during pregnancy with reportedprevalence as high as 33.3%. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of domestic violence among pregnantwomen applying to a hospital.Methods: The study was conducted at the Nenehatun Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital in Erzurum betweenSeptember 2017 and February 2018 in a cross-sectional plan. Participants of the study consisted of pregnant women,who applied for regular elective follow-up visits. Consecutive women visiting the department of obstetrics during thestudy period (n=580) constituted the study population. Women who already participated in the survey, emergencyapplications, and applications during night shifts (n=169) were excluded.Results: Results for 375 women were analyzed. More than half of the respondents (50.4%, n=189) had experiencedviolence during pregnancy. Verbal abuse was present in all violated women; none of the participants reported sexualviolence. 10.7% (n=40) reported physical violence. 115 women (n=30.7) reported of having some sort of violence alsobefore the pregnancy. In 81% of cases (n=153), the perpetrator was the spouse. None of the victims applied to the authorities.Higher educational status had a 12.8-fold decreasing effect on domestic violence risk.Conclusion: Domestic violence among pregnant women in Eastern Turkey is still high. Efforts should continue to empowerwomen, even implementing a positive discriminatory approach concerning women education and targetingthe perpetrators to stop the violence. Abusers should receive a clear message that there is zero tolerance for domesticviolence in the community.

• ÖZ

Objective: Exposure to needlestick and sharps injuries (NSI) is among the major occupational risks of healthworkers. Yearly 385,000 NSI are reported by health workers. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the frequencyof NSI among nurses at Atatürk University Research Hospital together with the elaboration of the utilizationof effective preventive measures used for infection control as well as the affecting factors.Methods: All 562 nurses working at Atatürk University Research Hospital during September-November 2016were invited to fill a questionnaire with 27 items. Questions were asked about the sociodemographiccharacteristics,having experienced NSI, usage of protective equipment, and hepatitis B vaccination status. Atotal of 555 (98.7%) nurses volunteered to participate. Verbal consent was taken from the participants.Results: Of the participants, 425 (76.6%) were females, and 130 (23.4%) were males. Their mean age was27.5 ± 7.4 years. 52.6% (n = 293) of the participants were in the surgical clinics while 47.4% (n = 262) werein the medical clinics. Of the participants, 21.6% (n = 120) stated that they experienced a needlestick or sharpsinjury within the last one year. Of those injuries, 16.7% (n = 20) happened while removing the needle tip fromthe syringe, 29.2% (n=35) while trying to reattach the needle cap, 16.7% (n = 20) while filling the syringe, and12.5% (n = 15) while drawing blood from the patient.Conclusion: Health workers should be trained on injuries and all other occupational risks with cutting andpuncturing tools, and they should be instructed on the use of protective equipment.