Missed Opportunities in Adolescent Health: An Overview From Turkey

Year 2020, Volume: 14 Issue: 4, 588 - 597, 20.12.2020

Asya Banu Babaoğlu , Ülken Tunga Babaoğlu , Sibel Cevizci Buşra Tozduman , Halide Karakaş , Mustafa Tözün

https://doi.org/10.21763/tjfmpc.742560

Abstract

Introduction: Serious health problems and poor health habits persist among adolescents despite access to health information and medical care. The study aimed to determine the status of access to health services, the need for health information, and the preferred source of information among adolescents in Turkey. Method: In this descriptive study, a questionnaire developed by the researchers was applied online to individuals aged 18-25 between September - December 2017. Descriptive statistics were shown with numbers (n) and percentages (%) or mean (m) and standard deviation (± SD). Pearson chi-square and Kruskal Wallis tests were used for data analysis. Results: The mean age of the total 1807 participants was 20.28 (±1.89) and 57% were female. The rate of adolescents whose number of visits to the family physician was accurate to national guidelines was higher among those who had attended public schools and who lived in a nuclear family. This rate was lower among those who continued high school in the lower developed part of Turkey. Only 12% of the adolescents had undergone a full physical examination and few were questioned about psychosocial aspects. The demand for counseling on health topics about risky behaviors differed according to gender. While school was the main ‘past’ source for information, the family physician was the most ‘preferred’ one. Conclusion: Missed opportunities exist in adolescent health. Adolescent health services should be maintained in a multidisciplinary manner. Especially primary care services and school settings should be strengthened to provide accurate health information to young people.

Keywords

Adolescent health services, preventive health services, school health, health education, primary care physician

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Thanks

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Ergen Sağlığında Kaçırılmış Fırsatlar: Türkiye’den Genel Bir Bakış

Abstract

Giriş: Sağlık bilgilerine ve tıbbi bakıma erişilmesine rağmen, ergenler arasında ciddi sağlık sorunları ve kötü sağlık alışkanlıkları devam etmektedir. Bu çalışmada, Türkiye'de ergenlerin sağlık hizmetlerine erişim durumu, sağlık bilgi ihtiyacı ve tercih edilen bilgi kaynağının belirlenmesi amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı nitelikteki bu araştırmada, araştırmacılar tarafından geliştirilen bir anket, 18-25 yaş arası bireylere Eyül – Aralık 2017 arasında, online olarak uygulandı. Tanımlayıcı istatistikler sayı (n) ve yüzde (%) veya ortalama (m) ve standart sapma (± SD) ile gösterildi. Veri analizi için Pearson ki-kare ve Kruskal Wallis testleri kullanıldı. Bulgular: Toplam 1807 katılımcının yaş ortalaması 20.28 (± 1.89) idi ve % 57'si kadındı. Aile hekimini ulusal yönergelere göre uygun sayıda ziyaret emiş olan ergenlerin oranı devlet okullarına devam eden ve çekirdek bir ailede yaşayanlar arasında daha yüksekti. Bu oran Türkiye'nin az gelişmiş bölgelerinde liseye devam edenler arasında daha düşüktü. Ergenlerin sadece % 12'si tam bir fizik muayeneden geçmiş ve çok azı psikososyal yönler hakkında sorgulanmıştır. Riskli davranışlarla ilgili sağlık konularında danışmanlık talebi cinsiyete göre değişmektedir. Bilgi için 'geçmişteki' asıl kaynak okul olsa da, aile hekimi en çok 'tercih edilen' kaynaktı. Sonuç: Ergen sağlığında kaçırılmış fırsatlar bulunmaktadır. Ergen sağlığı hizmetleri çok disiplinli bir şekilde sürdürülmelidir. Gençlere doğru sağlık bilgisi sağlamak için özellikle birinci basamak hizmetleri ve okul ortamları güçlendirilmelidir.

Keywords

ergen sağlığı hizmetleri, koruyucu sağlık hizmetleri, okul sağlığı, birinci basamak hekimleri, sağlık eğitimi

Project Number

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