Information, attitudes, behaviors and expectations of health workers working in the public health department and affiliated units in the central district of aydin province about the "healthy nutrition and active life program of turkey" that is being implemented and prevention of obesity at the community level

Objective: The purpose of this study is to define the knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and expectations of primary health workers who undertake important tasks in the maintenance of the 'Healthy Nutrition and Active Life Program of Turkey'. In this way, it was aimed to make tactical and strategic plans better by revealing the problematic aspects and achievements of the program. Our study is to define the information, attitude, behavior and expectations of the health workers who are actively involved in the program for the first time in the national programs carried out in the field of Health what makes our study is unique. Materials and Methods: The sample of the study was consisted of 303 participants of totally 325 workers, working in the central district of Aydın province (Public Health Directorate, Efeler Community Health Center and 32 family health centers affiliated to the Central District). The data of the study were collected by the survey method, which was structured as a result of literature research, to determine the sociodemographic characteristics, protecting and improving behaviors and the information, attitude, behavior and expectations of the participants. In these questionnaires, there are common questions among the groups, as well as questions prepared specifically for the groups. In the data analysis process of the study, descriptive statistics were used. Results: A total of 303 health workers participated in the study. 99 of the participants were male (32,9 %), 204 were female (67,1 %). 29 participants are under 30 years of age (9,5 %), 274 participants are over 30 years of age (90,4 %). 48 participants were single (15,8 %), 228 participants were married (75,2 %) and 25 people were divorced (8,2 %). 244 of the participants had children (80,5 %), 59 had children (19,4 %). 19 health workers have high school graduates (6,2 %), 89 health workers have associate degree (29,3 %), 94 health workers have undergraduate (31,0 %), 73 health workers have master's degree (24,0 %), 24 health workers have specialist/doctorate degree (7,9 %). 20 participants work under 5 years (6,6 %) in the profession. While 294 (97,0 %) of the participants were aware of a program carried out by the Ministry of Health on "adequate and balanced nutrition and living, prevention of obesity", the number of people who knew that this program was conducted in the province was 291 (96,0 %). 208 participants (68.5 %) studied the program partly and described it as a program that is mindful, practical (55,9 %), whose name meets its aims (58,1 %), has realistic objectives (55,9 %), has advanced components for the future (55,4 %), reducing health expenditures (59,6 %), has a primary health care service increase effect (55,4 %). The participants emphasized that the program could not be enough to reduce obesity alone (52,6 %), and they think that the public does not have enough knowledge about the program (61.1 %) while 49,9 % of the participants obesity is perceived as a major health problem by the community. 263 health care personnel (86,7 %) indicate that the prevalence of obesity is not determined in the region where they are responsible. 219 (72,2 %) scored minimum 5 points out of 10 points when the participants were asked to score the success of the program. When asked what the term "combating obesity" refers to the health care workers, it was stated that 244 health workers (80,6 %) answer was adequate and balanced diet, 237 health workers (78,1 %) did not change their diet after the program, 194 health workers (63,9 %) have not participated in planned activities within the last 12 months. Participants; in order to achieve the success of the programme, stated that there is a need for more personnel, more time, working with different institutions, and the program needs to be announced more in the media. Conclusions: According to the findings in our study, most participants think that the program content and the objectives, goals and strategies of the program are well shaped. However, it is difficult to see the reflection of this on the field. The obstacles to the success of the program include the fact that the participants think that the society does not have enough knowledge about obesity and related problems, the measurement of the public benefit status from community and group education, the lack of knowledge about the prevalence of obesity in the regions of the staff, the loss of data, statistics and feedback among health. Key words: Obesity, primary health care workers, national health program, information, attitude, behavior and expectations.