The prevalence and risk factors of gambling behavior in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Amaç: Bu makale KKTCdeki erişkin kumar davranışı ile ilgili yapılan ilk araştırmanın verilerini ortaya koymaktadır. KKTC Kumar Yaygınlığı Araştırmasının amacı erişkinlerin kumar oynama yaygınlığı, risk etkenlerini ve problem kumar oynamanın ülkemizdeki boyutlarını göstermektir. Yöntem: Bu çalışmanın evreni KKTCde yaşayan 18-65 yaş arasında ve Türkçe konuşan bireylerdir. Dokuz yüz yirmi dokuz kişiyle evlerinde görüşülmüştür. Çalışma, Mayıs- Haziran 2007 tarihleri arasında KKTCde yapılmıştır. Verilerin toplanmasında araştırmacılar tarafından hazırlanan 30 maddelik bir anket ile South Oaks Kumar Tarama Testi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların %55i yaşamları boyunca 17 çeşit kumar aktivitesinin bir veya daha çoğuna katılmıştır. KKTCde olası kumar bağımlılığı %2.2 oranında saptanmıştır. Katılanların %32si yaşamında en az bir kez kumar nedeniyle bir sorun yaşadığını belirtmiştir. Kumar oyunlarında da ciddi para kayıpları olduğu görülmektedir. Çalışmaya katılanların çevrelerinde de kumar alışkanlığının yaygınlaştığı, yakın arkadaşların, akrabaların, baba ve kardeşlerin, eşlerinin, çocuklarının bile kumara alıştıkları belir- tilmektedir. Risk etkenleri olarak erkek, 29 yaşından küçük, evli olmamak ve yalnız yaşamak belirlenmiştir. Tartışma: Çalışma KKTCde kumarın giderek yaygınlaştığını, kumar bağımlılığının yüksek düzeyde olduğunu ve toplumu tehdit eder hale geldiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Kumar oynamayı azaltacak bilimsel önleme ve tedavi programlarının geliştiril- mesine ve yaygınlaştırılmasına gereksinme vardır.

Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyetindeki kumar davranışının yaygınlığı ve risk etkenleri

Objective: This paper presents results from the first national survey of adult gambling behavior completed in Turkish Republic and Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The aim of the TRNC Gambling Prevalence Survey was to provide statistically robust data on adults participation in gambling, and to estimate the extent of problem gambling within the country. Methods: The population used in this study is all the people living permanently in TRNC who speak Turkish, and within the age group 18-65. Household interviews were made with 929 people. The study was carried on between May and June 2007 in TRNC. To obtain data 30 item questionnaire prepared by the researchers and Turkish Version of Revised South Oaks Gambling Screen were used. Results: The great majority (55%) of the TRNC respondents has participated in one or more of the 17 gambling activities included in the survey at some time during their lives. In TRNC, 2.2% of the weighted sample scored as lifetime probable pathological gamblers. 32% of the participants stated to have experienced a problem related to gambling at least once in their life time. Big amounts of money have been lost via gambling. The participants also mentioned that their friends, relatives, parents, siblings, partners and even their children are getting used to gambling and gambling is becoming more frequent. Several demographic charac- teristics including gender, age, having child and civil or marital status are important risk factors for problem gambling. Conclusion: This study shows us that gambling is getting more prevalent in TRNC, the prevalence of gambling prevalence is high and it has become a problem threatening community. Prevention and treatment programs against gambling based on scientific foundations should be developed and generalized in TRNC.

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