Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(4)

The Influence of Sick Leave Frequency Determinants on Homogeneous Groups in Two Socio-economically Comparable, but Socio-culturally Different Regions in the Netherlands

Willibrord Beemsterboer, Roy Stewart, Johan Groothoff, Frans Nijhuis

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(4):151-160 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3499

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the influence of sick leave frequency determinants on in terms of age and profession homogeneous groups in two socio-economically comparable, but socio-culturally different regions in the Netherlands, i.e. Utrecht (mean frequency 1.10 spells) and South Limburg (mean frequency 1.92 spells). In addition, to get an idea of the study's topical interest, a literature review on sick leave frequency determinants covering the past few decades was performed.Material and methods: 184 participants in the Utrecht and South Limburg regions were interviewed on work, individual and health characteristics. Sick...

Molecular Approaches to Malaria

Jindřich Jíra

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(4):160

Lifestyle Decreases Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases

Jaroslav Slavíček, Otomar Kittnar, Gary E. Fraser, Eva Medová, Jana Konečná, Robert Žižka, Alena Dohnalová, Vladimír Novák

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(4):161-164 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3474

The morbidity and mortality of the cardiovascular diseases is high in the developed countries. The lifestyle changes are capable to decrease it by 50%. The aim of the present study was to measure the parameters of some risk factors before and after a one-week NEW START rehabilitative retreat. 1,349 volunteers, 320 men, 1,029 woman, mean age 51±14.5 (SD) years participated in 30 rehabilitative retreats from 1999-2006 in the Czech Republic, using a low-fat, low-energy, lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet and exercise, in a stress-free environment. Body weight, height, BMI, blood pressure, heart rate, serum cholesterol and blood glucose were measured. Body...

Factors Associated with Sexual Risk Behaviour among Young People in Ukraine

Romana Pylypchuk, Cicely Marston

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(4):165-174 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3466

We used data from a behavioural survey of Ukrainian men and women aged 14-24 to examine the relationship between nine potential risk factors and two HIV risk outcomes: non-use of condom at last sex, and multiple sexual partnerships. Younger age at first sex was positively associated with both health risk outcomes, and condom non-use at first sex was associated with subsequent non-use of condoms at last sex. There were regional differences in frequencies of both HIV risk behaviours. Compared with those who reported living in the place they were born, not living permanently at the current place of residence was associated with a fivefold increase in...

A Study of HIV-1 Genetic Diversity in the Czech Republic: 1986-2007

Marek Linka, Marie Brůčková, Marek Malý, Jana Vandasová, Marie Staňková, Milan Reiniš

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(4):175-177 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3500

Background: The global HIV/AIDS epidemic consists of a number of regional epidemics caused by different HIV-1 subtypes prevailing in different regions.Objectives: To study changes in genetic diversity of HIV-1 strains isolated in the Czech Republic (CR) over a more than twenty-year period (1986-2007).Study Design: HIV-1 strains isolated in CR from 1986 to 2007 were subtyped by pol gene sequencing followed by phylogenetic analysis. The role of HIV-1 subtyping in molecular epidemiology was considered.Results: A wide range of HIV-1 subtypes were found, with subtype B, into which 76.6 % of 534 HIV-1 isolates were classified, being predominant...

Where Do Our Children Learn to Smoke?

Drahoslava Hrubá, Iva Žaloudíková

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(4):178-181 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3488

Background: Primary prevention of smoking in children is mostly carried out through school education schemes organised by trained teachers. The generally accepted notion is that children's opinions and behaviour are influenced by the school, but mainly by the family and their peers, as well as by the broader society. The primary preventive programme aimed at the first three years of primary schools, called "No Smoking is a Norm" strives to encourage parents to take an active part in the education of their children against smoking, as well as about other aspects of a healthy lifestyle. This paper analyses the data documenting the effectiveness of the...

Results form the Albanian Adult Tobacco Survey

Hana Ross, Eduard Zaloshnja, David T. Levy, Dhimiter Tole

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(4):182-188 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3487

Tobacco use prevalence in Europe is characterized by large disparities, with Western nations reporting smoking rates generally below 25%, while Eastern nations have smoking rates usually above 30%. Albania provides a distressing case study for Eastern Europe in which the exposure to the West after the fall of the communist regime dramatically increased the availability of Western-type cigarettes, while adoption of counterbalancing tobacco control measures lagged far behind.Results based on the representative Albanian Adult Tobacco Survey (AATS) conducted in 2007 suggest that smoking is a major problem, with a 64% smoking prevalence among Albanian...

The Role of Tobacco Control Policies in Reducing Smoking and Deaths Caused by Smoking in an Eastern European Nation: Results from the Albania SimSmoke Simulation Model

David T. Levy, Hana Ross, Eduard Zaloshnja, Roland Shuperka, Meriglena Rusta

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(4):189-198 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3486

The Albania SimSmoke simulation model is used to examine the effects of tobacco control policies. The model is used to consider the projected trends in smoking prevalence and associated smoking-attributable deaths in the absence of new policies, and then to examine the effect of new policies that are consistent with the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) on these outcomes.The model shows that significant inroads to reducing smoking prevalence and premature mortality can be achieved through tax increases. A comprehensive strategy to further reduce smoking rates should include a media campaign complete with programs to publicize and...

Changes in Tobacco Use among 13-15-year-olds in the Czech Republic - 2002 and 2007

Hana Sovinová, Ladislav Csémy, Charles W. Warren, Juliette Lee, Veronica Lea

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(4):199-204 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3497

Background. The Czech Republic is a member of the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The EU has made tobacco use prevention a primary health issue and WHO European Region has adopted the European Strategy for Tobacco Control. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the status of tobacco use among adolescents in the Czech Republic and relate these findings to the tobacco control programme efforts supported by the EU and WHO.Methods. Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) data were collected from representative samples of students in grades associated with ages 13-15 in the Czech Republic in 2002 and 2007.Results. Current...

The Effect of Microelements Supplementation on β-oxidation Activity in Healthy and Type 1 Diabetic Rats

Tomasz Kuryl, Bogdan Dębski, Karel Martinik

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(4):205-208 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3459

Diabetes mellitus type 1 disease changes the activity of fatty acid degradation as compared to healthy animals. Supplementation in vitro with microelements chromium Cr3+ and selenium Se4+ and Se2- in non-toxic ([96.15 μmol (5 ppm) for chromium and 6.33 μmol (0.5 ppm) for selenium] concentrations strongly stimulates the activity of this process in diabetic rats. In healthy animals only chromium Cr3+ in concentration of 96.15 μmol (5 ppm) stimulated β-oxidation activity in lymphocytes. It may indicate the beneficial effect of supplementation of the diet with microelements, chromium Cr3+ and selenium Se4+ or Se2- at concentrations as low...

Public Health Research Priorities in Europe Seen by Non-governmental Organizations

Gabriel Gulis, Lara Garrido-Herrero, Zuzana Katreniakova, Gabrielle Harvey, Mark McCarthy

Cent Eur J Public Health 2008, 16(4):209-212 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3492

Background. Public health research is concerned with population health, determinants of health, health systems research, health promotion, environmental health, health protection, disease prevention and research in other fields of public health. During the last decades, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are more often entering the field of public health research. This paper presents results of work within SPHERE (Strengthening Public Health Research in Europe), a European Commission funded study aimed to gather information and produce knowledge on the state of public health research in Europe.Methods. A questionnaire survey was developed and...

Current issue

Next issue