Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(1)

Discrimination and Subjective Well-Being: Protective Influences of Membership in a Discriminated Category

Karel Hnilica

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(1):3-6 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3608  

Background: Research reveals that discrimination has harmful effects on health and quality of life. Among the most frequent types of discrimination pertains gender and age discrimination. Research results show that discriminatory behaviours based on gender afflict predominantly women; age discrimination afflicts mainly older adults. At the same time, it has been found that members of these traditionally discriminated categories often use strategies that mitigate the effects of discrimination. Hypotheses: Discrimination will have detrimental effects on subjective well-being. But its effects will be most harmful for persons who are not...

Health-Related Quality of Life: a Population Based Study from Slovenia

Zalika Klemenc-Ketiš, Mateja Smogavec, Nina Softič, Janko Kersnik

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(1):7-12 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3636  

Objectives: Health status is represented by people's subjective assessment of their sense of well-being and ability to perform social roles and has been well accepted as a health indicator of different populations. The aim of this study was to determine health-related quality of life in Slovenian population. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional postal survey in a random stratified sample of 1,000 adult Slovenian inhabitants. The questionnaire consisted of the respondents' demographic data (sex, age, education level, employment status, living environment), self-reported chronic conditions, self-reported use of health services and EQ-5D...

The Implications of Nutrition Services within the Health Care System on the Quality of Life and Longevity, in Developed Countries: a Re-Analysis of 38 Studies

Stefanos Tyrovolas, Yannis Tountas, Evangelos Polychronopoulos, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(1):13-19 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3616  

Background: The United Nations' Global Population Pyramid is undertaking a shift from pyramid to cube. The concomitant decline in fertility and mortality rates produces a higher portion of older people, and, thus, an increased number of deaths due to cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Limited studies have investigated the effect of health care services on longevity. In this work, findings from studies throughout the world are presented and re-analysed in order to evaluate the effect of health care services on population's health status. Methods: Studies that have assessed the associations of nutritional and other health care services...

Changes in Surveillance of Acute Respiratory Infections Including Influenza in Slovak Republic during 1993-2008

Jana Seligová, Andrea Čulmanová, Zuzana Krištufková, Lýdia Čisláková, Henrieta Hudečková

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(1):20-25 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3593  

The authors evaluated surveillance of acute respiratory infections (ARI), influenza and influenza-like illnesses (ILI) in the Slovak Republic (SR). They analyze morbidity, age-specific morbidity, complications, mortality, number of influenza viruses isolations and vaccination coverage rates in the SR in the years 1993-2008. They focus mainly on the analysis during the epidemic. Most epidemics have been caused by influenza virus A subtype H3N2. The age group mostly affected by morbidity during the year were children at the age of 0-5, while during the epidemic, the highest morbidity was recorded among school children at the age of 6-14. A complicated...

Hepatitis C Virus Antibody Status, Sociodemographic Characteristics, and Risk Behaviour among Injecting Drug Users in Croatia

Tatjana Vilibić-Čavlek, Jelena Marić, Ljiljana Katičić, Branko Kolarić

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(1):26-29 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3602  

The study was conducted among 76 injecting drug users (IDU) from seven Croatian cities during a three-year period (2005-2007). Each par-ticipant completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and potential risk factors for hepatitis C virurs (HCV) infection followed by anti-HCV and anti-HIV antibody testing. The mean patient age was 30. The majority of patients (69.8%) reported more than one potential exposure to HCV: 97.1% had shared injecting equipment, 75% reported risk sexual behaviour, and 56.3% reported a history of travelling abroad. The overall HCV seroprevalence was 51.3% (95% CI=40-63%). HCV seroprevalence increased with increasing...

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Predictors of PSA Screening in a Tri-Ethnic Population

G.M. Monawar Hosain, Maureen Sanderson, Xianglin L. Du, Wenyaw Chan, Sara S. Strom

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(1):30-34 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3622  

Background: This study was carried out to identify racial/ethnic differences in predictors of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in a group of prostate cancer patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 935 prostate cancer patients were recruited from the Texas Medical Center, Houston, between 1996 and 2004. It included 372 Caucasians, 346 African Americans and 217 Hispanics. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic and life-style related variables, and self-reported PSA screening history through personal interview. Results: African American (54.4%) and Hispanic patients (42.3%)...

Compliance to Diabetes Self-Management in Rural El-Mina, Egypt

Eman M. Mahfouz, Hala I. Awadalla

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(1):35-41 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3573  

Background: Diabetes is a serious public health problem that threatens the quality of life of patiens with diabetes, the success of long-term maintenance therapy for diabetes depends largely on the patients' compliance with a therapeutic plan. Aim of this study: to assess compliance of diabetic patients to diabetes self-Management in rural El Minia, and to determine the associated factors related to it. Subjects and Method: Cross sectional analytic study. Rural adults identifed as having previously diagnosed diabetes were recruited to participate in this study. A total of 206 rural community diabetics were randomly chosen and subjected...

Influence of Sociodemographic Factors on Helicobacter pylori Prevalence Variability among Schoolchildren in Leipzig, Germany. A Long-Term Follow-up Study

Sophie Bauer, Peter Krumbiegel, Matthias Richter, Thomas Richter, Stefan Röder, Ulrike Rolle-Kampczyk, Olf Herbarth

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(1):42-45 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3643  

Background: Until the beginning of this decade the assumption was that the Helicobacter pylori prevalence increases with the age of the population under consideration. More and more epidemiological studies have been suggestive of constancy in Helicobacter pylori prevalence, but to date there has been no long-term follow-up study in a large group of children confirming this hypothesis. Methods: Following up our study of H. pylori among school starters and 2nd graders in 1998 and 2000, we conducted a third phase of this study in 2006 using the [13C]-Urea Breath Test and a detailed parent-completed epidemiological...

Characterization of the Plasmidic or Chromosomal cpe Gene and Metabolic Activities in Clostridium perfringens Isolates from Food in San Luis - Argentina

Mariana Georgina Corigliano, Ana María Stefanini de Guzmán, Patricia Virginia Stagnitta

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(1):46-53 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3597  

Food poisoning and non-food poisoning illnesses due to C. perfringens (by enterotoxin production) have been associated to chromosomal or plasmidic location of the cpe gene, respectively. Clostridial pathogenicity has been correlated to protease and azoreductase production.The aim of this work was: i) to assess the sanitary-hygienic quality of dehydrated soups (100 samples) consumed in San Luis - Argentina; ii) to verify the presence of C. perfringens in these food products using the "Most Probable Number" method (MPN) and plate-counting methods; iii) to characterise enterotoxigenicity in strain isolates by RPLA; iv) to determine...

Smoking Practices in Jordanian People and their Impact on Semen Quality and Hormonal Levels among Adult Men

Hisham Y. Al-Matubsi, Reem A. Kanaan, Farqad Hamdan, Maher Salim, Ghaleb A. Oriquat, Othman A. Al-Hanbali

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(1):54-59 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3629  

Despite worldwide anti-smoking campaigns, cigarette smoking prevalence is increasing in the third-world countries. It is now regarded as the most important public health issue. Here, we study the current smoking situation and investigate the impact of cigarette smoking on semen quality and hormonal levels among adult people. Furthermore, we suggest various strategies to reduce smoking consumption among young individuals. A cross-sectional data from 804 adult smoker subjects (male n=530 and female n=274) aged between 15 and 45 years were analyzed. One hundred and eleven males were agreed for further evaluation of their semen quality and hormones compared...

News and Notes

Action needed to reduce health impact of harmful alcohol use.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(1):41, 45