Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(4)

Awareness of Cardiovascular Prevention Methods among Residents of Post-Communist Polish Provinces with Highest Mortality Rates

Małgorzata Pikala, Dorota Kaleta, Wojciech Bielecki, Irena Maniecka-Bryła, Wojciech Drygas, Magdalena Kwaśniewska

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(4):183-189 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3675  

Aim: The aim of the study was to estimate the awareness of healthy lifestyle behaviours in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) prevention and to find out possible determinants of this knowledge among adult residents of Polish provinces with the highest CVD mortality rates. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of randomly selected representative sample of 2,211 (51.9% women) aged 20-74 years from Łódź and Lublin voivodeships participating in the National Polish Health Survey WOBASZ. Knowledge on CVD prevention, sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics were collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Blood pressure,...

Follow-up of a Cardiovascular Prevention Campaign

Dirk Devroey, Ellie Senesael, Tania Moerenhout, Erwin Van De Vijver, Jan Vandevoorde

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(4):190-196 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3656  

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors and morbidity in a sample of the population that received a brief intervention on cardiovascular prevention seven years ago. All family physicians who participated in the Cardiovascular Prevention Campaign in five Belgian towns in 2002-2003 received a follow-up questionnaire for each participating patient. The questionnaire included questions about new cardiovascular diagnoses, parameters of the latest physical examination and blood tests. Analyses were based on the 318 questionnaires that included essential information such as the date of the latest contact and the new diagnosis...

Health Promoting Behaviours and Lifestyle Characteristics of Students at Seven Universities in the UK

Walid El Ansari, Christiane Stock, Jill John, Pat Deeny, Ceri Phillips, Sherrill Snelgrove, Hamed Adetunji, Xiaoling Hu, Sian Parke, Mary Stoate, Andi Mabhala

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(4):197-204 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3684  

Aims: University students' wellbeing and health promoting and damaging behaviours are important and comprise many parameters. The purpose of this study was to assess a range of health behaviours and lifestyle characteristics of 3,706 undergraduate students from seven universities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We compared differences in these parameters between males and females, and across the participating universities. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire assessed socio-demographic information (e.g., gender, age), nutrition, dietary intake and food consumption patterns, as well as the importance of healthy eating, three...

Adolescents' Health Behaviours and Its Associations with Psychological Variables

YoungHo Kim

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(4):205-209 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3694  

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of health risk behaviours among a random sample of Korean adolescents and the relationship of psychological variables with health risk behaviours. Methods: 885 students ranged from 7th to 9th grade were randomly selected from 3 junior high schools in Dobong-gu district, Seoul. Four Korean-version measures were used to assess the health risk behaviour and psychological variables of adolescents. Frequency analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were performed to accomplish the purpose of the study. Results: Korean adolescents showed high prevalence...

Attitude of Lithuanian Residents to Confidentiality of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Care

Lina Jaruseviciene, Jeffrey V. Lazarus, Apolinaras Zaborskis

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(4):210-216 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3680  

Objective: To assess the attitudes of Lithuanian residents towards the protection of confidentiality in the sexual and reproductive health care of adolescents. Material and Methods: A public opinion survey was performed in August 2005. A random sample, taking into account age, sex, education, employment, family status, place of residence of 1,054 Lithuanian residents aged 16-74 was interviewed in their households. The topics dealt with in the 23-item questionnaire concerned attitudes towards confidentiality in adolescents' sexual and reproductive health care as well as towards sexual and reproductive health promotion for them. Results:...

Risk Factors of Hepatitis C Infection among Egyptian Blood Donors

Hala Ibrahim Awadalla, Mostafa Hassan Ragab, Nozat Ahmed Nassar, Mahmoud Abd Hamid Osman

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(4):217-221 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3628  

Background: Surveillance of infectious disease markers in the blood donor population is important in recognizing trends in prevalence and incidence of transfusion related infections in asymptomatic volunteer blood donors. Subjects and Methods: It was a cross sectional study. Samples were collected from volunteer blood donors and questionnaire was designed to collect the risk factors data. The prevalence of hepatitis C antibodies among 1,000 apparently healthy blood donors were determined. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of virus C hepatic infection and to illustrate the various socio-economic, behavioural and medical factors...

Evaluation of Students' Social Hand Washing Knowledge, Practices, and Skills in a University Setting

Ahmet Ergin, Mehmet Bostancı, Özgür Önal, Ali İhsan Bozkurt, Nesrin Ergin

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(4):222-227 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3664  

Background: Handwashing is an effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrhea and acute respiratory infections. This study aimed to evaluate the Turkish University students' social hand washing knowledge, practices, skills and related factors. Materials and Methods: All existing 1st year students in the Medical and Educational Faculty, plus all existing 2nd and 3rd year students in the Medical Faculty of Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey, from April to May, 2010, were eligible for the study. Participants filled in a questionnaire. The questionnaire tested the students' social hand washing knowledge (8 questions), practices (21 questions),...

Estimated Daily Intake of Benzoic Acid through Food Additives in Adult Population of South East Serbia

Konstansa Lazarević, Dušica Stojanović, Nataša Rančić

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(4):228-231 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3655  

The aim of this study is to estimate dietary intake of benzoic acid and its salts through food additives in adult population of South East Serbia. Information on dietary intake among 620 adults (aged 18-65) was collected using a food frequency questionnaire, and 748 food samples were analyzed. The mean estimated intake of benzoic acid - 0.32 mg/kg of body weight (bw) per day was below acceptable daily intake (ADI). Dietary exposure to benzoic acid (0.36 mg/kg of bw/day; 7.2% ADI) (consumer only), also did not exceed ADI. The main contributors of benzoic acid to dietary intake were non alcoholic beverages (43.1%), ketchup and tomato products (36.1%),...

Cutaneous Superficial Myiasis: Report of a Rare Nosocomial Parasitic Disease Caused by Sarcophaga Spp. (Diptera, Sarcophagidae)

Moreno Dutto, Michele Bertero

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(4):232-234 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3671  

Flies of the genus Sarcophaga are known to cause myiasis in necrotic wounds and in anatomical cavities where fluids have collected. We present here the first case of external cutaneous myiasis by Sarcophaga larvae in the absence of skin ulcerations or necrosis. The host in this case was a geriatric patient with limited motor and neurological capacity who lives in a nursing home. Of particular importance is that Sarcophaga is capable of causing myiasis even in the absence of cutaneous infections or significant stasis of fluids or secretions and that the larvae can cause damage in otherwise healthy tissue.

Rare Positive Laboratory Tests for the Presence of Influenza Virus A/H1N1-2009 in May, June, July, 2011, in the Districts of Košice I-IV and Surroundings of Košice in the Slovak Republic: Rapid Communication

Jana Seligová, Anna Belyová, Andrea Čulmanová, Vladimír Oleár, Lýdia Čisláková

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(4):235-237 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3739  

Influenza illnesses and positive laboratory tests for the presence of influenza virus in recent years in the districts of Košice I-IV and surroundings have only occurred during the winter season. In May to July 2010 only one positive laboratory test for the presence of influenza virus A/H1N1-2009 was reported. In 2011, during the same period, a total of 29 positive laboratory tests were recorded for the presence of influenza virus A/H1N1-2009 in individuals with typical clinical symptoms of influenza. Of 29 clinical cases, 27 were diagnosed as influenza and 2 as SARI; 4 cases involved children.

Measurements of the presence of pollutants among children and their mothers: European pilot study aiming at a harmonised approach for human biomonitoring.

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(4):189  

The Public Health Dimensions of the Global Ecological Integrity Group (GEIG) Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, July 9-16, 2011

Colin L. Soskolne

Cent Eur J Public Health 2011, 19(4):227 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.b0005