Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4)

Risky health behaviours and socioeconomic inequalities in European countries: new insights from European Social Survey

Vaidas Morkevi�ius, Zenonas Norkus, Jurgita Markevi�iūtė

Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4):251-259 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6112  

Objectives: This paper explores education-, income- and occupational class-related inequalities in risky health behaviours including into models all three factors together as well as their interactions, which has not been undertaken by previous studies analysing socioeconomic status (SES) related differences in risky health behaviours. Methods: Our data source is the special module "Social Inequalities in Health" included into the European Social Survey Round 7 (ESS R7) and conducted in 20 European countries. We run nine separate multilevel binomial logistic regression analyses for all the risky health behaviours with all our independent and control...

Screen time and its effect on dietary habits and lifestyle among schoolchildren

Konstantinos D. Tambalis, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos, Glykeria Psarra, Labros S. Sidossis

Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4):260-266 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6097  

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the associations between recreational screen time and dietary habits and lifestyle factors in a representative sample of schoolchildren. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study data were derived from 177,091 children aged 8 to 17 years participating in a health survey. Recreational screen time, physical activity (PA), and sleeping hours were assessed through self-completed questionnaires. Dietary habits were evaluated via the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for children and adolescents (KIDMED) test. Anthropometric and physical fitness (PF) estimations were obtained by trained investigators. Results:...

Evaluation of public knowledge and beliefs of adverse health effects of unhealthy food and knowledge and beliefs based inequalities among various socio-demographic groups in Lithuania

�ymantas �andaras, Valerij Dobrovolskij, Rūta Maceinaitė, Birutė Struk�inskienė, Rokas Arlauskas, Rimantas Stukas

Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4):267-273 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6180  

Objectives: The availability of information on healthy products does not ensure the empowerment of people with the knowledge on how to choose or avoid food products or dishes depending on unhealthy factors. Public knowledge and beliefs of unhealthy food effects on health needs to be evaluated so that appropriate measures can be taken to properly inform people and relevant socio-demographic groups. Methods: The original survey questionnaire containing questions about specific food groups and various health effects was compiled. A total of 1,007 respondents, Lithuanian residents aged 18-75 years, were surveyed in March 2019. Multilevel stratified probability...

Association of the role of personal variables and nonoccupational risk factors for work-related carpal tunnel syndrome

Romana Ulbrichtov�, Viera Jaku�ov�, Oto Osina, Jana Zibolenov�, Stanislav Kuka, Henrieta Hude�kov�

Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4):274-278 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6109  

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify personal variables and nonoccupational risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome and to analyse the strength of association of these factors. Methods: We performed a case-control study with 162 cases and 300 controls. We studied consecutive patients with an electrophysiologically confirmed diagnosis of symptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome. Univariate analysis was performed in the case group and control comparing them for presence of various risk factors. Multivariate analysis was carried out through logistic regression. Results: The mean BMI and age were greater in the case group than in the control....

Identifying risk factors of severe early childhood caries in infants from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Marija Obradovi�, Olivera Doli�, Slava Sukara, Nata�a Kne�evi�, �eljka Koji�

Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4):279-285 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6126  

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate risk factors for S-ECC among infants under 24 months of age living in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study was carried out. Considering inclusion criteria, the total sample consisted of 192 examined infants under 24 months of age. Parents/caregivers were interviewed ahead of each dental examination of children. Following data collection, outcome measures were: the presence/absence of S-ECC (children with at least one active early carious lesion on the smooth surfaces of the maxillary anterior teeth/caries-free children) and the severity of dental caries...

Early childhood caries in multilingual community

Ivan Tu�ek, Bernadette O'Rourke, Charles Leki�, Jasmina Tu�ek, Branislav Tu�ek

Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4):286-291 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6345  

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and severity of early childhood caries (ECC) among different social groups of preschool children in ethnic and multilingual diverse community such as South Backa District (SBD), Republic of Serbia. Methods: This survey was a cross-sectional analytical study and sample type has been projected by simple random choice of 13-71 months old children together with their parents of varied socioeconomic status (SES) and nationality in SBD. Preschool children were randomly selected through a two-stage cluster sampling procedure and parents were invited to answer the questionnaire regarding SES,...

Oral health status of 6- and 12-year-old children of Roma origin from Eastern Slovakia: a pilot study

Zuzana Pil�t, Jana Ga�ov�, Eva Petrej��kov�, Mat�� Mathia, Iveta Boro�ov�, Jarmila Bernasovsk�

Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4):292-296 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6225  

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical effect of untreated dental caries in Roma children from eastern Slovakia using dmft/DMFT index and SiC index, association between dental caries development and oral hygiene, dietary habits and preventive dental care. Methods: Dental caries were assessed by recording the dmft index (for primary dentition) and the DMFT index (for permanent dentition) that are used to assess the state of teeth, which expresses the current state of teeth or its development in an individual or the entire population. The SiC index was calculated as the mean dmft of one-third of the population...

Influenza vaccination rate among high risk group patients in primary health care in Greece

Anastasia Papaioannou, Apostolia-Evangelia Konstantinidi, Ekaterini Primikiri, Foteini Asimakopoulou, Dimitrios Aravantinos, Zacharoula Mavromichali

Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4):297-301 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a5237  

Objective: Seasonal influenza vaccination is the main method for influenza prevention. The main objective of this study is to estimate the frequency of vaccinations in patients with chronic illnesses presented to a primary health care (PHC) centre. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in patients admitted to the Kapandriti Health Centre. Their vaccination status with an influenza vaccine and their underlying diseases were recorded. Results: 34.8% of the subjects had been vaccinated against seasonal influenza. Vaccination coverage was found to be 53.9% in pulmonary, 55.6% in chronic kidney disease, 43.7% in cardiovascular disorders, 40.6%...

New perspective on rise of tuberculosis cases: communal living

�erif Kurtulu�, Remziye Can, Zafer Hasan Ali Sak

Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4):302-305 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6016  

Objective: Forced migration caused by wars has led to regression in health parameters, including tuberculosis. This study aims to determine the relationship between living area, family type and the number of contacts among refugees and Turkish citizens diagnosed with tuberculosis. Method: This study was designed using retrospective file scanning. A total of 194 patients with diagnosed TB were included in this study. In addition, patients' addresses were visited and their family lifestyles and living areas were recorded. Results: Of 194 patients in the age range of 1-72 years (mean = 31.15, SD = 15.16), 98 patients were refugees. The number of contacts...

Serum vitamin D levels in healthy urban population at reproductive age: effects of age, gender and season

Meri� Karacan, Akin Usta, Sermin Bi�er, G�l Baktir, G�l İpek G�ndogan, Ceyda Sancakli Usta, Gulsema Akinci

Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4):306-312 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a5947  

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of age, gender and season on vitamin D status in healthy urban population at reproductive age. Also, we investigated the distribution of population into different groups regarding 25(OH)D levels. Methods: Serum 25(OH)D levels of 21,317 participants: 5,364 men (25.1%) and 15,953 women (74.8%), aged between 18-45 years, applying to two medical centres for check-up located in the same city were retrospectively analyzed. Group I consisted of 14,720 participants (11,257 women and 3,463 men) in the first centre and Group II consisted of 6,597 participants (4,696 women and 1,901 men) in the second...

Fatty acids profile, atherogenic and thrombogenic indices in freshwater fish common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from market chain

Milena Bu�ov�, Lenka Kou�imsk�, Milan Tu�ek

Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4):313-319 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a5966  

Objective: The study examined the fatty acids composition and main nutrients composition in two freshwater fish species in the Czech Republic during one year. Methods: Samples of common carp and rainbow trout were taken from a market chain during a year. All samples were homogenized and analyzed for lipid, protein, water, and ash contents. Energy value (E), sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and saturated fatty acids (SFA), atherogenic index (AI) and thrombogenic index (TI) were then calculated. Results: The freshwater fish on the Czech market chain have beneficial average value content of unsaturated fatty...

Occurrence of acrylamide in selected food products

Milena Bu�ov�, Vladim�r Bencko, Katar�na Kromerov�, Iris Nadjo, Jana Babjakov�

Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4):320-324 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6430  

Objective: Acrylamide is a toxic compound found in occupational and non-occupational environment. It originates from industrial use, technological processes in construction as well as food production, water purification, and laboratory use. Adverse effects including neurotoxicity, probably carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, teratogenicity, and reproductive toxicity were reported in many studies. Our study is focused on acrylamide content in selected food products in the Czech Republic. Method: In this study, we determined acrylamide content in selected samples of commonly consumed food products (potato chips, biscuits, popcorn, corn flakes, breakfast cereals,...

NATO and evidence-based military and disaster medicine: case for Vigorous Warrior Live Exercise Series

John M. Quinn, Vladim�r Bencko, Alexander V. Bongartz, Preslava Stoeva, Adrijana Atanasoska Arsov, Stefano De Porzi, Milos Bohonek, Ronald Ti, Jack Taylor, John Mitchell, Veronika Reinhard, Petr Majovsky, Jozef Kuca, Petr Kral, Laszlo Fazekas, Zoltan Bubenik

Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(4):325-330 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6045  

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is the premier and only security alliance uniting 30 countries and growing with many partner states in the provision of collective security and against threats posed by conflict and natural disasters. Security of countries and communities is increasingly threatened by a broad spectrum of unconventional types of war and disease threats - from hybrid and asymmetric to multi-domain and peer-to-peer/near-peer conflict. The NATO Centre of Excellence for Military Medicine (MILMED COE) is the centre of gravity for medical best practices and promotion of medical doctrine across the NATO alliance. Disaster medicine...