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Background: The connection between socio-economic status and health is documented, yet not fully understood. The goal of this research was to analyze the relationship between socio-economic status, lifestyle and health status, availability of health-care, social capital, and satisfaction with life. Subjects and methods: Subjects were 1117 women aged 25-65 years divided in two groups. Group 1 consisted of women who receive public assistance (N1=591), while Group 2 consisted of women who do not (N2=526). The sample was stratified by random choice into multiple stages based on six regions of Croatia, residential area size, and the age of respondents. Visiting nurses surveyed the deprived population, while in Group 2 self-interviewing was conducted. A questionnaire entitled “Inequalities in health” was used. The respondents participated in this research voluntarily and anonymously. Results: Socially deprived women consume spirits and wine more often (p

Melanoma consists 4-5% of all skin cancers, but it contributes to 71-80% of skin cancers deaths. It is controversial whether worldwide increases in melanoma incidence represent a true epidemic but at the same time that dramatic increase in incidence occur in setting of relatively stable mortality trends, observed in Croatia also. The majority of authors accept that main risk factors for melanoma relate to environmental exposure and genetics with epidemiologic studies linking sun exposure to melanoma development. Data were obtained from Croatian cancer register for patients diagnosed between 1999 and 2008, for malignant melanoma of the skin (ICD-10 code C43) at national level and from 2003 to 2008, at the County level (Primorsko-goranska County). Melanoma incidence nearly doubled in males from 8.75 to 13.4/10(5) per year, fold in females from 9.1 at the start of observation to the end of 12.0/10(5) per year in Croatia. Melanoma incidence rates were much more higher for Primorsko-goranska County with range from 10.1 to 17.5/10(5) per year. The greatest increase of melanoma incidence rates was in males 60 years and over year group at diagnosis. National comparison of variation in cancer incidence by region and age can provide basis for public health prevention. It requires the integration of information on risk factors, incidence that could help to reduce regional inequalities in incidence and reduce the future cancer incidence.

Voda je jedan od čimbenika opstanka čovjeka i stoga predstavlja bogatstvo i dobro od općega interesa svake države. To ukazuje potrebu za intenzivnu brigu i nadzor vodoopskrbe, te primjenu tehnoloških postupaka pročišćavanja i dezinfekcije vode. U Hrvatskoj se putem sustava organizirane komunalne vodoopskrbe opskrbi oko 80% ljudi, a putem lokalnih vodovoda oko 260.000 korisnika ili 6% ukupne populacije. Vodu za piće iz individualnih izvora, bunara i cisterni koristi 14% ukupne populacije. Republika Hrvatska donijela je Zakon o sanitarnoj inspekciji 2009. godine kojim je uređena organizacija i ustrojstvo sanitarne inspekcije, te njezine nadležnosti i ovlasti. Budući da sanitarna inspekcija ima izuzetno široko polje djelatnosti, Zakon propisuje da je na 15.000 stanovnika potrebno zaposliti jednog inspektora, kako bi se zaštita zdravlja stanovništva kvalitetno mogla obaviti. Tako ukupni zbroj sanitarnih inspektora iznosi, i u operativi i administrativnim pozicijama, 258, te po postojećem kriteriju na razini cijele RH nedostaje samo 37 inspektora. Ipak ovi brojevi dovode u zabludu, jer gledajući distribuciju po županijama, situacija je daleko lošija, budući da na mjestu gdje se neposredno obavlja 80% sanitarnog nadzora nedostaje 101 inspektor. Trenutačno osnovni problem u upravljanju vodama i proizvodnji vode za piće su mala materijalna sredstva, te bi stoga veću pažnju trebalo posvetiti upravo zaštiti onoga što imamo, a sanitarna inspekcija u tome igra značajnu ulogu. Država bi i dalje trebala ulagati u edukaciju i organizaciju sanitarne službe, a njezin položaj treba ojačati kao integralni dio Ministarstva zdravstva i socijalne skrbi., Water is one of the main factors in the sustainability of human life and, therefore, an asset and public interest of every state. The preservation of water and intensive care of water supply systems with the application of new technologies is an integral part of health care quality. In Croatia 80% of the population is covered with drinking water from communal water supply systems, 6% is using water from small local water supply systems, and the remaining 14% of the population is using water from individual wells or cisterns. In Croatia, the Law on Sanitary Inspection was ratified at the beginning of 2009, and it regulates the organization and establishment of sanitary inspection, its competences and authorities. Since sanitary inspection covers an exceptionally wide area of expertise, the law defines the employment of one inspector per 15.000 inhabitants in order to have quality health protection. Today there are 258 inspectors in Croatia, combined on administrative and operative positions and indicating a shortage of only 37 inspectors according to the Republic of Croatia criteria. However, these numbers are misleading because the distribution on county level, where 80% of sanitary inspection is performed, is much worse, and there is a shortage of 101 inspectors. At the moment the main problem in water production and management in Croatia are financial resources. More attention should be headed to the protection of the existing water resources, and sanitary inspection plays a significant role in that process. Croatia should invest more in the education and organization of sanitary inspection, and strengthen its position within the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.