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In the context of the heightened sensationalism in international press coverage of Kosovar foreign fighters (FFs), this study took a unique approach and it explored how domestic Kosovar media outlets distance FFs from mainstream culture in an attempt to uphold its positive societal image. Drawing upon a theoretical framework that integrates framing theory, social identity theory and integrated threat theory, this study investigates how Kosovar press coverage creates a distinction between the 'in-group' (Kosovar society) and the 'out-group' (FFs). Methodologically, the study employs content analysis and qualitative content analysis to systematically examine how Kosovo's five major media outlets frame the language, themes and narrative strategies surrounding the portrayal of FFs. The findings illustrate that, through specific framing techniques, the media not only categorizes FFs as external to Kosovo's cultural and ethical boundaries but also emphasises their portrayal as threats to the nation's security and values. The present study highlights the media's critical role in navigating the complexities of national identity, social representations and identity processes posed by the return of FFs, offering new insights into the relationship between media framing and societal perceptions within the context of global extremism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite significant global investments in mobile government projects, the adoption of these services has been unsatisfactory, with low user acceptance levels reported by governments. Given the crucial role of user acceptance in the success of m-government, researchers specializing in this field should investigate the factors that influence users' willingness to use these services. This study aims to address this issue in the Republic of Kosovo context. In the study, the reasons for using the Mobile Document Management System (mDMS) were also investigated. The research gathers information from government officials in the Republic of Kosovo through structured questionnaires, and empirically tests the factors that influence the intention to use Mobile Government (m-Government)systems in Kosovo, by amalgamating two models: TAM& DOI, with the incorporation of two new constructs, namely Trustworthiness, and Image. The results have revealed that Perceived Usefulness and Observability were the sole factors that might influence the willingness of the Kosovars to use m-Government andthe mDMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pubertal status/stage of maturation and pubertal timing have been linked with emotional symptoms of problems among youth, particularly in vulnerable developmental contexts at risk for stress exposure. The present study tested the extent to which pubertal status/stage of maturation and pubertal timing were associated with anxious/depressed, withdrawn/depressed, and somatic complaint symptoms in Kosovar adolescents. It also tested whether sex moderated these relationships. Data were collected from N = 1,342 Kosovar adolescents (665 girls; M age = 13.26 years, SD = 1.27; 677 boys M age = 13.19 years, SD = 1.31). Regression analyses provided evidence that pubertal status/stage was positively associated with rates of anxious/depressed, withdrawn/depressed, and somatic complaint symptoms in girls, but only with withdrawn/depressed symptoms in boys. Additionally, pubertal timing was positively associated with anxious/depressed, and somatic complaint symptoms in girls; no significant links were found for boys. The present study provided evidence that advanced pubertal status/stage as well as timing is positively associated with internalizing symptoms in girls; however, only pubertal status/stage was positively associated with withdrawn/depressed symptoms in boys. The study highlights the importance of pubertal development for internalizing symptoms in a developmental context known for high stress exposure, particularly for girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crohn's disease (CD) has an unknown etiology, but it has a genetic component. Many cases of familial CD have been reported. We describe a Kosovar Albanian family with 6 children, of whom 3 have CD: monozygotic twins and their sister. As far as we know, this is the first such report of CD within a Kosovar family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide as a phenomenon is present in almost all societies of the world, including the Kosovar society, through which the individual tries to take his own life. According to the law, this offense is not punished because the individual ceases to exist as a legal subject, but if we are dealing with pushing or assisting suicide, then investigations are initiated by the competent authorities. The main purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the opinions of the citizens of the Municipality of Prizren on the cause, methods and treatments of suicide cases in this municipality. An online questionnaire was used to achieve the required results. The research method used is of quantitative type, through which it is attempted to present numerical data about the issue in question. The results of the research indicate that the main cause of suicides in the Municipality of Prizren are unstable economic conditions, narcotic substances use and psychological stress. The research determines that one of the main ways to commit suicide is hanging and jumping from high objects. According to the data provided, it is observed that the phenomenon of suicide is of medium frequency, and not all cases of suicide should be subject to autopsy examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the growth of online businesses in Kosovo is a topic that is treated in this paper. Due to the fall in economic activity brought on by the economy's closure, the COVID-19 pandemic inevitably had a negative impact on the Kosovar economy, just like it has on other nations around the world. The requirement for enterprises to undergo a digital transformation has been considerably expedited by Covid-19, which has had a tremendous impact on businesses, society, and the economy in general. E-commerce is based on the idea of conducting business more effectively and quickly online. Giving clients access to the company's computer system allows them to modify the product and service to their specifications and ensure on-time delivery. These automated tailored services have a significant financial impact on enterprises by boosting earnings and lowering operating expenses. This paper seeks to shed light on the Covid-19 pandemic's effects on Kosovo's internet commerce growth. For this reason, a survey was conducted online, with 251 respondents selecting the appropriate sample using a non-random selection approach. The results show that Covid-19 appears to have had a favorable effect on the growth of online businesses in Kosovo. The Covid-19 pandemic has positively impacted the growth of online enterprises in Kosovo, and the 24/7 accessibility of the online business has positively impacted the increase in sales volume, according to the results of the hypothesis testing. The paper primarily describes how the Covid-19 epidemic affected the growth of online enterprises in Kosovo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Anaesthesiology practitioners experience extraordinary pressure and stress in their daily work. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research is to assess the occupational factors and burnout syndrome among anaesthesiologists and anaesthesiology technicians in Kosovo. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study carried out on a sample of 154 (out of 220) anaesthesiologists and anaesthesiology technicians in Kosovo. We collected the data using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Occupational Role Stressors Scale. RESULTS: The mean ± SD age of the study sample was 42.5 ± 8.7 years, and 57% of them were working more than 40 h per week. A high level of burnout in terms of depersonalization (DP) was found among 48 of anaesthesiologists and anaesthesiology technicians, 26 had high level of emotional exhaustion (EE). EE and DP showed significant positive correlation with work overload, managerial responsibility role, and overall occupational stress (p < 0.05). Female anaesthesiologists and anaesthesiology technicians showed higher score of personal achievement (PA) compared to males (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Approximately one-third of Kosovar anaesthesiologists and anaesthesiology technicians showed high level of burnout and it is rising as work overload and the role of managerial responsibility increases. Increasing the number of employed anaesthesiologists and anaesthesiology technicians in health institutions in Kosovo will lead to a better workload distribution and lower burnout syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the recent history of religious development in Albania during the post-communist period. Second, it identifies patterns in the differentiated development of material and spiritual religious life among the region's religions, and the institutional and political reasons behind them. Third, it analyses the positions of Albanian Cham, Albanian Kosovar and Bosniak Sunni communities as they confront the post-communist pressures of proselytisation and de-Sunnification. Through historical and discourse analysis and unstructured interviews with individuals of different religious, ethnic and local affiliation, the paper reveals that religious, ethnic and local feelings are strong among all three communities. Attitudes toward proselytization attempts among Bosniaks, Cham and Kosovar Albanians, however, are more resilient than those of local Sunnis toward de-Sunnification. The weakening of religiosity among local Sunnis is in conjunction with an organised movement to construct a distinct Bektashi identity, although most Bektashis still identify as Muslim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of asylum rejections has increased in recent years, yet successful claims differ dependent on the originating county of the asylum seekers. In 2018, the European Union rejected 25 per cent of the 519,000 asylum requests which it received (Eurostat, 2019). Kosovars were the fourth-largest group of asylum seekers in Europe in 2015 and 96 per cent of them were rejected and returned to Kosova. Rejected asylum seekers and those who lose their temporary status are returned to their countries of origin partly because the EU endorses repatriation, or the return of forced migrants to their country of origin, as a preferred solution to the migration crisis. This, despite a significant body of research which substantiates that repatriation is not sustainable and current repatriation policies have seldom considered the experiences of rejected asylum seekers. Considering that social workers are the first point of contact for many rejected asylum seekers, models of practice which inform social work with this population are needed. This article uses the case of Kosovar returnees to examine the utility of a social pedagogy lens to better prepare social workers to work with returnees. Social pedagogy, with its dedication to social justice, the importance it places on local and regional contexts, as well as its attention to praxis, is well placed to guide social workers in partnering with return migrants as they navigate the complex realities of reintegration. While grounded in Kosova's context, the social pedagogy framework has global implications considering the increasing number of return migrants worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies that have examined the association between masculine gender role stress and intimate partner violence (IPV) have been conducted in Western countries, and there is a lack of evidence from non-Western countries. Therefore, this study aims to explore the generalizability of the Masculine Gender Role Stress Scale to a context not previously studied, and to test its association with IPV. The participants were 445 male students from the University of Pristina who were recruited via the convenience sampling technique. Findings from the study show that 5-factor model of the Masculine Gender Role Stress (MGRS) Scale showed a better fit to the data in comparison to the 3-factor and 1-factor model, in sample of Kosovar students. Also, the subscale of the MGRS Scale were consistently associated with each form of IPV (physical, psychological and sexual violence). In addition, the findings reveal that specific domains of masculine gender role stress accounted for variance in the types of IPV. Particularly, physical inadequacy was a consistent predictor across different types of violence, whereas intellectual inferiority accounted for physical and psychological violence perpetration. Implications are discussed in terms of the importance of examining masculine gender role stress domains in a clinical context and the design of intervention programs. Public Significance Statement: Findings from this study provides us with distinguished and precise knowledge on association between masculine gender role stress and IPV, with essential importance on clinical work with males who batter. Specifically, findings from this study show that focusing on the prevention strategies that tackle cognitive schemes associated with masculine norms related to physical adequacy and intellectual superiority compared with other men would be more beneficial for male students who engage in physical and psychological violence against their partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores what the Brussels Dialogue, a cornerstone of the current EU peacebuilding activities in Kosovo, means for the Serbs living in the north of Kosovo. Many argue that the EU-brokered dialogue is a 'success story' of EU peacebuilding. Yet such positive assessments usually overlook several consequences for the locals and how they perceive this 'success story'. By linking the theory on the EU as a normative power with academic literature on the local aspects of peacebuilding, this paper contends that, despite the apparent success, the EU's peacebuilding approach in Kosovo also brings several negative psychosocial implications for Serbs in the north of Kosovo and have further exacerbated intra-ethnic relations. The contours of intra-ethnic conflict in this territory reached a climax in January 2018 when the prominent Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic was assassinated. The increase in a general lack of security in the north of Kosovo, which the EU has also added to by ignoring or not properly addressing the challenges, questions the apparent success of the EU's efforts here while also negatively affecting the overall perception of the EU as a normative power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of domestic and intimate partner violence are continuously reported in Kosovo, and child maltreatment by parents is common. This study explores the coexistence of intimate partner violence and child maltreatment and its association with sociodemographic factors. A sample of 208 Kosovar adolescents was assessed using the Conflict Tactic Scale and the Parent-Child Conflict Tactic Scale. The results showed interplay between experiencing intimate partner violence and witnessing violence between parents. The hierarchical logistic regression results showed that adolescents exposed to psychological intimate partner violence had a higher chance of experiencing psychological aggression and corporal punishment by their parents, when controlling for sociodemographic factors (gender, average grades, parents' education, number of sisters/brothers, and financial income). The findings foresee the necessity of comprehensive approaches to family violence phenomena that affect family members, including parents and children. They indicate the importance of considering poly-victimization in the assessment and prioritization of such cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accounts are increasing of non-voluntary deportations of Kosovar adolescents from European countries to Kosovo, and human rights organizations have condemned deportation practices endorsed by European governments for being violent and detrimental to adolescents' physical and psychosocial health and well-being. However, research remains scarce on the connections among migration, repatriation and reintegration realities, and adolescents' experiences of psychosocial health and well-being. This article describes how adolescent returnees living in Kosovo express their emotional distress, their struggle with negative living conditions, and their exposure to violence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 adolescents with very high-level post-traumatic stress and depression symptomatology and a General Health Questionnaire score of 40 or higher. This empirical data provided in-depth information about the adolescents' narratives of symptoms and illness, explanations of symptom and illness causation, ongoing stressors and the impacts these factors have on their health and well-being. The study found that suffering and related health problems are associated with a sense of loss and ongoing social isolation, economic problems, precarious living conditions, and discrimination. The adolescents' lack of social and economic capital makes accessing appropriate resources and professional help for their health and social problems extremely difficult. In the discussion and conclusion section, recommendations are made for the development of appropriate and holistic psychosocial interventions focusing on well-being and human rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tooth formation was recognized as useful body system to assess maturity and predict age. Tooth mineralization is much less affected by the endocrine and different nutritional status than bone mineralization, and teeth formation provides a more reliable indication of chronological age. Demirjian et al. in 1973 presented a scoring system and method for dental age estimation on a sample of French-Canadian children. Chaillet et al. and Willems et al. modified original Demirjian method. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of four Demirjian’s, Chaillet and Willems methods for age estimation in the children of Kosovo. Materials and methods The cross-sectional study was based on the evaluation of the sample of 1022 orthopantomograms (OPTs) of healthy Kosovar children, aged between 5 and 14 years. OPTs were taken from the Radiology unit of University Dentistry Clinical Center of Kosova, as part of random clinical treatment. We tested the accuracy of four methods based on seven mandibular teeth, Demirjian from 1973 (Dem73) and 1976 (Dem76), Chaillet from 2005 (Chaillet) and Willems from 2001 (Willems) and two Demirjian’s methods based on different sets of four teeth (Dem76PM 1 and Dem76IN 2 ). Results For most tested methods, we found statistically significant differences between the chronological age (CA) and dental age (DA) (p < 0.05). In males, the most accurate method were those using four teeth, Dem76IN 2 (0.03 years) following by Dem76PM 1 (−0.05 years), following those using seven teeth, Willems (−0.14 years), Chaillet (−0.24 years) and Dem73 (0.43 years). In females, dental age was the most accurate for the Willems method (−0.24 years) following Chaillet (−0.35 years), Dem76 (0.43 years) and Dem73 (0.55 years), while Dem76PM 1 and Dem76IN 2 overestimated by 0.45 years and 0.46 years, respectively. The mean absolute difference between DA and CA were between 0.61 years for the Willems, to 0.78 years for the Dem73 in males, and 0.64 years for the Willems to 0.75 years for the Dem76IN 2 in females. Conclusion The Willems method was the most accurate for estimating a dental age if all seven mandibular teeth are available for analysis, and we found the similar accuracy of Dem76PM1 and Dem76IN2 methods. Therefore, we may encourage their use for age estimation on the Kosovar children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public opinion in postconflict societies toward international missions is widely believed to be important. We offer a theory that local satisfaction critically depends on an individual’s perception of whether the mission is furthering the wartime political agenda of his or her social group. To test this theory and competing hypotheses, we examine Kosovo Albanian satisfaction with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). We use data from seventeen different representative surveys conducted in Kosovo from 2002 to 2007 as well as focus group and other primary and secondary sources. Consistent with our theory, we find that aggregate satisfaction over time reflected UNMIK’s growing acceptance of Kosovo’s independence and individuals with more radical views tended to be less satisfied with UNMIK. Our analysis implies that missions can achieve greater local satisfaction by doing what is possible to be responsive to, or at a minimum recognize, the wartime political agendas of the key social groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conflict in Kosovo created mass displacement and a fractured health system. Roma, Ashkali, and Balkan Egyptian communities are particularly vulnerable to discrimination and exclusion from institutions. We aimed to examine Roma, Ashkali, and Balkan Egyptian disparities in quantity and quality of antenatal care received. We conducted a cross-sectional study in August 2012 with 603 women aged 15 or older who had given birth in the previous two years. We measured quantity of antenatal care using number of visits and quality of care using antenatal checklists. We used linear regression with interaction terms of displacement and type of health institution (for example, Serbian or Kosovar) to assess ethnic disparities in antenatal care. Women from Roma, Ashkali, and Balkan Egyptian communities received poorer quantity and quality of antenatal care compared to Kosovar Albanian and Serbian women. In adjusted models, Roma, Ashkali, and Balkan Egyptian women scored 3.5 points lower [95% CI (-5.2, -1.8)] on the checklists. Roma, Ashkali, and Balkan Egyptian women who were displaced received even poorer quality of care. Ethnic disparities exist in quality of antenatal care. Women from Roma, Ashkali, and Balkan Egyptian communities receive the poorest quality of services. As Kosovo strives to build a multiethnic health care system, a focus on equity is important to ensure the right to health for Roma, Ashkali, and Balkan Egyptian women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome P450 genetic polymorphisms are responsible for individual variations in drug metabolism and drug-drug interactions. They are very important for pharmacogenetics, and their frequency varies across different populations. There is a big gap in the knowledge about the CYP gene family polymorphisms in the population of Kosovo, and the aim of our study was to fill that gap by determining the frequency of the most important variant alleles of CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A5 in 234 nonrelated Kosovars. The allele frequencies of CYP2C9*2 and 2C9*3 were 17.52 %, and 10.89 %, respectively. Sixteen participants (6.81 %) were CYP2C9 poor metabolisers. The CYP2C19*2 and *17 variant frequencies were 13.03 % and 19.01 %, respectively. There were 2.13 % CYP2C19 poor and 4.27 % ultra-rapid metabolisers (homozygous carriers of the *17 allele). With regard to CYP3A5, the frequency of the *3 variant allele was 98.29 % (non-expressors), while the remaining participants (1.70 %) were expressors of CYP3A5. These findings are comparable with other European ethnicities, specifically those of Southeast Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A remarkable out-migration from Kosovo occurred after the winter 2014/15, raising urgent questions about its underlying drivers and implications for both Kosovo and the destination countries. This article aims at providing a better understanding of key migration triggers and some particularities of the phenomenon. We link our empirically found migration drivers to Hirschman's () famous exit, voice or loyalty scheme by asking in how far the exit must be understood as the explicit alternative to voicing dissatisfaction with the current situation in the country. According to our results, the recent Kosovar out-migration is a clear response to weak governance and thus goes beyond the widespread 'migration-cum-remittances' livelihood practice. In this sense it could be interpreted as a revolt against the political system. With view to policy implications for destination countries, we point at legal travel and migration opportunities as the better solution to channel both voice and exit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the transformative character of tourism and travel for a small, but multi-facetted example: Kosovo is a post-socialist transformation society and a post-war country in the process of nation building, a developing country within Europe and a transnational migration society. With quantitative data being unreliable in such contexts, an exemplary, biographical study allows an analysis of cross-system transformations and continuities. Based on narrative interviews, the paper studies travel patterns and narratives of an Albanian woman (anonymized here as Zana Bajrami) from socialist rural Yugoslavia in the 1970s to migratory Europe in the 2000s. After a general introduction, the paper considers public and private tourism in Yugoslavia first, before focusing on the impact of migration on tourist behavior. In trying to contextualize an individual example, it also explores the potential of a biographical approach in tourism research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical works produced by Kosovars are currently at the centre of diplomatic concerns. Today Turkey is one of Kosovo's closest allies, but Turkish scholars and government officials are particularly critical of the way the history of the Ottoman Empire is being taught in Kosovo's schools. In this article I consider how Pan-Slavic ideologies have influenced the writing of Kosovar Albanian histories, particularly during theYugoslav socialist era. I draw on research concerning the relationship between bias in historical textbooks and international conflict. Exploring examples of historical literature currently being taught in Kosovo's primary and secondary schools, I analyse the discourses espoused by Kosovar historians in depicting the history of the Ottoman Empire. I argue that some of the Turkish criticisms are valid and hence there is need to revise historical texts used in Kosovo's schools. In particular, there is a need to provide more objective accounts of Kosovar Albanian history in classrooms, especially as regards anti-Ottomanism and the Pan-Slavism. The amendment of Kosovar historical texts in schools would not only provide students with a more accurate and informed interpretation of the past, but also contribute to efforts seeking to improve diplomatic relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The debate on development of Kosovar identity, initiated after the war of 1998-99 in Kosovo, began initially promulgating the differences of Albanian language dialects to give voice to the new political circumstances after the declaration of independence. The main argument of this debate revolves around two extremes: the existence or non-existence of the Kosovar identity as a national identity. Such a debate is seen as a challenge to Albanian identity. This article argues that both these positions hold some valid reasoning, however the development of an identity into a national one is a much more complex premise than dialectical differences in speech or the existence of an independent state. The article discusses how Albanian identity is still powerful for the majority of the Kosovo population and examines the prospects of the Kosovar identity to replace the power of the Albanian identity. The article concludes that Kosovar identity contains many favourable ingredients to develop as a national identity, however it is still soon to be considered one and that such development depends on political circumstances, mostly international and less national. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is becoming a major public health challenge worldwide, caused primarily by the misuse of antibiotics. Antibiotic use is closely related to the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of a population. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices about antibiotic use among the general public in Kosovo. Methods: A cross-sectional face-to-face survey was carried out with a sample of 811 randomly selected Kosovo residents. The methodology used for this survey was based on the European Commission Eurobarometer survey on antimicrobial resistance. Results: More than half of respondents (58.7%) have used antibiotics during the past year. A quarter of respondents consumed antibiotics without a medical prescription. The most common reasons for usage were flu (23.8%), followed by sore throat (20.2%), cold (13%) and common cold (7.6%). 42.5% of respondents think that antibiotics are effective against viral infections. Almost half of respondents (46.7%) received information about the unnecessary use of antibiotics and 32.5% of them report having changed their views and behaviours after receiving this information. Health care workers were identified as the most trustworthy source of information on antibiotic use (67.2%). Conclusion: These results provide quantitative baseline data on Kosovar knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding the use of antibiotic. These findings have potential to empower educational campaigns to promote the prudent use of antibiotics in both community and health care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A case study is presented of the use of statistics in the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) case "The Prosecutor v. Nikola Śainović, Dragoljub, Ojdaniœ, Nebojsa Pavkovice, Vladimir Lazarevice, Sreten Lukice & Milan Milutinović (Milutinoviœ)." The conviction of the defendants for the atrocities and human rights violations against Kosovar Albanians by the Yugoslavia military in 1999 during Kosovo War is discussed.

Background: The incidence and severity of football-related injuries has been found to differ strongly between professional leagues from different countries. The aims of this study were to record the incidence, type and severity of injuries in Kosovarian football players and investigate the relationship between injury incidence rates (IRs), players' age and playing positions.Methods: Players' age, anthropometric characteristics and playing positions, training and match exposure as well as injury occurrences were monitored in 11 teams (143 players) of Kosovo's top division during the 2013/14 season. The exact type, severity and duration of football-related injuries were documented following International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) recommendations.Results: A total of 272 injuries were observed, with traumatic injuries accounting for 71 %. The overall injury IR was 7.38 (CI: 7.14, 7.63) injuries per 1,000 exposure hours and ~11x lower during training as opposed to matches. Strains and ruptures of thigh muscles, ligamentous injuries of the knee as well as meniscus or other cartilage tears represented the most frequent differential diagnoses. While no statistical differences were found between players engaged in different playing positions, injury IR was found to be higher by 10-13 % in younger (IR = 7.63; CI: 7.39, 7.87) as compared to middle-aged (IR = 6.95; CI: 6.41, 7.54) and older players (IR = 6.76; CI: 5.71, 8.00).Conclusions: The total injury IR in elite football in Kosovo is slightly lower than the international average, which may be related to lesser match exposure. Typical injury patterns agree well with previously reported data. Our finding that injury IR was greater in younger players is related to a higher rate of traumatic injuries and may indicate a more aggressive and risky style of play in this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries in the Kosovar adult population. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study in Kosovo was conducted examining 9387 patients, aged 18 upwards, between January 2010 and December 2011. Clinical evaluation was done using WHO criteria for evaluation of dental health status and data collection. Results. The prevalence of caries for the whole study was 72.80%. The mean DMFT index was 9.61 (±5.12) in the 18–34-year age group, 11.6 (±6.42) in the 35–44-year age group, 13.68 (±8.12) among the 45–64-year age group, 17.98 (±9.81) in the 65–74-year age group, and 23.19 (±9.41) in the age group of 75+ years, respectively. A significant difference of mean DMFT and its each component was observed between the ages (P<0.001). Conclusion. This study comes out with the significant levels of dental caries among young Kosovar population (18–34 years old). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent alcohol consumption is a significant public-health problem, although there is a lack of studies investigating this issue in Kosovo.Objectives: The aim of this investigation was to examine the prevalence of alcohol drinking, and the factors associated with harmful drinking (HD) in Kosovar 17–18 years old adolescents.Methods: The sample comprised 636 girls and 366 boys (17–18 years old) from Pristina, Kosovo. The independent variables included sociodemographic factors, variables examining familial-monitoring and conflict (familial-variables), and sport-factors. Alcohol-drinking (dependent variable) was measured by means of the alcohol use disorders identification test scale.Results: 39% of the girls and 43% of the boys reported HD (odds ratio (OR) = 1.17; 95% confidence interval = 0.90–1.55). A higher likelihood of HD is found for those girls whose mothers have an advanced education (OR = 1.59), who reported a higher level of conflict with their parents (OR = 1.95), whose parents are frequently absent from home (OR = 1.93), and who reported lower religiosity (OR = 0.90). HD is more frequent among boys who have participated longer in sports (OR = 1.49), whose fathers have an advanced education (OR = 1.80), and who reported higher level of familial conflict (OR = 2.87).Conclusions/Importance: The prevalence of HD is high. Knowing the problems related to alcohol drinking in girls (violence, trafficking, etc.), public-health authorities should urgently develop a specific preventive programme (SPP) to combat the misuse of alcohol. In preparing SPP, special attention should be paid to the varying influences of the studied factors on HD in boys and girls. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The phenomenon of "the Brain migration" or otherwise described as brain drain, has to do with the phenomenon of drain or departure of the new elite from the country. These are people who possess scientific knowledge with internationally accepted standards at all academic and scie ntific levels. In other words, it can also be described as the movement or displacement of the human resources, in which the native country has spent their professional preparation and investment in. The case is about a selected level of academics who have reached the peaks of science and global standards. So first of all I would like to identify this stratum in our Kosovar environment. Certainly we can say in how many cases this phenomenon may be evident. But also there are other rare cases where our experts with this level of their knowledge and capabilities gained in Kosovo have managed to become familiar names in places where they are anchored alone or with their families. As a matter of fact, this article does not discuss this category of experts, but rather deals with another category that is being produced in our cultural, political and especially social machinery. So with "new promising staff" that in a way, by all empirical parameters are on the horizon, (or at least counted as such in the "process of (self) selection or grading in the hierarchy of accommodation global that can happen in a near future"). I say so because Albanians known as individualist, first to be "recruited" on the agendas of institutions and potential as promising institutions abroad, and have available and embedded also because most of them: standard making science as well as the ability of settling quickly with the atmosphere of western science laboratories, they accommodate the requirements and needs. This statement may not apply to all the pretending experts. In this case I am referring to those staff members whose school preparations have been ad hoc and have expressed a desire to move abroad just to get a diploma and appropriate preparation, but to frameworks that systematically have identified their specific trends for specific areas and of course have invested a lot and time to gain primacy billed as "wonder child "in the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to investigate how were the peer and physical education (PE) teacher variables associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among Kosovar teenagers (13-15 years of age), and the role of age and gender in these associations.Methods: Cross-sectional data was gathered through a study conducted in seven major municipalities of Kosovo. 632 girls (aged 14.3 ± 0.8) and 664 boys (aged 14.2 ± 0.8) were examined using the adjusted Classmate and Teacher Support Scale and the Physical Activity Screening measure. A three-way (support*age*gender) ANOVA was used to compare the individuals' MVPA level with the different levels of support they received, with different age in groups of girls and boys.Results: Boys reported higher levels of MVPA than girls in all age categories. A higher level of MVPA was reported by boys receiving high or medium support from classmates. In case of PE teacher support, high, medium and even low support correlated with high MVPA in all age categories. In girls only 13 year olds reported receiving high levels of both classmate and PE teachers support which correlated with a higher level of MVPA.Conclusions: It appears that engagement in MVPA among young Kosovar adolescents is relatively high in boys, regardless of the level of classmate or PE teacher support, whereas in girls the level of MVPA decreased over their time at school. Support from both classmates and PE teachers turned out to be the most significant factor in 13 years old girls, before they moved from primary to secondary school. This issue requires more detailed insight, considering traditional ethnical and religious barriers to engagement of young female adolescents in physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing the case study of Albanian Kosovars employed in the restaurant business in Little Italy, New York, this paper introduces the concept ofassumed ethnicity. This concept describes one ethnic group strategically presenting itself as another ethnic group, neither assimilating into mainstream society ethnicity nor validating place of origin ethnicity. Such assumed ethnicity is outwardly expressed (assumed) by the ethnic group in question, as well as accepted (assumed to be true) in both mainstream encounters and understandings of self. Applying and building on Goffman's theory of the front stage and back stage elucidates this phenomenon, where migrants instrumentally assume an ethnicity different from their own, in order to facilitate front-stage (mainstream) encounters. On the backstage, they expose their ‘true’ ethnicity, in the process drawing connections between Kosovo, Albania and Italy: ironically, authenticating assumed ethnicity by linking their front- and back-stage performances of everyday life. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of impacted maxillary canines in a Kosovar population. Materials and Methods. The study consisted of a retrospective analysis of the records of 8101 patients treated in the University Dentistry Clinical Center of Kosovo between August 2001 and February 2004.The chi-squared test was used to examine potential differences in the distribution of impacted maxillary canines stratified by gender, age, location (left or right), and position. P < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. Results. It was found that the incidence of impacted maxillary canines was 1.62%. Of the 131 impacted maxillary canines, 101 were in female patients and 30 were in male patients, a statistically significant difference. Ages were in the range of 9 to >20 years, with a mean age of 24.38 ± 8.09 years. Of these subjects, 99 (75.57%) had unilaterally impacted maxillary canines, while 32 (24.43%) had bilateral impactions, a statistically significant difference (P < 0.00002). Impacted canines in 92 subjects (70.2%) were palatally placed, and 18 (13.7%) were labially placed. This difference was also statistically significant (P < 0.00001). Conclusion. The incidence of impacted maxillary canines in the sample Kosovar population was 1.62%, which is comparable to the findings from previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While there is a considerable amount of literature addressing consequences of trauma in veterans and holocaust survivors, war and postwar civilian populations, particularly children, are still understudied. Evidence regarding intergenerational effects of trauma in families is inconsistent. Objective: To shed light on intergenerational aspects of trauma-related mental health problems among families 11 years after the Kosovo war. Method: In a cross-sectional study, a paired sample of 51 randomly selected triplets (school-aged child, mother, father, N153) of Kosovar families was investigated with regard to trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress (UCLA Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale), anxiety (Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25), and depressive symptoms (Depressionsinventar für Kinder und Jugendliche [DIKJ; depression inventory for children and adolescents], Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25). Results: Considerable trauma exposure and high prevalence rates of clinically relevant posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were found in both parents and children. While strong correlations were found between children's depressive symptoms and paternal posttraumatic stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, maternal symptoms did not correlate with their children's. In multiple regression analyses, only posttraumatic stress symptoms of fathers were significantly related with children's depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Eleven years after the Kosovo war, the presence of posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in civilian adults and their children is still substantial. As symptoms of parents and children are associated, mental health problems of close ones should be actively screened and accounted for in comprehensive treatment plans, using a systemic approach. Future research should include longitudinal studies conducting multivariate analyses with larger sample sizes in order to investigate indicators, causal and resilience factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of subsistence-oriented farming and the scarcity of non-farm employment make migration a common livelihood strategy in rural Kosovo. Consequently, many households rely heavily on remittances. Although migrants themselves often struggle to finance their everyday lives in their host countries, remittances continue to flow. As almost all migrants remit, it is required that the level of remittances be monitored and the factors determining the absolute amount of remittances to the home country be known. There are three overarching determinants: the connection between the migrant and the household of origin, the need for financial support of the household of origin and the financial means of the migrant. This contribution draws on an original, detailed and very recent database collected using an innovative survey design. It provides significant insights into the country- and culture-specific driving forces behind remittances from Germany to Kosovo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is about the role of the European Union in the management of the borders in the Western Balkans. How the European Union used its aura and the prospect of an integration of the states of the western Balkans to calm the region. This strategy setting up from 1996 in for purpose to settle the conflicts "by the international law and not by the weapons". The role of mediator played by the European Union in the Montenegrin and Kosovar cases goes to this direction and is the concrete demonstration of the European "soft-power". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the abolition of the Kosovo's autonomy in the 1989, Albanians refused to accept the legitimacy of Serbian rule over Kosovo and advocated the peaceful strategy to resolve the Albanian-Serbian conflict. In this respect, parallel state structures emerged as a hallmark of the K-Albanians peaceful resistance to Serbian rule. However, in the second half of the 1990s, K-Albanians' resistance took the form of an armed struggle with the actions of the KLA. Insufficient involvement of international community for solving of the Kosovo issue and lack of democratic cooperation mechanisms and relatedly existence of "democratic deficit" in the issue contributed to the transformation of K-Albanians' struggle into an armed conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses atrocities against ethnic Albanian soldiers from Kosovo that took place in Bar, Montenegro, in 1945. The author situates the massacre within the broader history of Yugoslavia during the Second World War and of conflicts about the civil rights of Albanian-speaking Kosovars and the international status of Kosovo in the twentieth century. Aspects considered include the attitudes of Yugoslav communists to Albanian nationalism, the recruitment and abuse of Albanian-speaking Kosovar soldiers in the Yugoslav armed forces, and the suppression of evidence about the atrocities in postwar Yugoslavia and Albania.

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Abstract: PTSD among a sample of mass-evacuated adults from Kosovo was studied using a prospective design with a baseline study and follow-ups at 3 and 6 months in Sweden, and with an additional follow-up after 1.5 years in both Sweden and Kosovo. Trauma events and PTSD-related symptoms were measured by the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). At the additional follow-up after 1.5 years the same measure (HTQ) was used as well as clinical diagnostic interviews with the SCID instrument and measurement of saliva cortisol levels. Thirty-seven percent had PTSD-related symptoms at baseline. Morbidity increased at the three follow-ups. About 80% of the participants had PTSD at the additional follow-up after 1.5 years. The HTQ results were confirmed by clinical diagnoses and the participants diagnosed with PTSD also had low saliva cortisol levels. The results are discussed in terms of trauma, time needed to develop PTSD, post-migration stress and selection mechanisms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BACKGROUND: Occupational deprivation as a concept has been presented and discussed in the occupational therapy and occupational science literature for the past several years. The discussion to date, however, has been largely exploratory and theoretical in nature. PURPOSE: This article represents the author's attempt to further understandings of occupational deprivation as a lived experience through research undertaken with Kosovar refugees living in Australia. METHOD AND RESULT: The article focuses on the story of one of the participants of the study which is presented as a case study to illuminate aspects of occupational deprivation as a process occurring over time. The case study is interwoven with interpretive commentary, which serves to highlight key issues as to how occupational deprivation may be experienced by groups of people in different cultural, historic and societal contexts and how it may therefore be addressed by occupational therapists. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The article concludes with reflections on future directions with respect to both further research and professional action. In particular, the focus of professional action is oriented to a population-based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three examples of young Kosovar children who were exposed to brutal violence together with their mothers are presented to illustrate how important it is to understand the impact of traumatic events on young children's development from the perspective of the parent-child relationship. The traumatized mothers' internal representations of self and self-being-together-with-child were damaged, and this in turn led to their care-giving system and internal representations of the children being negatively affected. No longer being able to see themselves as protective and loving parents, the mothers were unable to respond to their children with care-giving behaviour. The traumatized children's increased attachment behaviour and posttraumatic symptoms functioned as a trigger for posttraumatic symptoms in the mothers and contributed to a disengagement of the care-giving system. The on-going process disrupted the previous attachment pattern in mother-child interaction and a disorganized attachment pattern developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of International Migration & Integration is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on temporary protection for refugees and migrants against violence, public disorder and armed conflict. It informs that temporary protection was also applied in Europe for both the mass outflows of Bosnian and Kosovar refugees, where cross international borders sought protection. It mentions that the aim behind the temporary protection is to improve current protection laws and to solve the problems pertaining to international protections.

The experience of hosting displaced Kosovars is one that at least one Albanian village would prefer not to repeat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article talks about the status of respiratory health of people in Kosovo focusing on the history of the nation, source of energy fueled by brown coal, and health impacts due to pollution and emissions.