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Aim This study aimed to determine the attitudes of adolescents towards sexual health and to assess their understanding of contraception use and knowledge about sexually transmitted infections in three ethnically different areas of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods A total of 146 adolescent high school students between 17 and 19 years of age from three different cities were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The participants completed two anonymous questionnaires: one that measured attitudes towards safe sex practice and another that measured contraception and general sexual health knowledge. Results Shame was identified as the main factor why adolescents did not seek information about sexual health and contraception. On average, respondents correctly answered only 35% of questions regarding sexual health. Adolescents from East Mostar, with a predominantly Bosniak population, had more positive attitudes towards safe sex and showed less contraception knowledge in comparison to their colleagues from two cities in Croatia. Limitations Our study design might be burdened by socially desirable reporting and other biases inherent to the survey design. Conclusion Adolescents from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, countries that experienced war and are still undergoing post-communist socio-economic transition, generally did not have adequate knowledge with respect to safe sex lifestyles. Respondents had major problems identifying sexually transmitted infections and their knowledge about contraception was insufficient. Implications for nursing and health policy Providing care for adolescent populations should address specificities in local ethnical and socio-economical circumstances. There is a need for further studies to determine social, cultural and religious factors influencing the knowledge and attitudes towards sexual health in order to provide most effective interventions for specific adolescent populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in war veterans and its complex emotional and behavioral characteristics affect veterans' partners and the quality of their relationships. Although most research focuses on the effects of veterans' PTSD on their partners/wives and their relationships, not many findings have been established on partner adjustment and marriage quality when wives suffer from PTSD as well. Objective: The aim of the research was to examine the relationship between war-related posttraumatic stress symptoms and partner's marital satisfaction in couples where one or both partners suffer from PTSD. Design: The Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and Dyadic Adjustment Scale encompassed 154 war veterans and their wives who had been treated at Mostar Clinical Hospital in Bosnia and Herzegovina for combatrelated PTSD as well as 77 veterans who did not suffer from PTSD and their wives. Results: Veterans' PTSD is related to lower levels of marital adjustment of their wives. Marital adjustment was significantly lower in couples where both partners had PTSD compared with couples where only the veteran had PTSD or neither partner had PTSD. Female partner's marital adjustment is best explained by his avoidance symptoms and her own level of depressiveness and re-experiencing symptoms. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of recognizing PTSD in wives of traumatized veterans as well as the importance of family approach in the treatment of PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a method of choice in the treatment of calculous gallbladder. There is a clear evidence of changes in hemostatic parameters during this surgical procedure, which can result in thromboembolic complications. The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in D-dimer values, as a marker of hypercoagulability in patients treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients and methods: The study included total of 60 patients, divided into two groups, one treated with classic (open) and other with laparoscopic method. Blood samples were taken from all patients before, during the surgery and 24 hours and 5 days after the procedure with consequent determination of D-dimer levels. R esults: Blood samples of patients in both groups manifested higher values of D-dimer during the operation, 24 hours and 5 days after the procedure. We have found elevated values of D-dimer 5 days after the surgery in the group of patients treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy with 2.5 times higher levels compared to values measured preoperatively. C onclusion: Our results suggest that there is an increased fibrinolytic activity after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which demands more detailed and complete study on tromboembolism prophylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society 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.)

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society 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.)

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society 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.)