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Tobacco use continues to be the leading global cause of preventable death. Most of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, and this trend is expected to widen further over the next several decades. The overall objective of the study is to describe and analyse the smoking behaviours of adults in Kosova.

Abstract Background Even though it has been widely studied, early childhood caries (ECC) remains a serious public health problem, especially in countries where there is no national program of oral health assessment and no genuine primary oral health care, such as in Kosovo. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of ECC and analyze caries risk factors. Methods The subjects were 1,008 preschool children, selected by stratified random cluster sampling, in the municipality of Prishtina, capital of Kosovo. Data were collected through clinical examination and interviews. Dmft data were recorded according to WHO criteria. Bacterial examination (CRT bacteria test) and plaque test of Greene-Vermillion were used. Results The mean dmft of preschool children was found to be 5.8. The prevalence of ECC was 17.36%, with a mean dmft of 11 ± 3.6. Streptococcus mutans prevalence in ECC children was 98%. A significant correlation between dmft and S mutans counts (≥105 CFU/mL saliva) was demonstrated. A correlation was also found between daily sweets consumption and dmft in children with ECC (P < 0.001). Comparing the dmft of ECC children and duration of bottle feeding showed a statistical correlation (P < 0.001). The mean plaque test was 1.52. None of the examined children had ever used fluoride. Conclusion The prevalence of ECC was high among preschool children in the municipality of Kosovo. We recommend increasing parents' knowledge of proper feeding habits and oral health practices, and increasing preschool children's accessibility to dental services.

Purpose: Insufficient attention paid by public institutions to primary oral health protection measures has contributed to a poor oral health status in Kosovo, especially in children. Because the oral health promotion activities identified the significant roles of mothers in primary prevention, the aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and the behaviour of mothers in connection with the caries experience of their children. Materials and Methods: 664 of the mothers who accompanied their children to dental visits were interviewed and data on maternal knowledge and attitudes towards the oral health of preschool children were collected. The children underwent dental examination and the dmft index was recorded. Results: The mean dmft index in all children was 6.30 ±3.23. A high prevalence of early childhood caries was recorded. The highest mean dmft was recorded for children whose mothers had finished primary and secondary school (6.41 ±3.36 and 6.62 ± 2.87, respectively). The mothers displayed insufficient knowledge regarding dental visits, feeding, oral hygiene maintenance and the utilisation of fluoride/antimicrobial agents. Conclusions: The results of this study show that the level of knowledge about oral health among interviewed mothers is very low to nonexistent. Mothers need to be educated and encouraged that they are a key factor in improving the oral health habits of their children. Since caries represents a serious public health problem in Kosovo, an overall preventive programme for oral health promotion is needed, including the oral health education of mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Ardiana. Murtezani, Hajrije. Hundozi, Nikola. Orovcanec, Merita. Berisha, Vjollca. Meka Background: Low back pain (LBP) remains the predominant occupational health problem in most industrialized countries and low-income countries. Both [...]

Down syndrome (DS), as a genetic disorder, has been known as a contributing factor increased prevalence of oral cavity's diseases, such malocclusions, soft tissue disorders and periodontal involvement, but surprisingly not to dental caries experience. This group of subjects has been the target of our investigation regarding the dental caries, malocclusions and periodontal status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of caries, the presence of malocclusions, oral hygiene index, and the level of cariogenic bacteria, among children with Down's syndrome (DS) in Kosovo. Sixty-five children with DS were examined for dental caries, orthodontic anomalies, oral hygiene and periodontal status. Caries experience was determined using dmft/DMFT indexes according to the WHO criteria. The OHI was determined using the Plaque Test. To determine the presence of S. mutans, the CRT bacteria test was used. The total mean DMFT of 3.82 was recorded, with no significant difference between gender. A higher DMFT was found in the age group 12-18 years of DS children. Subjects with CFU>105 had higher DMFT. Gingivitis was present in 65% of the subjects. The prevalence of periodontal disease was 43%, while the OHI-index of grade 3 was found in 18,5% of subjects. More than half of the examined DS children had one of malocclusions, e.g., hypodontia. Periodontal treatment is not evident. The low caries treatment was found with 74% of the DMFT structure belonging to the untreated caries. Low level of the oral status of the DS children should raise the awareness of the dentistry policy makers to undertake stronger measures in dealing with this category of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: Diarrhoeal disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among under-fives especially in developing countries. Important fact about diarrhoea is the care about children for easier course. Very often child-care is not adequate because of low knowledge and attitude and wrong practice. METHOD: The study was conducted to present maternal practice on management of acute diarrhoea among children under five years old, in Kosovo. In this cross- sectional study, the study sample included 106 mothers of children less than 5 years old from all parts of Kosovo. They were interviewed using a pre designed and pre tested questionnaire. RESULTS: In case of children diarrhoea, 60.7% declared that they provide less or even not at all fluids, while 19.6% as usually and only 17.8% more than usually. More than one third of mothers did breastfeed their babies less than usually, and 75% cases more than usually during diarrhoea. Based on living place and mothers age feeding of children with diarrhoea did not differ significantly, but there was a significant difference based on mother's education. One third of the mothers do not give anything to their children in term to stop the diarrhoea, 19.6% uses rice juice, 15.9% banana, and only 9.3% oral dehydration solution. CONCLUSION: There is an immediate need for campaigns in order to try to change the maternal practice on management of acute diarrhoea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study which measured the levels of knowledge of the population in Kosovo about the effectiveness of antibiotics and risks associated with their unnecessary use is presented.

This study presents the initial results of a collaborative project aimed at the evaluation of Toxoplasma seroprevalence in a population of Kosovar pregnant women. The serum samples of 334 pregnant women were tested to detect IgG, IgM, IgG avidity for toxoplasmosis. Data regarding age, occupation, area of origin and education were also obtained for the pregnant women examined; 97/334 (29.4%) resulted positive for IgG antibodies, four of whom (4.1%) were also positive for IgM, (1.2% of the total population examined). All four IgM-positive pregnant women also demonstrated low avidity tests. The rate of IgG seroprevalence found in our study was lower than that observed in various European countries, especially those of western Europe. Conversely, the percentage of recent infections was higher than expected. The higher rate of infections could be the result of a recent toxoplasmosis epidemic in Kosovo, most likely due to the altered hygienic conditions caused by the forced transfer of the ethnic-Albanian population from an area of low (Serbia) to high (Kosovo) toxoplasmosis prevalence.

Everywhere today, poisonings present a significant and continuous increase of incidence in illness. Poisonings with organophosphates are more and more often. We do not have accurate statistics for this problem. The aim of this work was to present the clinical characteristics of poisoning with organophosphates, treated in University Clinical Centre in Prishtina. With the retrospective method, 23 patients were analyzed, 18 female and 5 male. Out of these, to (43.5%) have had tentative suicide, while 13 (56%) were accidentally exposed to poison. Poisoning with organophosphates was present in 3.8% of the overall number of poisonings. Organophosphate that was found in the analyzed poisoned patients was malathion (known here as Etiol). Average hospitalization time was 8.8 days (1 - 50 days range), average age of the patients was 27.1 years. Mortality scale was 52.1%. All these patients were treated with atropine. Atropine was given in intravenous way during 4.2 +/- 3.5 days and the average total dose was 82 +/- 61.5 mg. Pralidoxime antidote was not given to any of the patients. In adults, the poisoning was done mainly with the aim of suicide. Poisoned children with Etiol are in larger numbers from rural areas.

Unlabelled: Kosovo as a newer state, characterized with political, economical and cultural transition is touched by suicide phenomenon. Aim of this survey is to analyze prevalence of suicide in Kosova for period 2000-2008 and in particular for 2007-2008., Methodology: Survey is retrospective one and data were taken from Statistical Office of Kosova and Kosovar Police Service report. Cases are analysed due to demographic characteristics as sex, age group, years, dwelling place, months, week days and methods of suicides., Results: After the war there is an increase of suicides as it is presented with basic index. For year 2000, there is an increase of 122% compared with cases on 1983, then the highest increase is for 2001 with 711.1%. After 2005 there is a slight decrease of suicides with trend of y = 58-8X. Due to sex, suicides are significantly higher at males than females for both years, with 78.9% for 2007 and 74.5% for 2008. The highest number of suicides is found at age groups 21-30 and 31-40 years with 21.1% for 2007 and 21-30 and 41-50 years with 25.5% for 2008. Average age for suicide victims is 42 years for 2007 and 44 years for 2008. Suicides are more frequent at rural places but not significantly. Greatest percentage of suicides was on July with 21.1% for 2007 and June and October with 15.7% for 2008. On 2007 the highest percentage of suicides was on Wednesdays with 21.1% and on 2008 was on Tuesdays with 19.6%. Due to the time of day, the most frequent time for suicides was 16-18.00 for 2007 and for 2008 the greatest percentage of suicide is on unknown time with 27.5%. The most frequent method of suicide was hanging for both years, with 64.9% for 2007, and 52.9% for 2008, fire arm with 14% for 2007 and 21.6% for 2008 and poisoning with 5.3% for 2007 and 11.8% for 2008. Suicides are most frequent at rural places but not significantly., Conclusion: Suicides due to sex are significantly higher in males than females in all age groups. Average age of suicide victims is rising from 42 years for 2007 to 44 years for 2008. Suicides are more frequent at rural places and the greatest percentage of suicides due to months was on July for 2007 and June and October for 2008, on Wednesdays for 2007 and Tuesdays for 2008. PROPOSED MEASURES: Suicides are consequence of socioeconomic, psychological and political problems as unemployment and poverty. For challenging suicide phenomenon there is a need for multi-sectoral approach involving health and non health sector as politics, labor, education and media.

Background: Cardiac disease is the most common cause of death in patients with end-stage renal disease. It is assumed that the high rate of cardiovascular mortality is related to accelerated atherosclerosis. Patients with chronic renal insufficiency have an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease, silent myocardial ischaemia, complex ventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, left ventricular hypertrophy, annular mitral and aortic valve calcification, and enlargement of the left atrium, than patients with normal renal function. It is also well known that haemodialysis is associated with cardiovascular structural changes and rapid fluctuations in electrolyte levels. In this study, we sought to estimate left atrial size by means of echocardiography and to determine any correlations between different echocardiographic measurements in patients with end-stage renal disease., Methods: We analysed data from 123 patients who were on regular haemodialysis, by means of traditional transthoracic echocardiographic examination. The usual statistical parameters, correlations and the Student's t-test were performed, with levels of significance of p < 0.01 and p < 0.05., Results: The most presented age group was 60 to 69 years old, with a predomination of females (56.1%). We found dilated left atrium in 26.02% of the study patients and a high statistical correlation between different methods of measurement and calculated volumes of the left atrium., Conclusion: Evaluation of left atrial size should be determined by several different measurements, and left atrial enlargement should be seen as a risk factor for advancing disease.

Currently the drug abuse has become one of the most serious problems in many countries. The drugs abuse is also widespread in less developed societies. This problem is present in Kosova too with the tendency of rising. The of this research was to show the number of drug abusers in Prishtina region, the type of drugs used, the way of drug administration, then survey of the age, sex, marital status, residence of the drug abusers including their social status (employment, profession and economical status). During the surveyed period the number of hospitalized drug abusers in Neuropsychiatry clinic was 39. 25.5% of them were hospitalized more than ones, with 367 stay days with average treatment period of 7.5 days. Average age of those hospitalized for the first time was 27.9 years of age. 64.1% of them were 25-34 years old. 97.4% of the hospitalized were male. 32 (82.1%) patient were from Prishtina, 5 from Ferizaj and 1 from F. Kosova and Kacanik. During the surveyed period there was no patient hospitalized from other cities of Prishtina Region (Besiana, Drenas, Kastriot, Lipjan, Shtime and Shterpc).

One out of ten deaths worldwide among adults is attributable to tobacco use. Most people begin using tobacco before the age of 18. The European Region of WHO faces nearly one third of the worldwide burden of tobacco-related diseases. We aimed to study the prevalence of tobacco use among Kosovar schoolchildren, knowledge and behaviors related to tobacco use and its health impact. A cross-sectional study was performed, using anonymous self-administered questionnaire carried out among 7088 students in 110 schools. The target population group were students aged between 13 and 15 years were enrolled in all the targeted grade levels. The questionnaire consists of two main parts developed especially for the European region. Statistical analysis and the complex sampling design were done by EPI Info 2000 statistical software package. Around one-third (2622=37%) of all students, reported to have smoked cigarettes. One-fifth (20.9%) of ever smokers initiated smoking before the age often. Significantly more boys than girls ever smoked cigarettes (43.5% and 30.4% respectively). Over one-third (37.0%) had ever smoked cigarettes, as compared to over one-half (53.9%) of secondary students. There is a high probability of an increased burden of disease from tobacco in the future decades in Kosova. Special attention should be paid to the cessation needs of current smokers, school-based programs on environmental tobacco smoke, and the health risk of exposure due to smoking by siblings and friends.