BACKGROUND: Using the perspective of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, which represents a public health challenge that also affects education and the psychological well-being of students, this paper aims to assess the vulnerability to anxiety and stress of the Romanian students from the Faculty of Administration and Business of the University of Bucharest pursuing their degrees in administration and business. METHODS: Our study is based on the results of the survey that was administered to a sample of 422 students (39.6% females and 60.4% males) selected from the pool of 2000 recruited respondents. We employed the ANOVA/linear Dependent Dirichlet Process mixture model to explain the causes of stress and anxiety after various grouping variables represented by gender, specialisation, as well as labour market status. RESULTS: Our results revealed that more than 80% of the students in the sample yielded medium and high vulnerability to stress, while 64% of the respondents were affected by severe anxiety (high frequency of psychological, social, and physical problems that were difficult for them to control). The most important stressors were the fear of getting infected and social distancing, while self-control was considered the most effective coping strategy by 62.6% of employed students. CONCLUSIONS: These results allow us to provide practical recommendations for effectively coping with stress and anxiety among students in Romania and beyond and to help stakeholders and policymakers design strategies for strengthening students' resilience, mental health, and well-being in case of future pandemics or other extreme contexts.
- MeSH
- adaptace psychologická * MeSH
- copingové dovednosti MeSH
- COVID-19 * epidemiologie psychologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- pandemie MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- psychický stres * epidemiologie psychologie MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- studenti * psychologie statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- univerzity MeSH
- úzkost * epidemiologie psychologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Rumunsko MeSH
BACKGROUND: If carried out correctly and without delay, activation of emergency services by stroke bystanders could improve mortality and disability from stroke. This paper describes the development of a school-based intervention using the Intervention Mapping approach. It aims to improve the appropriate activation of emergency medical services for suspected stroke by 12-15-year-old children. METHODS: The development of the intervention was guided by Intervention Mapping approach. The logic model of the problem was created through analysis of the existing literature and semi-structured interviews with stakeholders. Based on these findings, performance objectives and their determinants were determined and matched to create a model for changing emergency medical services activation behavior. Behavior change methods and their practical applications were then determined. Based on them, intervention messages and materials were designed, the intervention was drafted, pretested, and finalized. RESULTS: It was found that the main performance objectives for the activation of emergency medical services were (1) recognizing symptoms, (2) communicating with the victim, and (3) calling an ambulance immediately. Their main determinants were knowledge, social influence, risk perception, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and skills. Determinants were then matched with performance objectives to create the matrices of requested behavior changes. The following change methods were chosen: modeling, elaboration, belief selection, providing cues, scenario-based risk information, and cultural similarity. Methods were translated into practical applications in the form of a short educational film. The production company created, pretested, and finalized the film. As a result, a 5-minute entertainment-education video was created modeling an acute stroke with a child as the main bystander. CONCLUSION: The Intervention Mapping approach guided the development of a school-based program to improve Emergency medical services activation in stroke by 12-15 year old children. Our process and approach can serve as a model for researchers and health promotion professionals aiming to improve help-seeking behavior for stroke to improve stroke help-seeking behavior as well as other acute diseases.
- MeSH
- cévní mozková příhoda * terapie MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- rozvoj plánování MeSH
- školní zdravotnické služby MeSH
- školy MeSH
- urgentní zdravotnické služby * MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: Despite the implementation of antibullying policies, schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) witnessed an increase in bullying prevalence. The aim of our study was to assess bullying victimization in schools in the UAE, types of bullying, and factors and outcomes related to bullying behavior. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in randomly selected private and public schools in Al Ain City. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from students in grades 6-8 (Ages 10-15). We adapted the US CDC 'Bully Survey' for cultural relevance in the UAE through feedback from focus group meetings with teachers. Data analysis, conducted using R software, involved stratified analysis by school type and utilized Chi-Squared and Fisher's exact tests to identify factors associated with school bullying. RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 723 students of whom 68% were males, and 58% were Emirati nationals. The overall prevalence of bullying victimization in schools was 37%, with 40% in private schools and 35% in public schools. Cyberbullying was more prevalent in private schools (37%). Physical bullying was reported by 20% and verbal bullying by 12%, with a higher prevalence of physical bullying in private schools (24%) and among males (23%). The study's findings showed significant emotional and academic impacts of bullying, including feelings of sadness and learning difficulties, contributing to a rise in school absenteeism. CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals widespread bullying victimization in UAE schools, mainly in classrooms, with group exclusion and verbal abuse as key forms. It underscores bullying's psychological impact and the greater awareness of parents compared to teachers. The effective intervention strategies should not only involve students, teachers, and school staff, but also actively engage parents by fostering stronger communication channels between schools and families, and providing parents with resources and training to recognize and address bullying. These strategies should aim to create a cohesive network involving the entire school community, thus fostering a safer and more inclusive environment for students. The findings stress the need for inclusive antibullying programs involving the entire school community to foster a safer environment.
- MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- oběti zločinu * statistika a číselné údaje psychologie MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- šikana * statistika a číselné údaje psychologie MeSH
- školy * MeSH
- studenti psychologie statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Spojené arabské emiráty MeSH
BACKGROUND: Health literacy is a core public health issue in relation to children and adolescents associated with multiple health behaviours and health outcomes. The aim of the study is to test the direct associations between health literacy, physical activity behaviour, health outcomes of body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness among Slovak adolescents and possible indirect effect of health literacy on health outcomes of body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness mediated by adolescents' physical activity behaviour. METHODS: Data from the Slovak Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in 2022 were used. For the purposes of this study, a subsample of the adolescents (n = 508; mean age = 14.50; SD = 0.82; 54.3% boys) which provided HBSC questionnaire data on health literacy, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and vigorous physical activity and participated in body composition (InBody 230) and cardiorespiratory fitness (20-m shuttle run test) measurements. Data were analysed using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The findings showed that higher health literacy of the adolescents was directly associated with higher frequency of physical activity represented by moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and vigorous physical activity and only with the visceral fat area in the crude model. Furthermore, there was an indirect effect of health literacy on cardiorespiratory fitness and most of the body composition variables (except the Body Mass Index) which was mediated by physical activity of the respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Health literacy is indirectly associated to body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness through higher frequency of physical activity. It seems that health literacy as cognitive and social competencies need behavioural components to be involved in the proposed causal pathway between health literacy and health outcomes. Our findings may contribute to the process of creating a framework for future health literacy interventions in adolescents.
- MeSH
- cvičení * fyziologie MeSH
- kardiorespirační zdatnost * fyziologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- složení těla * MeSH
- zdravotní gramotnost * statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
OBJECTIVE: This study explores the experience of body-image changes throughout the trajectory of breast cancer. METHODS: We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with 53 women (n = 53) representing diverse age groups, with a mean age of 48.61 years (SD = 13.12), from various regions across the Czech Republic. The interviews were audio/video recorded and divided into two phases. The initial phase consisted of a narrative part, followed by a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis was employed to identify and explore the topics that held significant importance to the participants. RESULTS: This research investigated how body image and emotional responses evolve in women with breast cancer during various stages of the illness. Throughout the breast cancer journey, women undergo diverse body image changes, with some of them being described as particularly traumatic, such as hair loss and preventive operations. The effects of breast cancer extend beyond physical scars, influencing femininity and womanhood in the long run. The experience of womanhood is marked by visible and non-visible effects that persist for years after treatment. CONCLUSION: Study has provided valuable insights into the emotional journey that women experience during breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. The illness trajectory framework has proven to be a valuable tool for understanding the complexities of body image concerns and the emotional implications faced by breast cancer patients. By acknowledging the significance of body image issues and providing targeted interventions, healthcare providers can improve the psychosocial well-being and overall quality of life for breast cancer survivors. Further research in this area is needed to develop and refine supportive interventions that address the unique challenges women face during their breast cancer journey. Ultimately, by fostering a sensitive and comprehensive approach to care, we can empower women to navigate their breast cancer journey with greater resilience and confidence.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- kvalitativní výzkum * MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádory prsu * psychologie MeSH
- představa o vlastním těle * psychologie MeSH
- rozhovory jako téma MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
OBJECTIVE: Given Iran's recent shift towards pronatalist population policies, concerns have arisen regarding the potential increase in abortion rates. This review study examines the trends of (medical), intentional (illegal), and spontaneous abortions in Iran over the past two decades, as well as the factors that have contributed to these trends. METHODS: This paper reviewed research articles published between 2005 and 2022 on abortion in Iran. The study employed the PRISMA checklist for systematic reviews. Articles were searched from international (Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science) and national databases (Magiran, Medlib, SID). Once the eligibility criteria were applied, 42 records were included from the initial 349 records. RESULTS: Abortion is influenced by a variety of socioeconomic and cultural factors and the availability of family planning services. Factors that contribute to unintended pregnancy include attitudes toward abortion, knowledge about reproductive health, access to reproductive health services, and fertility desires, among others. In addition to health and medical factors, consanguineous marriage plays an important role in spontaneous and therapeutic abortion. A higher number of illegal abortions were reported by women from more privileged socioeconomic classes. In comparison, a higher number of medical and spontaneous abortions were reported by women from less privileged socioeconomic classes. CONCLUSION: Iranian policymakers are concerned about the declining fertility rate and have turned to pronatalist policies. From a demographic standpoint, this seems to be a reasonable approach. However, the new population policies, particularly, the Family Protection and Young Population Law, along with creating limitations in access to reproductive health services and prenatal screening tests as well as stricter abortion law could potentially lead to an increase in various types of abortions and their associated consequences.
- MeSH
- indukovaný potrat * statistika a číselné údaje zákonodárství a právo trendy MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- potrat nezákonný statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- samovolný potrat epidemiologie MeSH
- socioekonomické faktory MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- systematický přehled MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Írán MeSH
OBJECTIVES: Growing evidence supports the important role of 24-hour movement behaviours (MB) in preventing childhood obesity. However, research to understand the heterogeneity and variability of MB among individuals and what kind of typologies of individuals are at risk of developing obesity is lacking. To bridge this gap, this study identified typologies of 24-hour MB in children and adolescents and investigated their associations with adiposity indicators. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 374 children and 317 adolescents from the Czech Republic wore wrist-worn accelerometers for seven consecutive days. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), sedentary behaviour (SB), and sleep was quantified using raw accelerometery data. Adiposity indicators included body mass index (BMI) z-score, fat mass percentage (FM%), fat mass index (FMI), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Bias-adjusted latent profile analysis was used on the 24-hour MB data to identify MB typologies and their associations with adiposity indicators. The models were adjusted for potential confounders. The identified typologies were labelled to reflect the behavioural profiles of bees to aid interpretability for the general public. RESULTS: Two typologies were identified in children: highly active Workers characterised by high levels of MVPA and LPA, and inactive Queens characterised by low levels of MVPA and LPA, high levels of SB and longer sleep duration compared to Workers. In adolescents, an additional typology labelled as Drones was characterised by median levels of MVPA, LPA, SB and longest sleep duration. After controlling for covariates, we found that children labelled as Queens were associated with 1.38 times higher FM%, 1.43 times higher FMI, and 1.67 times higher VAT than Workers. In adolescents, Drones had 1.14 times higher FM% and Queens had 1.36 higher VAT in comparison with Workers, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the importance of promoting active lifestyles in children and adolescents to potentially reduce adiposity. These findings can provide insights for interventions aimed at promoting healthy MB and preventing childhood obesity.
- MeSH
- adipozita * fyziologie MeSH
- akcelerometrie MeSH
- cvičení * MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- index tělesné hmotnosti MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- obezita dětí a dospívajících * epidemiologie MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- sedavý životní styl * MeSH
- spánek fyziologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
BACKGROUND: New effective treatments for dementia are lacking, and early prevention focusing on risk factors of dementia is important. Non-pharmacological intervention therapies aimed at these factors may provide a valuable tool for reducing the incidence of dementia. This study focused on the development of a mathematical model to predict the number of individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, vascular dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Scenarios for non-pharmacological intervention therapies based on risk factor reduction were also assessed. The estimated total costs and potential cost savings from societal were included. METHODS: Based on demographic and financial data from the EU, a mathematical model was developed to predict the prevalence and resulting care costs of neurodegenerative diseases in the population. Each disease (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, vascular dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) used parameters that included prevalence, incidence, and death risk ratio, and the simulation is related to the age of the cohort and the disease stage. RESULTS: A replicable simulation for predicting the prevalence and resulting cost of care for neurodegenerative diseases in the population exhibited an increase in treatment costs from 267 billion EUR in 2021 to 528 billion EUR by 2050 in the EU alone. Scenarios related to the reduction of the prevalence of dementia by up to 20% per decade led to total discounted treatment cost savings of up to 558 billion EUR. CONCLUSION: The model indicates the magnitude of the financial burden placed on EU healthcare systems due to the growth in the population prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases in the coming decades. Lifestyle interventions based on reducing the most common risk factors could serve as a prevention strategy to reduce the incidence of dementia with substantial cost-savings potential. These findings could support the implementation of public health approaches throughout life to ultimately prevent premature mortality and promote a healthier and more active lifestyle in older individuals.
- MeSH
- demence * ekonomika epidemiologie prevence a kontrola MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- náklady na zdravotní péči statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- teoretické modely MeSH
- úspory nákladů MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Evropa MeSH
BACKGROUND: Infant mortality rates are reliable indices of the child and general population health status and health care delivery. The most critical factors affecting infant mortality are socioeconomic status and ethnicity. The aim of this study was to assess the association between socioeconomic disadvantage, ethnicity, and perinatal, neonatal, and infant mortality in Slovakia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The associations between socioeconomic disadvantage (educational level, long-term unemployment rate), ethnicity (the proportion of the Roma population) and mortality (perinatal, neonatal, and infant) in the period 2017-2022 were explored, using linear regression models. RESULTS: The higher proportion of people with only elementary education and long-term unemployed, as well as the higher proportion of the Roma population, increases mortality rates. The proportion of the Roma population had the most significant impact on mortality in the selected period between 2017 and 2022, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022). CONCLUSIONS: Life in segregated Roma settlements is connected with the accumulation of socioeconomic disadvantage. Persistent inequities between Roma and the majority population in Slovakia exposed by mortality rates in children point to the vulnerabilities and exposures which should be adequately addressed by health and social policies.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 MeSH
- etnicita statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- kojenecká mortalita * etnologie trendy MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- perinatální mortalita * etnologie trendy MeSH
- Romové * statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- socioekonomické faktory * MeSH
- socioekonomické nerovnosti ve zdraví MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- Check Tag
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
BACKGROUND: The Indian Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched in 2014 with the goal to make India open defecation (OD) free by October 2019. Although it is known that the ambitious goal was not achieved, the nature of the sanitation change brought about by the SBM in different parts of India is poorly understood. One reason is a dearth of case studies that would shed light on the performance of the SBM simultaneously across its different domains. This article provides an example of such study. Employing a Process, Outcomes, Context approach, the objective is to understand the process and outcomes of the SBM-induced sanitation change in a specific context of rural Jharkhand. METHODS: The study utilizes data collected through field research conducted in the rural areas of Ranchi district, Jharkhand, a state in east-central India. This data was obtained via repeated cross-sectional household surveys conducted at the beginning and at the end of the SBM, supplemented by key informant interviews with SBM stakeholders. FINDINGS: We identified political support of SBM implementation and its acceptance amongst the population. Female community workers became key agents of SBM implementation at local level. The SBM increased toilet coverage in the study area from 15% to 85% and lowered the OD rate from 93% to 26%. It substantially reduced structural inequalities in access to toilets, furthered social sanitation norms, improved some of the attitudes towards toilet use, but impacted less on hygiene and sanitation knowledge. The implementation mainly concentrated on the construction of subsidized toilets but less on improving public understanding of safe sanitation practices. CONCLUSIONS: Although the SBM reduced sanitation inequalities in access to toilets in the study area, the behaviour change component was underplayed, focusing more on spreading normative sanitation messages and less on public education. Sustainability of the observed sanitation change remains a key question for the future. This article calls for more systematic production of geographically situated knowledge on the performance of sanitation interventions.
- MeSH
- Asijci * MeSH
- aspirace (psychologie) MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- sanitace * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Indie MeSH
