Central European Journal of Public Health - Latest articles
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Editorial. Three decades of change in adolescent health and lifestyle in Czechia: insights from the HBSC study 1994–2022
Michal Kalman, Petr Baďura
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):235-237 
Planetary-health literacy and mental wellbeing in Czech adolescents: insights from the HBSC survey 2022
Eliška Selinger, Michal Kalman, Petr Baďura, Jana Fürstová
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):298-304 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8798
Objectives: Planetary-health literacy (PHL), the knowledge, motivation and social support required to safeguard both human and environmental health, may help adolescents cope with climate-related distress and adopt sustainable behaviours. Evidence on the linkage between PHL and mental health from Central and Eastern Europe is lacking. The aim of the study was to describe PHL in Czech adolescents by sex, grade and family affluence, examine its association with mental-health indicators, and explore links with selected environment-relevant behaviours. Methods: Cross-sectional data were drawn from the nationally representative Health Behaviour in School-aged...
Trends in medically attended injuries among Czech adolescents between 2002 and 2022
Peter Bakalár, Dagmar Sigmundová, Erik Sigmund
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):292-297 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8699
Objectives: Adolescence is widely recognized as a critical developmental period marked by increased independence and risk-taking behaviours, which often result in medically attended injuries. The aim of the study is to present the trends analyses of self-reported HBSC data on medically attended injuries in Czech adolescents between the years 2002 and 2022 and complement other sources of injuries data in Czech adolescents. Additional objective is to outline the possible use of the above-mentioned data for research purposes by public health professionals and researchers so they can be used for injury prevention purposes. Methods: The overall sample of...
Trends in the perception of school climate in the Czech Republic: HBSC study 1994–2022
Jan Sandora, Petr Baďura, Irene García-Moya, Robert Brnka, Peter Tavel, Zdeněk Meier, Michal Kalman, Gabriel Gulis
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):285-291 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8692
Objective: This study aimed to examine long-term trends in Czech adolescents' perceptions of school climate between 1994 and 2022, focusing on school satisfaction, perceived school pressure, and perceived social support from classmates and teachers. Methods: Data were drawn from eight cycles of the Czech Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, encompassing responses from 63,252 students aged 11, 13 and 15 years. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess temporal trends and associations between school climate indicators and demographic variables, including gender, age, and family affluence. Results: Compared to 2022,...
Changes in social media use patterns among Czech adolescents: HBSC study 2018–2022
Meyran Boniel-Nissim, Regina J. J. M. van den Eijnden, Petr Baďura
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):279-284 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8698
Objectives: Previous studies have identified four distinct patterns of adolescent social media use (SMU): non-active users abstain from social media or engage in online interactions only once a week or less; active users connect with others online daily without any functional impairments related to their SMU; intense users frequently engage with others online but do not meet criteria for problematic use; problematic users report six or more addiction-like symptoms. The following study aimed to assess the prevalence of these SMU patterns among Czech adolescent, examine changes between 2018 (pre-COVID-19) and 2022, and explore age and gender differences...
Trends in sleep patterns among Czech adolescents and their current correlates of late bedtimes and social jet lag: HBSC study 2014–2022
Erik Sigmund, Dagmar Sigmundová, Jaroslava Voráčová, Jana Fürstová, Michal Kalman, Inese Gobiņa, Petr Baďura
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):273-278 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8749
Objectives: Sleep is vital for maintaining the health and wellbeing of people of all ages. However, for adolescents, sufficient sleep of adequate duration and quality is critical for profound mental, physical, social, and emotional development. This study aimed to describe trends in sleep duration and late bedtime during school and non-school days in representative cohorts of 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old adolescents from Czechia from 2014 to 2022, and to examine the current associations between late bedtimes/social jet lag and wellbeing indicators among adolescents in 2022. Methods: The analysed sample of 42,101 adolescents aged 10.5-16.5 years was drawn...
Active school transport among Czech adolescents declined between 2006 and 2022: HBSC study findings
Michal Vorlíček, Dagmar Sigmundová, Petr Baďura, Jan Dygrýn, Dorota Kleszczewska, Erik Sigmund
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):267-272 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8713
Objectives: Active school transport (AST), such as walking or cycling to and from school, represents an important source of daily physical activity for adolescents. In recent decades, however, many high-income countries have reported a steady decline in AST. The main objective of this study was to describe long-term trends in active travel to and from school among Czech adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 years, using nationally representative data collected in five waves of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study between 2006 and 2022. Methods: The analysis is based on a total sample of 50,813 adolescents (25,628 boys, 25,085 girls) aged...
Overweight, obesity, and body weight perception among Czech adolescents: a two-decade analysis, HBSC study 2002–2022
Jaroslava Voráčová, Dagmar Sigmundová, Erik Sigmund, Michal Kalman, Zsofia Pusztai
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):260-266 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8691
Objectives: Excess body weight and weight misperception in adolescents are associated with various physical and mental health risks. This study analysed trends in overweight, obesity, body image, and body weight perception among Czech adolescents between 2002 and 2022, considering gender, age and socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: Data were retrieved from the questionnaire of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 (N = 52,363; 49.9% girls). The difference test between two proportions was used to assess time trends in weight status (WS), body image and body weight perception across...
Trends in sexual initiation and contraception use among Czech adolescents between 2002–2022
Anna Ševčíková, Vít Suchý, Peter Kolarčik, Lukas Blinka
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):253-259 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8664
Objectives: This study examined trends in sexual behaviour and the timing of sexual initiation among 15-year-old adolescents in Czechia between 2002 and 2022, with a focus on the age of sexual debut (15 and older; early at 14; very early at 13 or younger). It also investigated trends in condom and hormonal contraceptive use at most recent intercourse. Methods: Data were drawn from six nationally representative waves of the Czech Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, which was conducted between 2002 and 2022. Only 15-year-olds were included (N = 19,384). Descriptive trend analyses were conducted using survey weights, with subgroup comparisons...
Trends in alcohol use among Czech adolescents: findings from the HBSC study 2014–2022
Ladislav Csémy, Petr Baďura, Ladislav Kážmér
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):247-252 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8822
Objectives: The present study aims to examine trends in adolescent alcohol use over the period from 2014 to 2022. Methods: Data from the last three Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) surveys conducted in 2014, 2018 and 2022 were used for this study. Three measures of adolescent alcohol use have been chosen for analyses: lifetime alcohol use, last 30 days alcohol use, and repeated lifetime drunkenness. The analyses comprised calculation of period-specific prevalence estimates and testing of the significance of between-period changes using survey-adjusted logistic regression models. Results: Comparing prevalence rates between the periods,...
Trends in adolescent cigarette smoking in Czechia: findings from the HBSC study 2014–2022
Ladislav Kážmér, Ondřej Šíba, Michal Kalman, Ladislav Csémy
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(4):238-246 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8831
Objectives: Regular monitoring of health-related behaviours among vulnerable populations is of public health importance. This study examines recent trends in adolescent cigarette smoking in Czechia following the marked changes reported in the mid-2010s. Methods: Data from three recent rounds of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in Czechia in 2014, 2018 and 2022 were analysed. Temporal trends were assessed for two indicators of adolescent cigarette use: lifetime cigarette use and cigarette use in the last 30 days. Survey-adjusted binary logistic regression models were used to test changes between survey periods. In...
The new chairman of The Editorial Board of the Central European Journal of Public Health, Professor MUDr. Milan Tuček, CSc.News and Notes
The Editorial Board
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):231
Acknowledgement to Professor MUDr. Milena Černá, DrSc.News and Notes
The Editorial Board
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):231
A tribute to Professor MUDr. Vladimír Vonka, DrSc.News and Notes
Libor Grubhoffer
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):230
Validation of the Greek version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form in adults 18–65 years old
Nikos Dimitriadis, Maria Partsafa, Nikoleta-Maria Bokou, Alexandros Dimitriadis, Katy Taveira, Demosthenes Panagiotakos
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):225-229 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8446
Objectives: Various tools and methods have been proposed to measure physical activity, with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) being one of the most popular self-reported tools. The study's aim was to test the validity of IPAQ-SF among Greek male and female adults, aged 18-65 years. Methods: A total of 134 adults (98 males) were randomly selected and participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 37.9 years (SD = 11.6), with 73.1% being male. Translation and back-translation was performed to ensure cultural adaptation. The validity of IPAQ-SF was ascertained using fitness measures (maximum oxygen uptake, VO2...
Behavioural risk factors clusters and their associations with self-reported burdens among university students in Finland
Walid El Ansari, Kareem El-Ansari, René Šebeňa
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):216-224 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8620
Objectives: No research among Finnish universities grouped students into clusters, based on their lifestyle behavioural risk factors (BRFs), and appraised relationships of the clusters with self-reported burdens, adjusting for confounders. The aim of the study was to undertake this task. Methods: Students (N = 1,169) at Turku University completed online questionnaire comprising socio-demographic variables (age, sex, income, social support), 18 burdens, and 4 BRFs (smoking, alcohol, drug use, food habits). Factor analysis reduced burdens into factors; cluster analysis of BRFs categorized students into clusters. Regression models appraised associations...
Using the ErgoScope work simulator and ICF in insurance medicine and occupational health
Sarolta Nagy, András Lászik
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):209-215 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8591
Objectives: Instrumental work diagnostic examinations can be used for capability assessment in evaluating work suitability, job selection, complex and occupational rehabilitation, and career counselling. According to the literature, assessments performed with work simulators and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) are suitable for monitoring changes in functional capacity. We propose that instrumental work diagnostic measurements - specifically, measurements conducted on the ErgoScope work simulator - along with the ICF, can be effectively used for the objective assessment of functional capacity and tracking...
Food safety knowledge and practices of preschool employees with food contact in Podgorica, Montenegro
Maja Milanović, Boban Mugoša, Biljana Popović Kolašinac
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):200-208 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8315
Objectives: This is the first study in Montenegro to assess food safety knowledge, hygiene practices, and perceived barriers among childcare centre employees (N = 972) with both direct and indirect contact with food. It aimed to identify high-risk practices through structured observation and evaluate the need for targeted educational interventions in preschool institutions in Podgorica. Two hypotheses were tested: H1: there is a difference in knowledge and practices between employees with direct and indirect food contact. H2: socio-demographic characteristics influence the knowledge and practices of employees involved in food handling. Methods:...
Limited awareness about the role of dietitians among medical students: a qualitative study
Victoria H. Hawk, Zlata Kapounová, Martin Krobot, Veronika Zelenková, Lauren Haldeman
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):193-199 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8605
Objectives: Dietitians are well qualified to work as nutrition professionals on interprofessional healthcare teams and to provide education to health professionals at academic institutions. However, opportunities for the knowledge and utilization of dietitians in health care are different around the world. With rising global rates of nutrition-related diseases and the availability of university-based dietetic programmes, it is important to consider factors that may impact opportunities for dietitians in different countries. Thus, this study aimed to explore perceptions about the role of dietitians in medical care and medical education in the Czech...
Increased macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae in Slovakia may be linked to increased macrolide consumption
Peter Kunč, Jaroslav Fábry, Katarina Ištvánková, Martina Neuschlová, Renata Péčová
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):187-192 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8464
Objectives: Given the widespread use of macrolide antibiotics and growing concerns over antimicrobial resistance, this study aimed to investigate recent trends in macrolide consumption in Slovakia and to determine the corresponding changes in Streptococcus pneumoniae resistance in a paediatric cohort.Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1,083 nasal swab cultures from children with recurrent respiratory infections and atopy, comparing two distinct 5-year periods: 2008-2012 and 2019-2023. Consumption data was based on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reports. Results: National data confirmed that Slovakia...
Detection and quantification of Sildenafil and Tadalafil in dietary supplements marketed as natural sexual enhancers in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Elma Omeragić, Lejla Jesenković-Habul, Belma Imamović, Mirza Dedić, Amila Turalić, Ervina Bečić
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):181-186 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8397
Objectives: The primary aim of this study is to detect and quantify the presence of Sildenafil (SDF) and Tadalafil (TDF) in dietary supplements marketed as natural sexual enhancers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Additionally, the study seeks to utilize these findings to inform relevant authorities, enabling further testing in reference laboratories and prompting the necessary actions to remove these adulterated products from the market. Methods: Using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), 20 samples were analysed for the PDE-5 inhibitors. Results: The analysis revealed that seven of the samples contained...
Current view on HIV-2 – epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment
Dalibor Sedláček
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):176-180 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8631
Human immunodeficiency virus 2 (HIV-2) is a retrovirus related to HIV-1. It is believed to have evolved from the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). The disease caused by HIV-2 is manifested by a slower progression compared to HIV-1. Data from West Africa show that 37% to 50% of HIV-2 infected people have undetected or very low viremia and if left untreated, have a much more gradual decline in CD4 T lymphocytes, thus longer survival. However, treatment should not be postponed even in this case, because the course of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in people with HIV-2 is more severe than in HIV-1, and also the year-on-year increase...
The importance of screening asymptomatic patients admitted to healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic
Petr Smejkal, Filip Hrubý, Anna Horňáková
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):170-175 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8739
Objectives: Screening of asymptomatic patients upon hospital admission became a key strategy to prevent nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in facilities treating immunocompromised patients. Rapid antigen tests (RATs) were widely used due to their speed, but their reliability in detecting potentially infectious individuals remained debated. In parallel, the role of immunosuppression, especially in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, as a risk factor for asymptomatic positivity and prolonged viral shedding raised additional concerns. The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of...
Feasibility and acceptability of telemedicine in prenatal care for low-risk pregnancies: a comparative study of remote and in-person approaches in the Czech Republic
Adéla Tefr Faridová, Eva Miletínová, Ondřej Tefr, Jitka Bušková, Beáta Čečetková, Jiří Pecina, Ladislav Krofta, Hynek Heřman
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):163-169 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8520
Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of remote prenatal care using a smartphone application for women with low-risk pregnancies, and to compare outcomes with standard in-person care. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at the Institute for Maternal and Child Care in Podolí, Prague. A total of 225 pregnant women were enrolled: 119 received combined telemedicine and standard in-person follow-ups (W-DF group), while 106 received only standard in-person care (W-PF group). Data on patient satisfaction across various domains of care were collected and analysed. Results: Women...
Inequalities in cervical cancer screening use: results of the Serbian National Health Survey
Dragana Milijašević, Tatjana Tamaš, Sonja Čanković, Snežana Ukropina, Sonja Šušnjević, Tanja Tomašević, Dušan Čanković, Vesna Mijatović Jovanović
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(3):155-162 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8486
Objectives: Cervical cancer represents a significant public health concern worldwide, particularly among women of reproductive age. According to data from the Cancer Registry of the Republic of Serbia for the year 2022, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with an age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of 24.8/100,000 and the fourth leading cause of mortality, with an age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of 10.2/100,000. This study aimed to analyse the association between socio-demographic factors, unmet healthcare needs, and cervical cancer screening use among women in Serbia. Methods: Research was conducted as a cross-sectional...
Tobacco use among health professionals: example of one of the largest Czech hospitals, 2012-2023
Eva Králíková, Lenka Štěpánková, Anna Horňáková
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(2):148-151 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8435
Objectives: The General University Hospital in Prague (GUH) is one of the largest hospitals in the Czech Republic. The prevalence of smoking among hospital staff is monitored as part of its Health Promoting Hospitals (HPH) network membership. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design, utilizing anonymous questionnaires distributed to all hospital employees in the years 2012 and 2023 through the hospital's electronic system (response rates 25% and 28%, respectively). Data were analysed using chi-square tests to compare smoking prevalence across time and among subgroups based on profession, sex and age group. Results: The total prevalence...
Beliefs about third-hand smoke and health perceptions of the preschool paediatric patients' parents
Esma Üçüncü, Fatma Gökşin Cihan, Hatice Küçükceran, Sevgi Pekcan, Gökçen Ünal
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(2):140-147 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8357
Objectives: Millions of children suffer from the harmful effects of tobacco smoking. The aim of this study was to investigate the health perceptions of preschool paediatric patient's parents and their beliefs and attitudes towards third-hand smoke. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with the parents of pre-school paediatric patients. A questionnaire including the socio-demographic information form, the Beliefs About Third-Hand Smoke (BATHS-T) scale and the Perception of Health Scale (PHS) were applied to the participants. Results: Of the 500 parents participating in the study, 74.6% were mothers. Among participants 440 (88.0%) stated...
Potential impact of e-cigarettes on life-years lost from conventional smoking in Ukraine, a replication study
Giorgi Mzhavanadze, Vladimir Dubrovskiy
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(2):132-139 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8382
Objectives: Smoking remains a significant public health concern in Ukraine. Recent efforts to combat smoking have shown some progress, but Ukraine's current approach largely overlooks the potential benefits of harm reduction strategies. Concurrently, the use of e-cigarettes has been on the rise among Ukrainian adults. Our study aims to estimate the potential impact of e-cigarettes on reducing the mortality rate associated with cigarette smoking in Ukraine. Methods: We conducted a replication study using a dynamic population simulation model initially developed for the US. We ran simulations for 210 e-cigarette scenarios, varying assumptions on how...
Alcohol use and COVID-19: three-year impact for the Czech Republic
Vladimír Rogalewicz, Benjamin Petruželka, Jaroslav Vacek, Michal Miovský, Ingeborg Rossow, Carolin Kilian, Jakob Manthey, Miroslav Barták
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(2):122-131 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8410
Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe alcohol consumption and its changes in the Czech Republic during the period of governmental restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. To this goal, an overview of the governmental measures that may have affected alcohol consumption was compiled from various sources (mostly media reports). Methods: The paper analyses three surveys where the group from Charles University, Prague, participated in design and execution: the European Study Group on Alcohol use and COVID-19 (ESAC) convenience online survey that (in Czechia) took place at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, in April through June...
Retrospective evaluation of measures in the field of occupational health services during the COVID-19 epidemic
Matyáš Fošum, Marie Nakládalová, Ladislav Štěpánek
Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(2):116-121 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8626
Objectives: In the Czech Republic, employers and employees are bound by legal regulations that ensure occupational health and safety. These regulations are based on international conventions of the International Labour Organization and directives of the European Parliament and Council and have long been incorporated into Czech legislation. During the COVID-19 epidemic, emergency and crisis measures led to a limitation of occupational health examinations (OHEs) in the Czech Republic, which represented a significant disruption of the occupational health and safety system. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of these measures in order to find...