Central European Journal of Public Health - Latest articles

Results 31 to 60 of 148:

New treatment strategies in HIV/AIDS infection and the impact of treatment adherence on the quality of life of people living with HIV

Dalibor Sedláček, Sam Hofman, Jiří Frei, Marek Malý

Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(1):12-16 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7382  

Objective: The aim of the study was the assessment of adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in a population of people living with HIV (PWH), improving the awareness of PWH, drawing attention to the risk of developing HIV drug resistance and subsequent treatment failure. Methods: The basic cohort consisted of PWH followed up long-term at the HIV centre of the University Hospital Pilsen. Adherence to treatment was assessed by ARV levels. Nucleoside analogs were determined in urine by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), in relation to clinical data, viral load (HIV RNA), and absolute CD4 and CD8 T cell counts. To assess mental and physical...

Association between complex exposure to cadmium and mercury and atopic dermatitis in elementary school students: analysis using data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 4

Kiook Baek

Cent Eur J Public Health 2025, 33(1):3-11 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8437  

Objectives: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common allergic disease with potential links to environmental pollutants, including heavy metals. This study investigates the association between co-exposure to cadmium and mercury and AD among Korean children. Methods: Data from the fourth cycle of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) included 736 elementary school students. Urinary cadmium and mercury levels were measured, and their association with lifetime prevalence of AD was analysed using logistic regression, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile g-computation (QGC), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). Confounders...

EditorialExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Erik Dorko, Kvetoslava Rimárová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S3  

The field of public health sciences continues to evolve rapidly, driven by cutting-edge research addressing pressing medical challenges and improving clinical practices. The studies published from Slovakia and the Czech Republic in this CEJPH Supplementum 2024 exemplify this progress, offering valuable insights into a diverse array of public health topics. The issue highlights key contributions from these impactful studies, underscoring their relevance to global and regional quality of public health.

Socioeconomic inequalities and their impact on the health of seniors 65+Exploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Jitka Vacková, Kvetoslava Rimárová, Lenka Motlová, Renata Švestková, Erik Dorko, Ivana Chloubová, Radek Vistořín, Kristýna Hellerová, Lesia Shuranová, Eva Fichtnerová, Markéta Bendová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S85-90 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8280  

Objectives: The main aim of the article is to indicate how selected socioeconomic factors contribute to the selected characteristics of the subjectively perceived health of seniors 65+ living in the Czech Republic. Methods: Data collection took place in the Czech Republic from 27 January 2020 to 14 February 2020. The total number of interviews carried out in the research was 1,172, from a representative quota sample of seniors from the senior population living in the Czech Republic. Questionnaires were distributed in the form of PAPI interviews. Results: The assessment of subjective social status increases with education and employment (these three...

Analysis of COVID-19 patient outcomes with molnupiravir treatment and the role of risk factors: a single-centre retrospective descriptive studyExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Ondrej Zahornacký, Štefan Porubčin, Alena Rovňáková, Pavol Jarčuška, Dária Semenovová, Paulína Kubalcová, Erik Dorko, Kvetoslava Rimárová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S104-110 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8398  

Objective: This study aims to describe the outcomes of COVID-19 patients treated with molnupiravir and to explore the associations with various risk factors. Methods: We conducted a single-centre, descriptive, retrospective study without a comparison group. Results: Out of 141 patients, 70 (49.7%) required follow-up outpatient care. In the subgroup of 66 (46.8%) hospitalized patients, 28 (19.9%) developed interstitial viral pneumonia, with 6 (4.3%) deaths. Unvaccinated patients had a higher incidence of pneumonia (p = 0.020), and obesity was a significant risk factor for both pneumonia (p = 0.001) and mortality (p = 0.011). Patients over 60 years (p...

Eating behaviours and associated lifestyle factors in a sample of Slovak adolescentsExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Diana Vondrová, Ľubica Argalášová, Michael Weitzman, Martin Samohýl, Alexandra Filová, Katarína Hirošová, Jana Jurkovičová, Kvetoslava Rimárová, Erik Dorko, Jana Babjaková

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S96-103 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7893  

Objectives: An unhealthy lifestyle, inappropriate eating habits, and inadequate physical activity are the most common risk factors affecting health and causing the premature onset of non-communicable diseases. The study aimed to evaluate lifestyle factors, eating habits, and daily regimens in a sample of Slovak adolescents. Methods: The sample involves 524 students aged 15-22 years attending selected secondary schools from the model region of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. We assessed the prevalence of selected lifestyle factors and investigated the relationship between negative lifestyle factors and the presence of overweight and obesity. Results:...

Management of patients with urinary incontinence in senior ageExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Marek Vargovčák, Erik Dorko, Kvetoslava Rimárová, Jana Diabelková

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S91-95 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7890  

Objectives: Urinary incontinence is an extremely stressful and often debilitating disease, increasing morbidity in society. The aim of the work is to point out the problems of the management of incontinent patients - seniors in the context of their quality of life as well as treatment costs to find ways to make the widest possible public awareness of the fact that in most cases incontinence is solvable in terms of improving the quality of life. Methods: The group consisted of 100 patients with urinary incontinence who were treated with conservative medical procedures at the urological outpatient clinic of the Railway Hospital in Košice. The research...

Oral health and rheumatoid arthritis: a case control studyExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Margaréta Tamášová, Želmíra Macejová, Erik Dorko, Silvia Timková, Kvetoslava Rimárová, Jana Diabelková

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S78-84 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7892  

Objectives: Patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are repeatedly affected by oral diseases or problems, including dental caries and periodontal diseases (PDs). Periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis are chronic inflammatory destructive diseases that share many similarities. The objective of this study was to assess oral health status including examination of hard dental tissues and periodontium in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and compare the results with healthy controls. We hypothesize some interlink between oral diseases and RA. Methods: The epidemiological case-control study involved a total of 64 subjects divided into an experimental...

Findings on impact of COVID-19 on mental health using keyword visualizationExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Gabriela Štefková, Kvetoslava Rimárová, Erik Dorko, Lucia Dimunová, Martina Tejová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S72-77 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8281  

Objective: The EU global health priorities focus on ensuring better health and well-being for people throughout their lives as well as on reducing inequalities between countries. The COVID-19 pandemic can be understood as a set of several events that directly or indirectly affected the mental health of people around the world. The aim of this study was to identify the main groupings of co-occurrence of all keywords related to the main keywords "COVID-19" and "mental health" acquired through search in the Scopus database using the VOSviewer tool. Methods: Descriptive study based on a bibliometric analysis of the occurrence of the keywords "COVID-19"...

Sleep apnoea from a dentist's point of viewExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Marcela Šestáková, Alexandra Janíčková, Eleonóra Ivančová, Mária Eötvösová, Viliam Donič, Erik Dorko, Kvetoslava Rimárová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S66-71 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7891  

Objectives: The aim of this study was to confirm the relevance of knowledge a dentist has regarding obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), considering the fact that based on specific risk factors a dentist may be the first clinician to identify patients who are at risk of being affected by this serious condition. Methods: The cohort consisted of 53 subjects who underwent a routine dental examination. Anthropometric data and data on tongue size (Mallampati classification), tonsil size (Friedman classification), daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) and systemic risk factors were recorded in a record sheet. On the basis of the monitored parameters,...

Predictive parameters of cardiovascular risk in younger school-age childrenExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Zlatana Sulinová, Erik Dorko, Kvetoslava Rimárová, Jana Diabelková, Martina Tejová, Andrea Houžvičková

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S58-65 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8376  

Objectives: Overweight and obesity are important concerns for global health. They are characterized by excessive fat accumulation that can harm health. Childhood obesity has reached alarming levels around the world due to urbanization and changes in lifestyle. This trend highlights an urgent need for effective public health strategies to promote healthier lifestyles, prevent chronic diseases, and support the wellbeing of future generations. This study aimed to monitor the impact of the risk factors on blood pressure and lipid profile parameters. Methods: Data were collected from 267 school-age children from Slovakia. The study assessed blood pressure...

A ten-year retrospective analysis of risk factors and comorbidities prevalence in a group of septic arthritis patientsExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Dávid Sokol, Erik Dorko, Kvetoslava Rimárová, Róbert Čellár, Erik Drabiščák, Daniela Schreierová, Marek Lacko, István Mitró, Ahmad Gharaibeh, Peter Hrdlík

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S52-57 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7887  

Objectives: The aim of this study was the evaluation of a group of patients treated at the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of Locomotory Apparatus at Luis Pasteur University Hospital in Košice for septic arthritis in relation to risk factors and chronic diseases and its microbial aetiologic profile. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients including all episodes of septic arthritis from March 2013 to August 2022. The occurrence of chronic diseases, risk factors and its microbiological profile were investigated. Results: A total of 141 patients were included: 92 (65%) males and 49 (35%) females, the mean age of patients was...

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in 6-15-year-old boys and girls before the COVID-19 pandemic: results from anthropological research 2001-2019 in the Czech RepublicExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Miroslav Kopecký, Kvetoslava Rimárová, Erik Dorko, Kateřina Kikalová, Simona Miškárová, Martina Tejová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S42-51 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8283  

Objective: Childhood overweight and obesity has been a major global problem for a long time, with a steadily increasing prevalence of obesity and a growing number of cases of serious health complications associated with childhood obesity. The main objective of the study is to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in boys and girls before the COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic. Methods: Body height, weight, BMI, and body composition (fat free mass, skeletal muscle mass, body fat, visceral fat area) were assessed in a cohort of 4,475 subjects (2,180 boys and 2,295 girls) aged 6-15 years. Somatic status was assessed by standardized anthropometry...

Lockdown influence on diet and physical activity of seniors; has it weight consequences?Exploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Lívia Kaňuková, Kvetoslava Rimárová, Erik Dorko, Pavol Makovický, Miroslav Kopecký, Paulína Kubalcová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S34-41 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8284  

Objectives: Many studies draw attention to the negative consequences of the pandemic or lockdown on the well-being and lifestyle of different sections of the population. This study considers whether changes occurred in dietary regime and level of physical activity during three periods - before the pandemic, during the lockdown, and during the present in older Slovak adults. We also investigate whether individual weights changed during the pandemic. Methods: The study has a cross-sectional design. We collected 436 questionnaires from older adults (60+) living in Slovakia; 277 come from the first phase of online data collection (04/2022-06/2022) in university...

Continuous metabolic syndrome score in cardiovascular risk assessment in adolescentsExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Ivana Kachútová, Katarína Hirošová, Martin Samohýl, Katarína Mayer Vargová, Jana Babjaková, Lenka Matejáková, Ľubica Argalášová, Kvetoslava Rimárová, Erik Dorko, Jana Jurkovičová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S25-33 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7889  

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the metabolic syndrome (MS) prevalence in a sample of adolescents, to calculate their continuous metabolic syndrome scores, and to determine the associations of continuous metabolic syndrome score with overweight/obesity and selected cardiometabolic and lifestyle factors. Methods: We enrolled a sample of 2,590 adolescents (1,180 males, mean age 17.1 ± 1.04 years) from 14 grammar schools and 48 secondary schools in the Bratislava Self-Governing Region, Slovakia. Data were collected from a standard anthropometric examination, biochemical analysis of fasting venous blood, blood pressure measurement, physical...

Assessment of depressive disorders and states of anxiety in patients following cerebrovascular accidents in connection with health care provisionExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Miriam Ištoňová, Erik Dorko, Viliam Knap, Beáta Stehlíková, Anna Murgová, Perla Ondová, Kvetoslava Rimárová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S18-24 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7888  

Objective: Anxiety and depression in patients following cerebrovascular accidents are among frequently occurring complications of the medical condition. The consequences affect personal, family, professional, and social life. They cause severe functional and cognitive impairments, limit the ability to perform normal daily activities, which can result in complete disability. The aim of the study was to monitor the occurrence of anxiety and depression in patients following cerebrovascular accidents hospitalized in neurological departments in the region of eastern Slovakia. Methods: A total of 101 patients following cerebrovascular accidents, aged from...

Comparison of occupational diseases development during one decade in the Slovak and Czech RepublicExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Erik Drabiščák, Erik Dorko, Kvetoslava Rimárová, Jozef Varga

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S12-17 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7885  

Objectives: An occupational disease (OD) is a disorder or health condition which arises due to work related activities and tasks or is caused by work environment. The impact of ODs on medical and social system may be considered as a very important in relation to mortality, morbidity, and invalidity. The most common ODs in the European Union are musculoskeletal disorders (58% of all ODs in 2015). The aim of the study was to determine the differences in the incidence of occupational diseases between the Slovak Republic (SK) and the Czech Republic (CZ). Methods: Data were obtained from the Health Statistics Yearbooks of the National Health Information...

Birth outcomes of advanced maternal age pregnanciesExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Jana Diabelková, Erik Dorko, Kvetoslava Rimárová, Peter Urdzík, Zlatana Sulinová, Andrea Houžvičková, Miroslav Kopecký

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S8-11 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8317  

Objective: Pregnancy at advanced maternal age has become more common over the last decades. Therefore, the study aimed to describe the characteristics and maternal and perinatal outcomes of women giving birth at advanced maternal age and very advanced age. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 2,300 singleton births that occurred in 2020-2021 at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of the Louis Pasteur University Hospital in Košice. The control (age 20-34 years), advanced maternal age (35-39 years), and very advanced maternal age (≥ 40 years) groups included 1,851, 382, and 67 women, respectively. Exclusion criteria were...

Chronic diseases and spondylodiscitisExploring Public Health Sciences: Insights from Slovak and Czech Research

Róbert Čellár, Erik Dorko, Kvetoslava Rimárová, Dávid Sokol, Ahmad Gharaibeh, István Mitró, Rastislav Šepitka, Viliam Knap

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(Suppl):S4-7 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7886  

Objective: Our research was focused to find a relation between the occurrence of spondylodiscitis and occurrence of chronic diseases. We were trying to discover some new risk factors and relations between chronic disorders in our research group. This analysis was also focused to detect factors that prolong the hospitalization of patients and worsen their prognosis. Methods: A study was carried out involving patients with spondylodiscitis treated between 2013 and 2022. A statistical analysis expressed by several coefficients was calculated in software IBM SPSS 21. Results: The study group comprised 32 (53.3%) females and 28 (46.7%) males. During the...

Sugar-sweetened beverages: taxation evidence from seven European countries and recommendations for implementation in other EU regions

Pavel Semerád, Petra Hospodková, Markéta Lamačová, Vladimír Rogalewicz, Ondřej Babuněk, Marian Dobranschi

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(4):279-287 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8210  

Objectives: Higher-than-recommended sugar consumption (< 10% of total energy intake; WHO) leads to negative health impacts and the development of serious diseases. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) proved to be among the leading sources of free sugar intake, as they contain large amounts of added sugar. Our article aims to propose tax measures that will help change consumer behaviour and reduce SSBs consumption. Methods: For a comparison of the forms of taxation, the experience of seven countries (Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Catalonia - Spain, and the UK) were analysed. The evolution of sugar consumption, consumption of sweetened drinks...

Acrylamide content in selected food products collected from Montenegrin market and health risk assessment

Dijana Đurović, Miljan Bigović, Ljubica Ivanović, Maja Blagojević, Amil Orahovac

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(4):273-278 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8260  

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the acrylamide exposure of different children and adult population groups (10-14 years, 15-17 years, 18-24 years, 25-44 years, 45-64 years, and 65-74 years) resulting from the consumption of potato chips and wheat-based bread from Montenegrin market and to evaluate it in terms of health risk. Methods: The acrylamide content was monitored in 51 samples of bread and 20 samples of chips. The carcinogenic health risk in different population groups was assessed through the incremental lifetime cancer risk (CR) and total cancer risk (TCR). Results: The average acrylamide content in potato chips and bread was calculated...

Association between polychlorinated biphenyls and circulatory immune markers: results from NHANES 1999–2004

Ma Yuzhu, Li Wei, Liu Ying, Chen Yong, Hu Kesheng

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(4):263-272 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8056  

Objectives: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a family of persistent toxic and organic environmental pollutants, were associated with multiple organ damages in humans once accumulating. However, association between PCBs exposure and circulatory immune markers were not clear. Methods: Data was collected from participants enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 1999-2004. PCBs were categorized by latent class analysis (LCA). Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was used to investigate effects of PCBs exposure on circulatory immune markers including leukocyte counts, monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil-lymphocyte...

Factors affecting smoking cessation success in individuals who applied to a smoking cessation centre

Türkan Günay, Nur Acar, Duygu Lüleci, Fatma Seven, Nurcan Şentürk Durukan, Hakan Baydur, Oğuz Kilinç, Şafak Taner

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(4):256-262 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8295  

Objectives: This study aims to assess the frequency of smoking cessation and to identify the factors affecting smoking cessation success among individuals seeking assistance at a smoking cessation centre. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,570 individuals who applied to the smoking cessation centre in Izmir, Turkey, between 2009 and 2018, and completed three follow-ups. Data were obtained from the centre's records. Factors affecting smoking cessation success were analysed using logistic regression in multivariate analysis. Results: The median age to start smoking was 19 (17-22), and the median number of cigarettes consumed per day was 20...

Influence of smoking on human hearing – literature review

Karol Myszel, Piotr Henryk Skarżyński

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(4):251-255 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8218  

Objectives: Smoking is a strong addiction, that affects a huge number of people worldwide, including the young ones. Due to composition of cigarette smoke, which contains nicotine and other chemical substances, lots of harmful effects on human health were described. Apart from the influence on other organs smoking is associated with hearing loss. Methods: The literature review was conducted using PubMed and the combination of the following words: smoking, hearing impairment and hearing loss. Results: The total number of 585 articles published in the recent 10 years were analysed. The review results show a strong association of hearing loss with smoking,...

Risk of metabolic syndrome linked to tobacco smoking and caffeine consumption among Palestinian university students

Ahmad Farhoud, Ibrahim Mahamid, Mohab Najjar, Anas Owda, Omar Safarini, Majdeddin MohammedAli, Ammar Thabaleh, Ahmed Mousa, Abdulraziq Zarour, Yazan Alhabil, Lubna Suadi, Zaher Nazzal, Basma Damiri

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(4):243-250 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7320  

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its association with the use of tobacco smoking and caffeine consumption among Palestinian university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 among university students at An-Najah National University in the West Bank. MetS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Programme. We employed adjusted multiple logistic regression models to address the association between MetS and tobacco smoking and caffeine consumption. Results: The number of participants was 392. The findings revealed that 9.2% of the students met...

Postpartum depression in Ukrainian refugee women who gave birth abroad after beginning of large-scale war

Olena Kostiuk, Yelyzaveta Shunko, Roma Jusiene, Rima Breidokiene, Violeta Drejeriene, Sigita Lesinkiene, Arunas Valiulis

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(4):236-242 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8003  

Objectives: The Russian military aggression against Ukraine in February 2022 became the cause of the biggest humanitarian crisis. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a type of mood disorder of pregnant and postpartum women. It was earlier reported that depression of pregnant women is increased in a combat zone, while effects of war on pregnant refugee and displaced women are less studied. The aim of the study was to determine the features of emotional state of temporarily displaced Ukrainian women who gave birth in Lithuania in spring-autumn 2022, and compare it with the state of Lithuanian women who were not directly affected by war. Methods: The study...

Post-pandemic health literacy: COVID-19 knowledge among future teachers in the Czech Republic

Tereza Sofková, Michaela Hřivnová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(4):231-235 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8091  

Objectives: The global situation concerning the incidence of infectious diseases emphasises the need for increased health literacy, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. A large part of this need relates to the area of education. The aim of this study was to analyse health literacy in relation to the cognitive dimension in the field of knowledge about the COVID-19 disease in the post-pandemic period among future teachers. Methods: The research sample comprised 286 female students in the first year of Bachelor's teacher training courses at the Faculty of Education in the Czech Republic. The research study was conducted during the academic year 2022/2023....

Attitudes of pregnant women toward vaccination against COVID-19 – a study conducted in Poland in the first quarter of 2022

Magdalena Konieczny, Dariusz Sobieraj, Aleksandra Niezgoda, Izabela Gąska, Aneta Mielnik, Mateusz Niemiec, Elżbieta Cipora

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(4):225-230 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8177  

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the attitudes of pregnant women toward vaccination against COVID-19. Methods: The research was conducted using a diagnostic survey with our original questionnaire among 283 pregnant women. The survey was carried out in Poland in the first quarter of 2022. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 26.0 (p < 0.05). Results: It was shown that 140 (49.5%) pregnant women were vaccinated against COVID-19, of which 90 (64.3%) received vaccination during pregnancy. In the group of 143 (50%) unvaccinated people, only 11.9% of respondents expressed willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The most frequently...

Long-term consequences of COVID-19 on mental and physical health in young adults

Darina Falbová, Viktória Kovalčíková, Radoslav Beňuš, Lenka Vorobeľová

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(4):219-224 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a8118  

Objectives: This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on various long-term psychological and physical symptoms in young adults from Slovakia. Methods: We assessed 229 Slovak young adults aged 18 to 30 years. Probands were interviewed using standardised questionnaires. The relationship between COVID-19 and long-term health symptoms was determined using Pearson's chi-square test. The McNemar test was used to determine the differences in health symptoms before and after COVID-19 recovery. Results: The statistically significant effect of COVID-19 after recovery on adverse cognitive health was only documented in women in the following symptoms: memory...

Socio-demographic and other factors contributing to excessive leisure screen time in preadolescent children

Kateřina Lukavská, Michal Božík, Niko Männikkö, Ondřej Hrabec, Michaela Slussareff, Jaroslav Vacek, Martina Píšová, Roman Gabrhelík

Cent Eur J Public Health 2024, 32(3):205-214 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7941  

Objectives: Excessive screen use in early school age is associated with worsened health habits and negative child development in later age. We aimed to assess the time spent on modern and traditional screen-based devices and examine its associations with socio-demographic characteristics. Methods: This population-based cross-sectional observation study was conducted in Czechia, Slovakia and Finland between April and June 2021. Participants (N = 1,915) were parents/caregivers of children attending elementary school grades 1 to 3, selected by stratified random sampling. Children's daily leisure screen time (LST) based on parental reports was the main...