The relationship of health literacy (HL) with objective measures including anthropometric measurements remains an under-researched topic to date.
To assess the association between body mass index ...(BMI) and HL among Albanian adults.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tirana, Albania, in 2012-2014 including a population-based sample of 1154 individuals aged ≥18 years. HL was assessed by the use of HLS-EU-Q instrument. Anthropometrics included measurement of weight and height based on which BMI was calculated. Information on socio-demographic characteristics was also collected. Logistic regression was employed to assess the independent association of BMI and HL controlling all socio-demographic factors.
One-fifth of the participants reported an inadequate HL level, whereas almost one-third (31%) reported an excellent HL level. About 41% of study participants were overweight and further 22% were obese. In multivariate analysis, there was evidence of a strong and significant association between BMI and HL: the odds of overweight/obesity were two times higher (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.3-3.1) among inadequate HL individuals compared with excellent HL participants.
Our findings, pertinent to a transitional country in the South East Europe, point to a strong, consistent and highly significant association between BMI and HL, irrespective of a wide array of socio-demographic characteristics.
Abstract Objective Our aim was to assess the level and socio-demographic correlates of the ability to maintain health among children in Albania, a post-communist country in the Western Balkans. ...Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Albania in September 2022. The study population consisted of a nationwide representative sample of 7,831 schoolchildren (≈54% girls) aged 12–15 years. A structured self-administered and anonymous questionnaire inquired about the children’s attitudes toward health promotion (ability to maintain and improve health) and a range of key dimensions on knowledge and practices regarding healthcare services. Socio-demographic data were also collected. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the socio-demographic correlates of children’s ability to maintain health. Results Overall, about 71% of schoolchildren exhibited the best attitudes toward health promotion (ability to maintain and improve health). In the multivariable adjusted logistic regression models, poorer attitudes toward health promotion (ability to maintain and improve health) were significantly related to older age (OR=1.2, 95% CI=1.0–1.3), middle/low maternal education (OR=1.2, 95%CI=1.1–1.3), poor/very poor economic situation (OR=1.5, 95%CI=1.2–1.8), lack of appropriate knowledge about rights to healthcare (OR=1.3, 95% CI=1.1–1.5), lack of knowledge about obtaining healthcare services (OR=1.7, 95%CI=1.4–2.2), and lack of consultations/visits with health professionals excluding vaccinations (OR=1.2, 95%CI=1.1–1.4). Conclusions Almost 1/3 rd of Albanian schoolchildren included in this study did not exhibit the best attitudes toward health promotion (ability to maintain and improve health). The best attitudes were related to a higher socioeconomic level and adequate knowledge and practices regarding healthcare services. There is thus a need to increase health literacy levels among children in order to ultimately induce sustainable healthy behavioural/lifestyle practices.
Health literacy (HL) refers to people's ability to find, understand, and use health information in order to make appropriate health decisions. Health literacy among students is important so that ...tomorrow's health professionals can deliver high-quality health care and enhance patient education and communication.
In this context, the aim of this study was to assess the HL level of Faculty of Medical Technical Sciences (FMTS) students in order to shed light on this underresearched topic in Albanian settings.
A cross-sectional study involving 193 FMTS students of various study branches (nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, and laboratory technician) was carried out during June 22-29, 2022, on the premises of the FMTS Faculty in Tirana, Albania. The international European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q) standardized questionnaire, validated in Albanian, was used to collect information about FMTS students' general HL through a face-to-face interview. Basic sociodemographic information was collected as well. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with inadequate, problematic, or limited HL.
The mean level of general HL was 37.2 (on a scale from 0 minimum HL to 50 maximal HL). About one-quarter of FMTS students had inadequate (9/193, 4.7%) or problematic (38/193, 19.7%) HL, 51.3% (99/193) had sufficient HL, and 24.4% (47/193) had excellent HL. The prevalence of limited HL (inadequate and problematic HL) was higher among male than female students (6/12, 50% vs 41/181, 22.6%, respectively) and those with lower social and economic status. Upon adjusting for confounding effects, the only factor significantly increasing the likelihood of limited HL was male gender (odds ratio 8.13, 95% CI 1.68-39.39). Findings suggested that low social and economic status also increased the likelihood of limited HL, but such associations did not reach statistical significance.
To our knowledge, this is the first study exploring the level of HL and its associated factors among FMTS students in Albania. The prevalence of limited HL was relatively high among FMTS students. There is a need for targeted interventions to increase the HL of nursing and midwifery students, such as the inclusion of HL subjects in the nursing curriculum.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has hit vulnerable populations harder. In this context, the aim of this study was to assess the negative personal impacts and discrimination experienced by the ...LGBTQ+ community in Albania during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Albania in 2021, as a part of a larger multicenter study conducted by the International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network (IPPF EN). Binary logistic regression was used to assess the likelihood of feeling discriminated, ashamed, or afraid due to sexual orientation, adjusting for main confounding factors. Results: In total, 279 youngsters aged 14-30 years were included in this study. Of these, 55 participants or 19.7% self-declared as LGBTQ+. Significantly higher proportions of LGBTQ+ were older and of Albanian ethnicity, whereas lower proportions were not married/cohabiting compared to non-LGBTQ+ participants. Significantly higher proportions of LGBTQ+ members have felt discriminated (32.7%), ashamed to discuss about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues of concern (32.7%), afraid to express their sexual orientation (45.5%), and lacked privacy to discuss SRH issues with people of trust (36.4%) compared to non-LGBTQ+ participants (5.4%, 15.2%, 4%, and 17.4%, respectively). LGBTQ+ participants were 19.57 times more likely to feel discriminated because of their sexual orientation and 25.05 times more likely to be afraid to express their sexual orientation compared to non-LGBTQ+ participants. Conclusion: The LGBTQ+ community in Albania was more negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic compared to non-LGBTQ+ participants. The findings should guide future interventions for addressing the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in emergency situations.
The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown measures significantly affected the readiness of dermatology patients to contact health services. However, such trends have yet to be documented in Albania. To this ...aim, we collected the relevant information about all patients who sought medical help at the dermatology clinic, University Hospital Center “Mother Theresa”, in Tirana, Albania, during 2019-2021 and compared outpatient visits trend across the years. A total of 7,807 patients have been consulted in our dermatology clinic during this period. Compared to 2019, the number of visits decreased significantly by 72% in 2020 and 57% during 2021. The ratio of visits by gender Male/Female, for the three years, was 1:1.1, 1:1.3, and 1:1, respectively. The age group >65 years old had more frequently visited our clinic but its weight within all patients dropped by 5 percentage points during the pandemic. Patients from Tirana had frequented more often the outpatient unit in 2019 and 2021. In conclusion, the pandemic situation due to COVID-19 had an unprecedented impact on Dermatology Service in our university tertiary center. There were significant reductions in the number of outpatient visits, and other differences with regard to patients’ demographic characteristics.
Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the level of satisfaction of primary health care staff in Albania and the factors associated with it.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in ...Tirana city, the Albanian capital, from 11 November 2020 until 25 November 2020. Among all health centers (HCs) and health centers of specialties (HCSs) of Tirana Municipality, there were selected randomly a HC in rural areas, a HC in urban areas and one HCS. All the staff (doctors and nurses) being present at the time of data collection was interviewed, using an international standardized tool (the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center instrument) assessing the satisfaction with various elements of the work in PHC, validated in Albanian. A total of 102 PHC staff were included in the study. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the association of staff satisfaction with independent factors.
Results: The aspects of work most appreciated by PHC staff (% satisfied or very satisfied) were: respectful treatment by colleagues (78.2%), staff morale and their positive attitude towards work (73.2%). The most disliked aspects of work by PHC staff (% dissatisfied or very dissatisfied) were: current salary (60.8%), stress at work (38.3%), physical and medical infrastructure in the institution (27%). Staff in rural HCs, older staff, females and nurses and family doctors are more likely to be satisfied compared to their respective colleagues.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest various factors associated with the satisfaction of PHC staff in Albania. These findings could be guiding future efforts aiming to improve the work conditions of the professionals working in primary health care in Albania.
Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the level of satisfaction of primary health care staff in Albania and the factors associated with it. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in ...Tirana city, the Albanian capital, from 11 November 2020 until 25 November 2020. Among all health centers (HCs) and health centers of specialties (HCSs) of Tirana Municipality, there were selected randomly a HC in rural areas, a HC in urban areas and one HCS. All the staff (doctors and nurses) being present at the time of data collection was interviewed, using an international standardized tool (the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center instrument) assessing the satisfaction with various elements of the work in PHC, validated in Albanian. A total of 102 PHC staff were included in the study. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the association of staff satisfaction with independent factors. Results: The aspects of work most appreciated by PHC staff (% satisfied or very satisfied) were: respectful treatment by colleagues (78.2%), staff morale and their positive attitude towards work (73.2%). The most disliked aspects of work by PHC staff (% dissatisfied or very dissatisfied) were: current salary (60.8%), stress at work (38.3%), physical and medical infrastructure in the institution (27%). Staff in rural HCs, older staff, females and nurses and family doctors are more likely to be satisfied compared to their respective colleagues. Conclusion: Our findings suggest various factors associated with the satisfaction of PHC staff in Albania. These findings could be guiding future efforts aiming to improve the work conditions of the professionals working in primary health care in Albania. Conflicts of interest: None declared. Acknowledgment: This study was funded by the “Health for All Project” in Albania (hap.org.al), which is a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Our aim was to assess the independent association between blood glucose level and health literacy (HL) adjusting for many socio-demographic characteristics and body mass index (BMI) in an adult ...population in Albania, a transitional country in the South Eastern Europe.
A cross-sectional study was carried out in Tirana in 2012-2014 including a population-based sample of 1,154 individuals aged ≥18 years (57% women; mean age: 45.5 ± 16.4 years; response rate: 88.6%). HL was assessed by use of HLS-EU-Q instrument. Blood glucose level was measured in a fasting state by use of rapid finger stick method. Information on socio-demographic characteristics was collected, and BMI was calculated based on measurement of height and weight in all participants. General Linear Model (GLM) and binary logistic regression were used to assess the independent association of blood glucose level and HL adjusting for all socio-demographic factors and BMI.
One-third of participants had pre-diabetes (100-125.9 mg/dl) and further 11% had diabetes (≥126 mg/dl) based on the measured blood glucose level. In fully-adjusted GLM, mean blood glucose level was significantly lower among individuals with excellent HL compared with their counterparts with inadequate HL (99.3 vs. 106.0, respectively). Furthermore, the odds for the presence of diabetes in the group of study participants whose HL was "inadequate" were 2.6 times higher (95% CI = 1.3-5.4) compared to those whose HL was "excellent."
We obtained evidence of a strong and significant inverse relationship between measured blood glucose level and HL, independent of many socio-demographic characteristics and measured BMI in a population-based study in a country of the Western Balkans.
Cervical cancer places a significant burden on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The EuroMed Cancer Network (EuMedCN) brings together cancer experts and stakeholders from the Mediterranean ...countries to promote sustainable cancer screening and support implementation of the WHO Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem.
To highlight the constructive role of EuMedCN in mitigating inequalities in access to cervical cancer prevention and screening across the Mediterranean LMICs.
Through its workshops and meetings, EuMedCN members discussed new developments in cancer prevention and control, and how best to translate the WHO Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem into public health policies in the Mediterranean LMICs. This led to targeted actions in the selected countries.
Seven priority actions were implemented to improve cervical cancer screening in the Mediterranean LMICs. EuMedCN supported organized screening, new pilot technologies and enhancement of evaluation systems. Integrating cervical cancer screening into other disease programmes and fostering multidisciplinary networks were promoted as key to achieving targets of the WHO global strategy.
International networks, such as EuMedCN, have the potential to bring together experts and stakeholders to share experiences and catalyse resource mobilization. They can support affordable and synergistic solutions for cervical cancer prevention.
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