[Students' knowledge about AIDS and their attitudes and behaviours towards HIV-positive or diseased persons in Nis, Serbia]. / Conoscenza degli studenti sull'HIV e loro atteggiamenti e comportamenti verso le persone HIV positive o malate di AIDS nella città di Nis, Serbia.

OBJECTIVE: to assess the level of knowledge about HIV infection among students of the city of Nis, Serbia, through the evaluation of what was their attitude towards social contacts with HIV-positive/diseased subjects, their opinion about the treatment of HIV-positive/diseased subjects, and the sanctions for their inadequate behavior. DESIGN: the study was performed in December 2010 as cross-sectional epidemiological survey on a sample of 260 families chosen randomly from telephone book of the City of Nis, Serbia. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: the study population was composed from 143 university students and 64 high-school students. A questionnaire made up of 53 questions about HIV infection and about attitudes towards HIV-positive/diseased subjects was administered to the participants. RESULTS: right answers about the sources of HIV infection ranged from 53.1% to 100%; right answers about mode of transmission of HIV infection ranged from 46.4% to 100%. 79.2% students expressed the opinion that HIV positive/ diseased persons should be treated by the society in the same way as other patients, but only 3.7% of them expressed the wish to have social relations with them. Only 28% of the students agreed that HIV infected subjects should be cured in the same medical institutions with other patients. Concerning the responses about possible sanctions towards HIV-positive/diseased subjects who spread the infection deliberately, 28% of the students agreed that they should undergo administrative or penal sanctions. CONCLUSIONS: student's level of knowledge (both from high schools and universities) about HIV is generally satisfactory, with some exceptions that may be corrected with a better sanitary education. Theoretical attitude of students towards HIV positive/diseased subjects is generally positive, but these results are in clear contrast with answers about relations with these persons in everyday life.

Risk factors for health disorders in computer operators in telecom Serbia.

Computer operators are at risk to develop health disorders related to prolonged computer use. We assessed the occupational risk factors for computer-related health disorders and evaluated health conditions of 939 Serbian computer operators. Musculoskeletal (55.8%), ocular (27.3%) and mental disorders (7.1%) were reported most frequently. Risk factors for health disorders, in both male and female populations, were age; overtime work; negative working atmosphere; awkward posture at work; the presence of vibrations, noise, dust and chemical pollution in the workplace. Negative working atmosphere, body mass index > 30, total job tenure and duration of exposed employment were risk factors for developing health disorders only in males, while smoking was a risk factor only in the female population. Our study showed high prevalence of musculoskeletal and ocular disorders in Serbian computer operators. More effective preventive measures are necessary to improve computer operators' health.

Excess winter mortality of Roma population in Serbia, 1992-2007.

OBJECTIVES: Seasonal fluctuations in mortality are associated with age, outdoor temperature, influenza, health care provision, lifestyle risk factors and economic factors. In the Republic of Serbia almost one half of the Roma population lives in poverty and their housing conditions are very poor. The aim of this paper is to describe and compare excess winter mortality (EWM) in Roma and non-Roma population in Serbia from 1992 to 2007. METHODS: Using the national mortality database, this study compares EWM index and rates in Roma and general populations in Serbia. Mean winter temperature and ethnicity are analysed against the results for relative EWM by multiple linear regression adjusted for age. RESULTS: Frequency analysis showed that Roma population had significantly higher EWM rate per 10,000 (129.2 vs. 76.6) for all causes, all respiratory diseases (26.5 vs. 8.0), and chronic lower respiratory diseases (23.0 vs. 5.2) in comparison to non-Roma population. Influenza and pneumonia related deaths represented a small proportion of EWM in both populations. Cardiovascular EWM rate was slightly higher among non-Roma population. Regression analysis demonstrates that Roma ethnicity was associated with significant increase of respiratory EWM rate (regression coefficient (B) = 1.49; 95% CI: 0.45-2.54). There was no relationship between ethnicity and cardiovascular and all causes EWM rates. CONCLUSIONS: Although both Roma and non-Roma populations in Serbia suffer from very high rates of excess winter mortality, Roma are significantly more vulnerable. EWM rate from chronic lower respiratory diseases is more than four times higher among Roma people and suggests that they represent one of the most important health problems in Roma population in Serbia.

Household environmental tobacco smoke and respiratory diseases among children in Nis (Serbia).

The authors investigated the relationship between household environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and prevalence of respiratory symptoms and diseases as well as absenteeism related to respiratory illness in schoolchildren. The study sample consisted of 1,074 children aged 7-11 years from three primary schools in Nis (Serbia). ETS exposure was associated with wheezing (OR-1.48; 1.09-2.01), bronchitis (OR-1.66; 1.23-2.23), headache (OR-1.45; 1.08-1.95), and fatigue (OR-1.38; 1.02-1.85) in exposed children. The other risk factors with possible influences weren't assessed. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of physicians' visits as well as in absenteeism from school due to illness in children exposed to ETS in comparison to non exposed children. The tobacco smoke effect on children is an essential and urgent problem with life lasting negative health effects which are preventable.