The impact of education on adolescents' sun behavior: experiences from Serbia.

INTRODUCTION: In Serbia, there have been no broad campaigns or educational programs focused on adolescents' sun protection. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess whether an educational program would have impact on changes of attitudes and sun-protective behaviors of high school students. More specific aim was to examine whether sex and age differences in sun behavior exists. METHODS: Educational program was designed to provoke changes in attitudes towards sun protection and sun behavior. The investigation was carried out in Belgrade, Serbia in two educational cycles, during spring 2007 and 2008. Sixteen- and 17-year old high schools students were targeted and assessed before and after the educational intervention by means of self-report questionnaire designed for this study (about skin types and sun behavior). The students' attitudes towards sun protection and sun behavior before and after the educational intervention were compared and analyzed by the Pearson's chi-square test and logistic regression analyses. In the second educational cycle (2008) age and gender differences in sun behavior were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall 3205 students in 2007, and 2155 students in 2008 year from 11 high schools participated. A statistically significant behavior change was observed for the use of sunglasses in 2007--the number of students using them increased from 41.6% to 45.6% (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in other ways of protection i.e. sunscreen use, protective clothes or staying in shade. CONCLUSION: Educational program had an impact, but broader activities involving schools, local communities and media are needed for significant changes in sun behavior and attitude.

Transsexualism in Serbia: a twenty-year follow-up study.

INTRODUCTION: Gender dysphoria occurs in all societies and cultures. The prevailing social context has a strong impact on its manifestations as well as on applications by individuals with the condition for sex reassignment treatment. AIM: To describe a transsexual population seeking sex reassignment treatment in Serbia, part of former Yugoslavia. METHODS: Data, collated over a period of 20 years, from subjects applying for sex reassignment to the only center in Serbia, were analyzed retrospectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age at the time of application, demographic data, family background, sex ratio, the prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) among female-to-male (FTM) transsexuals, and readiness to undergo surgical sex reassignment were tabulated. RESULTS: Applicants for sex reassignment in Serbia are relatively young. The sex ratio is close to 1:1. They often come from single-child families. More than 10% do not wish to undergo surgical sex reassignment. The prevalence of PCOS among FTM transsexuals was higher than in the general population but considerably lower than that reported in the literature from other populations. Of those who had undergone sex reassignment, none expressed regret for their decision. CONCLUSIONS: Although transsexualism is a universal phenomenon, the relatively young age of those applying for sex reassignment and the sex ratio of 1:1 distinguish the population in Serbia from others reported in the literature.