Management of Non-Communicable Diseases in Kosovo: A Scoping Review.

Background-Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) affect a growing share of the population in Kosovo. The country faces challenges with NCDs management, specifically detecting, screening, and treating people with NCDs. Objective-To assess the management of NCDs, including the inputs that influence the provision of NCDs and outcomes of NCD management. Eligibility criteria-Studies had to report NCD management in Kosovo. Sources of evidence-We systematically searched Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Charting methods-The data were charted by two researchers. We extracted data on general study details and design and information on the management and outcomes of NCDs in Kosovo. Synthesis of results-For the mix of studies that were included in the review, thematic narrative synthesis was used. We developed a conceptual framework based on health production core components to analyze the data. Results-Kosovo's health care system is available to provide basic care for patients with NCDs. However, there are serious limitations in the availability of key inputs providing care, i.e., funding, medicines, supplies, and medical staff. Additionally, in terms of the management of NCDs, there are areas for improvement, such as limited application of clinical pathways and guidelines and issues with referrals of patients among levels and sectors of care. Finally, it is worth noting that there is overall limited information on NCD management and outcomes. Conclusions-Kosovo provides only basic services and treatment of NCDs. The data reporting the existing situation on NCD management are limited. The inputs from this review are helpful for existing policy efforts by the government aimed to enhance NCD care in Kosovo. Funding-This study is part of the research done for a World Bank review of the state of NCDs in Kosovo and was funded through the Access Accelerated Trust Fund (P170638).

Higher COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Are Associated with Lower COVID-19 Mortality: A Global Analysis.

Mass vaccination initiatives are underway worldwide, and a considerable percentage of the world's population is now vaccinated. This study examined the association of COVID-19 deaths per 1000 cases with a fully vaccinated population. The global median deaths per 1000 cases were 15.68 (IQR 9.84, 25.87) after 6 months of vaccinations and 11.96 (IQR 6.08, 20.63) after 12 months. Across 164 countries, we found significant variations in vaccination levels of populations, booster doses, and mortality, with higher vaccine coverage and lower mortality in high-income countries. Several regression models were performed to test the association between vaccination and COVID-19 mortality. Control variables were used to account for confounding variables. A 10-percentage-point increase in vaccination was associated with an 18.1% decrease in mortality after 6 months (95%CI, 7.4-28.8%) and a 16.8% decrease after 12 months (95%CI, 6.9-26.7%). A 10-percentage-point increase in booster vaccination rates was associated with a 33.1% decrease in COVID-19 mortality (95%CI, 16.0-50.2%). This relationship is present in most analyses by country income groups with variations in the effect size. Efforts are needed to reduce vaccine hesitancy while ensuring suitable infrastructure and supply to enable all countries to increase their vaccination rates.

Health system factors and caesarean sections in Kosovo: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of caesarean section rates with the health system characteristics in the public hospitals of Kosovo. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Five largest public hospitals in Kosovo. PARTICIPANTS: 859 women with low-risk deliveries who delivered from April to May 2015 in five public hospitals in Kosovo. OUTCOME MEASURES: The prespecified outcomes were the crude and adjusted OR of births delivered with caesarean section by health system characteristics such as delivery by the physician who provided antenatal care, health insurance status and other. Additional prespecified outcomes were caesarean section rates and crude ORs for delivery with caesarean in each public hospital. RESULTS: Women with personal monthly income had increased odds for caesarean (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.27), as did women with private health insurance coverage (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.20 to 9.85). Women instructed by a midwife on preparation for delivery had decreasing odds (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.51) while women having preference for a caesarean had increasing odds for delivery with caesarean (OR 3.84, 95% CI 1.96 to 7.51). The odds for caesarean increased also in the case of delivery by a physician who provided antenatal care (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.16 to 3.67) and delivery during office hours (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.37 to 4.05), while delivery at the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo decreased the odds for caesarean (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: We found that several health system characteristics are associated with the increase of caesarean sections in a low-risk population of delivering women in public hospitals of Kosovo. These findings should be explored further and addressed via policy measures that would tackle provision of unnecessary caesareans. The study findings could assist Kosovo to develop corrective policies in addressing overuse of caesareans and may provide useful information for other middle-income countries.