Art=life? Deleuze, badiou and ontology of the human

Ideja odnosa umetnosti i života kao postajanja umetnosti životom posledica je specifičnih modernih kretanja u rasponu od prosvetiteljstva do kapitalizma. Ovaj sklop mišljenja i prakse prisutan je u jednom od dominantnijih umetničkih oblika danas i zadatak ovog rada je da preispita trenutno stanje stvari u umetnosti s obzirom na to da je ono simptom globalnog društva kontrole. Umetnost kao emancipacijska umetnost sa jedne strane podrazumeva desupstancijalizaciju i deesencijalizaciju biopolitički oblikovanog života i kategorije čoveka, a sa druge pretpostavlja novi generički inhumanum (kod Badjua) odnosno narod koji će doći (kod Deleza) kao osnove političnosti. Otu da empancipacijska umetnost mora da se oslobodi ljudskog da bi dospela do onoga što leži izvan sadašnjeg demokratskog materijalizma

Barriers to cervical cancer screening: A qualitative study with women in Serbia

Serbia employs opportunistic approaches to cervical cancer screening, leading to inequitable health care access. To better understand the health care needs of women, we investigated their knowledge of and perceived barriers to cervical cancer screening. Data reported in the paper arise from nine focus group discussions with 62 women from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. They were recruited in two cities with contrasting social settings, Belgrade, the Serbian capital, and a regional town, Smederevo. Thematic analysis identified that the interplay of social and personal barriers influenced women's poor presentation for screening. Inadequate public health education, lack of patient-friendly health services, socio-cultural health beliefs, gender roles, and personal difficulties were the most salient barriers to screening. We suggest how within the context of opportunistic screening patient education may be employed. The introduction of compulsory cervical cancer screening, suggested by some participants, is also discussed.Serbia Former Yugoslavia Reproductive health Transitional economies Health policy Cervical screening

‘The Devil has entered you’: A qualitative study of Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM) and the stigma and discrimination they experience from healthcare professionals and the general community in Bosnia and Herzegovina

<div><p>Men who have sex with men (MSM) are often exposed to unequal treatment in societies worldwide as well as to various forms of stigma and discrimination in healthcare services. Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is a postconflict developing country located in Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans, where little is known about the experiences of MSM regarding their communities and interactions with healthcare services. The aim of this study was to explore the types of experiences MSM face and to assess the level of stigma and discrimination they are exposed to in this setting. We conducted twelve in-depth face-to-face interviews with MSM who were 16 to 45 years old and residing in B&H. The main findings indicated that they all experienced various levels of stigma, discrimination, prejudice and inequities in treatment and attitudes from different segments of society, including the health care sector, that prevented them from fully developing their human and health potential. Additionally, these experiences were adversely related to opportunities to receive good quality health care services due to the insufficiently educated and old-fashioned health professionals who sometimes believed in black magic practices. The findings present numerous opportunities for educational trainings and structural reform to create a society that provides and guarantees equal opportunities for all.</p></div

Basic socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents.

<p>Basic socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents.</p

Do we have primary health care reform? The story of the Republic of Serbia

Objective To provide insight of national activities and international assistance in PHC reform and to assess their effects on technical and allocative efficiency as well as financial sustainability of primary health care in the Republic of Serbia.Materials and methods Analytical framework of the study consisted of gathering and reviewing of relevant political documents, international assistance project documentation, and analysis of routinely collected national statistical data based on the evaluation model of three groups of criteria: allocative, technical efficiency and financial sustainability in the public sector of Serbia from 2000 to 2007. Time trends were analyzed by Poisson regression models using average annual percentage changes - AAPC, and the percent of targeted change achieved by progress quotient - PQ.Results Allocative efficiency of the PHC during period of 8 years was improved, but technical efficiency was almost unchanged for all service, except for preschool health care. Financial sustainability was also improved measured by indirect indicators of health expenditure.Conclusions Results of this study indicated that we are on the right track with PHC reform, and international support is in accordance with the reform goals. Our approach has been and will remain incremental, gradualist and multi-faceted.PHC reform Evaluation Projects and activities Republic of Serbia

Nurses’ Perception of Tension, Stress, and Pressure before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Serbian Study

The mental health of healthcare workers, especially the nursing staff in intensive care units, is crucial for the optimal functioning of healthcare systems during medical emergencies. This study implements a cross-sectional design to investigate the associations between nurses’ personal characteristics, workplace challenges, and job satisfaction with the increased perception of tension, stress, and pressure at the workplace (TSPW) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, we surveyed 4210 nurses from 19 intensive healthcare facilities in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, and, at that time, collected data about their perceived TSPW before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study identified six predictors of the increase in TSPW, as perceived by nurses: their work in COVID-19 infectious zones (OR = 1.446), exhaustion due to work under protective equipment (OR = 1.413), uncertainty and fear of infection (OR = 1.481), a high degree of superiors’ appreciation and respect (OR = 1.147), a high degree of patients’ attitudes (OR = 1.111), and a low degree of work autonomy (OR = 0.889). The study’s findings suggest that a solution to this issue is necessary to ensure that nurses are safe and able to alleviate the physical and mental strain that comes with prolonged use of protective equipment. Nurses on the frontline of the pandemic require better health protection, better conditions, and respect for their role. Strategies to promote mental health would help reduce nurses’ stress and increase job satisfaction