Health literacy and body mass index:a population-based study in a South-Eastern European country

BACKGROUND: The relationship of health literacy (HL) with objective measures including anthropometric measurements remains an under-researched topic to date. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between body mass index (BMI) and HL among Albanian adults. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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

Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices about public health nutrition among students of the University of Medicine in Tirana, Albania

Aim: the aim of this survey was twofold: (i): to assess medical students’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding nutrition in general, in order to identify their level of competences in the field of nutrition which will be useful in their future role of providers/health care professionals, and; (ii) to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the discipline of public health nutrition in order to identify the needs for improving the curriculum of this subject in all the branches of the University of Medicine in Tirana.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in June-July 2013 including a representative sample of 347 students at the University of Medicine in Tirana, Albania (61% females and 39% males; overall mean age: 23±2 years; response rate: 87%). A nutritional questionnaire, adopted according to the models used in previous international studies, was used to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices among the university students.Results: Overall, about one third of the students was not satisfied with the quality and quantity of nutritional education and demanded a more scientifically rigorous curriculum. In general, students’ knowledge about infant feeding practices was adequate. However, there were gaps in the students’ knowledge regarding the commencement of breastfeeding, or the duration of exclusive breast-feeding. Furthermore, there was evidence of an insufficient level of knowledge among students regarding diet and nutrition in general and their health impact, especially on development and prevention of chronic diseases.Conclusion: This survey identified significant gaps in the current curriculum of public health nutrition at the University of Medicine in Tirana. Our findings suggest the need for intervention programs to improve both the quantitative and the qualitative aspects of nutrition curricula in all the branches of the University of Medicine Tirana, in accordance with the professional expectations of this teaching institution, as well as the urge for a movement towards a more integrated curriculum and problem-based learning approach

DETERMINANȚII NAȘTERILOR PREMATURE ÎN SHKODER, PRINCIPALA REGIUNE DIN NORDUL ALBANIEI

BACKGROUND: Premature birth is a major public health problem worldwide. Our aim was to assess maternal socio-demographic and behavioral determinants of premature birth in Shkoder, which is one of the main regions in Albania. METHODS: This was a case-control study including all premature births (cases: N=343) and a representative sample of full-term births (controls: N=372) pertinent to the Regional Hospital of Shkoder during the period January 2014 – December 2015. Information on maternal socio-demographic characteristics and behavioral factors was collected for all study participants. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the association of premature births with maternal socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors.   RESULTS: In multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models, independent “predictors” of premature births were maternal older age (OR=4.7, 95%CI=2.7-8.0), a lower educational level (OR=5.9, 95%CI=3.2-8.7), unemployment (OR=1.6, 95%CI=1.1-2.2), smoking and alcohol consumption (OR=1.9, 95%CI=1.1-3.3 and OR=2.0, 95%CI=1.1-3.7, respectively) and overweight and obesity (OR=1.8, 95%CI=1.2-2.7 and OR=2.3, 95%CI=1.6-3.3, respectively).    CONCLUSION: This study provides useful information about several maternal socio-demographic and behavioral correlates of premature births in Shkoder, which constitutes the main region in north Albania. Findings from this study indicate the need for active preventive and health promotion programs in order to avoid premature births in transitional Albania.      Keywords: Albania, alcohol consumption, body mass index, full-term birth, pregnant women, premature birth, Shkoder, smoking.   CONTEXT: nașterea prematuă reprezintă o problemă majoră de sănătate publică în întreaga lume. Scopul nostru a fost evaluarea factorilor determinanți socio-demografici și comportamentali materni ai nașterilor premature în Shkoder, care este una dintre principalele regiuni ale Albaniei. METODĂ: S-a realizat un studiu caz control, incluzând toate nașterile premature (un număr de 343 cazuri) și un eșantion reprezentativ de nașteri la termen (lotul control cu 372 cazuri), internate în Spitalul Regional din Shkoder, în perioada ianuarie 2014 - decembrie 2015. Informații cu privire la caracteristicile socio-demografice materne și factorii comportamentali au fost colectate pentru toți participanții la studiu. S-a folosit regresia logistică binară pentru a evalua asocierea nașterilor premature cu caracteristicile socio-demografice materne și stilul de viață. REZULTATE: În modelele de regresie logistică multivariabil-ajustate, ! ”predictorii"” independenți ai nașterilor premature au fost vârsta maternă mai mare (OR = 4,7, 95% CI = 2,7-8,0), un nivel educational mai redus (OR = 5,9, 95% CI = 3,2- 8,7), șomajul (OR = 1,6, 95% CI = 1,1-2,2), fumatul și consumul de alcool (OR = 1,9, 95% CI = 1,1-3,3 și respectiv OR = 2,0, 95% CI = 1,1-3,7), excesul ponderal și obezitatea (OR = 1,8, 95% CI = 1,2-2,7 și respectiv OR = 2,3, 95% CI = 1,6-3,3). CONCLUZII: Acest studiu oferă informații utile despre mai multe corelații între factorii socio-demografici și comportamentali materni și nașterile premature în Shkoder, care constituie principala regiune din nordul Albaniei. Rezultatele acestui studiu indică necesitatea unor programe active de prevenire și de promovare a sănătății, în scopul de a evita nașterile premature în Albania de tranziție. Cuvinte-cheie: Albania, consum de alcool, indice de masă corporală, naștere la termen, femeile gravide, naștere prematură, Shkoder, fuma

Demographic and Social Correlates of Tobacco, Alcohol and Cannabis Use Among 15-16-Year-Old Students in Albania: Results of the ESPAD Survey

AIMS – Our aim was to assess the demographic and social factors associated with lifetime use of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis among school students aged 15–16 in Albania in order to make information and knowledge available for health promotion specialists working on substance use prevention. DESIGN – This cross-sectional study was conducted in March–May 2011 in the framework of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD). In total, 3189 students born in 1995 participated in the survey. The standardised ESPAD questionnaire was used to collect data about substance use. RESULTS – Our multivariable adjustment analysis showed that being a male and having easy access to cigarettes were the only universal factors significantly increasing the likelihood of ever using tobacco, alcohol or cannabis. Own smoking was strongly and significantly associated with alcohol and cannabis use. The associations of own substance use with peer substance consumption were weak to moderate. CONCLUSIONS – Own smoking seems to be the most important single independent risk factor which strongly and significantly predicted alcohol and cannabis use among Albanian school students. Policy makers need to strengthen the rule of law whereas health promotion professionals should firmly address smoking in adolescence through target interventions