Use of contraceptives by Roma women from Plovdiv region

Introduction: The share of unwanted pregnancies and voluntary abortions among women from Central and Eastern Europe is still quite high, and Bulgaria is no exception to this statistic. This might be accounted for by the low frequency of use of contraceptives or their improper use. Our country is home to a variety of ethnic groups, with Roma being one of the most numerous, ranking third in population behind Bulgarians and Turks. This determines the influence of this ethnic group on the demographic indicators of the country. Aim: To study the knowledge of contraceptive use and the frequency of use of contraceptive methods and means among Roma women from the Plovdiv region and the factors influencing it. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 70 Roma women via structured, anonymous interviews in 2019. Statistical data analysis was performed using non-parametric methods, descriptive and correlation analyses. Results: The main method of preventing unwanted pregnancies for the Roma is the interrupted intercourse. The husband and his mother influence the decision to use contraception. Higher education and financial security have a positive effect on the frequency of contraceptive use. Conclusions: Reproductive behaviour among Roma is largely determined by their ethnic traditions. Characteristic features were observed, such as early marriages, early sexual intercourse, short pro- and intergenetic interval. Roma women have little knowledge of the various methods and means of preventing unwanted pregnancies. The frequency of contraceptive use is very low

The benefits of sports for the physical and mental health of adolescents

A healthy lifestyle is the main expression of positive health behavior. Movement is a natural need of every child and is a basic preventive tool for strengthening children‘s health. Sport is a complex process that improves the qualities of movements, strengthens the muscles of the body and forms physical endurance through its positive influence on all organs and systems. Sports activities have a beneficial effect on the psyche and personality of adolescents and are defined as the main factor for maintaining, preserving and improving health and a healthy lifestyle. In most European countries, the teaching methodology is aimed at finding the meaning and encouraging the desire of each student to engage in regular physical activity. The article aims to familiarize the audience with the impact of sports on various organs and systems, with the benefits for the physical and mental health of adolescents from sports activities, as well as to provide information on recommendations for the correct choice of sports depending on the constitution and disposition of adolescents

Pharmacological prophylaxis and functional restoration of the lower limb in total knee arthroprosthesis

The complexity of the movements of the bones of the knee joint requires an anatomical study to construct a knee prosthesis. The reasons for knee replacement are related to wear of the articular cartilage, which leads to pain, deformation, and limitation of movements. The consequences of the surgical intervention allow functional restoration of the knee joint and the supporting function of the lower limb. Kinesitherapy begins the day after surgery and aims to reduce pain, restore mobility of the knee joint, actively lock the knee during extension, increase and maintain muscle strength, and ensure the functional independence of patients. To a large extent, the volume of movement is restored, and the pain symptoms are reduced. Patients have the comfort of everyday movements and the possibility of participating in certain sports activities—swimming, cycling, and golf. The paper deals with pharmacological prophylaxis, the kinesitherapeutic program, and total knee arthroprosthesis

Prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are socially significant diseases due to high morbidity and loss of people of working age. In Bulgaria, they are the leading cause of mortality among the population and are a consequence of the effect of cardiovascular risk factors. The draft of the National Health Strategy (NHS) 2021–2030 reports on their wide distribution, as well as on the insufficient knowledge, skills and motivation for their prevention and control. The purpose of this review is to address the prevention of cardiovascular disease, which is a significant problem worldwide. Prevention goals for patients with established cardiovascular disease and those at high risk include smoking cessation, healthy eating, physical activity, and lowering body mass index. There are various methods that are part of health promotion to reduce CVD risks. These methods include motivational interviewing, non-pharmacological means, the use of certain medications for CVD prevention, as well as physical activity. Strategies for effective primary prevention refer to engaging the patient to change their lifestyle and identifying risk factors, while secondary prevention is aimed at activities to detect the disease early and to slow down its progression. It is necessary to create a strategy for timely preventive actions with a view to preventing the negative influence of risk factors and improving people‘s heart health

Comparative analysis of comorbidity, surgical complications, pharmacotherapeutic needs, and rehabilitation requirements in transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair versus conventional operative treatment—current results and benefits

Background: Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) inguinal hernia repair is a relatively new method of inguinal hernia surgical repair that, at theory, provides a good view of the inguinal anatomy and sac contents and, as a laparoscopic procedure, is considered less invasive and with fewer complications compared to total extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair. Purpose: This study aims to assess the short-term outcome of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia (TAPP) repair. Material and methods: The retrospective clinical data for 138 patients with unilateral and bilateral hernia, operated in the Department of General, Visceral, and Emergency Surgery of the University Emergency Medicine Hospital ‘N. Pirogov’ from 01 January 2022, to 01 January 2023, were included. The risk profile of the patients, the intraoperative and postoperative complications, the duration of hospital stay, the frequency, and the type of analgesics used were analyzed. Results: Forty-one women (29.7%) were included; men comprised 97 (70.29%) of the cohort. Of the selected group, 63 (45.7%) patients had indirect inguinal hernias, 34 (24.6%), and 25 (18.1%) were diagnosed with direct inguinal hernia and accreta inguinal hernia, respectively. A history of repeatedly occurring hernias was found in 16 patients (11.6%). The average hospital stay was 32 hours (or 1.3 days) and ranged from 24 hours (1 day) to 48 hours (2 days). Complications occurred in 11 (7.97%) patients. The need for analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents was reliably reduced compared to the patients undergoing conventional surgical treatment of inguinal hernia. The patients were followed for three months post-discharge for the occurrence of surgical morbidity associated with the TAPP hernia repair. None of the patients used an antimicrobial agent, as indicated by a possible complicating bacterial infection. Rehabilitation was started within the first 12 hours after the operation, thus contributing to a significantly shorter hospital stay compared to patients undergoing conventional surgical repair of an inguinal hernia. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that TAPP inguinal hernia repair is a safe procedure with reduced postoperative pain. It has fewer complications, with no significantly longer operative time and a shorter overall hospital stay

A comparative analysis of the sexual culture and behavior of nursing students from the Medical University of Plovdiv in the period 2009-2019

Introduction: Population reproduction and family planning are highly dependent on sexual culture and sexual behavior. In this study, we seek to determine whether, over a ten-year period from 2009 to 2019, there have been any changes in the sexual culture of nursing students in relation to the knowledge of risk factors for unintended pregnancies and subsequent abortions. Materials and methods: A group anonymous survey was used to gather primary data from 219 nursing students from the Medical College at the Medical University of Plovdiv in 2009 and 210 nursing students from the Faculty of Public Health at the same institution in 2019. The studies in both cohorts were cross-sectional. Results and discussion: We found that students’ perceptions of sexual culture did not change significantly in the study period. There were some changes in the students’ attitudes toward voluntary abortion in the ten years between 2009 and 2019. Age and marital status were found to be essential factors in determining whether an unplanned pregnancy would be maintained or aborted. Future medical professionals are aware of how having an abortion affects a woman’s health and ability to reproduce. Conclusions: In promoting sexual and reproductive health, medical professionals play a crucial role. It is, therefore, essential that a course on sexual health be added to the curriculum of medical universities training healthcare professionals

Monitoring the change in the quality of life of patients with post-COVID syndrome by influence on their functional status

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still a major medical concern. Patients who have recovered from the infection from COVID-19 face the ordeal of post-covid syndrome. In these patients, there is a decrease in physical abilities, in particular musculoskeletal complications and post-traumatic stress, depression and chronic fatigue, which impair their quality of life. This necessitates long-term rehabilitation, which supports recovery after hospitalization. Treatment through movement is part of the rehabilitation measures contributing to the functional recovery of patients with post-covid syndrome. To study how the functional capabilities of these patients improve and how their quality of life is affected, we created a set of physical exercises to be performed at home for 6 months. At baseline and at the end of the study, patients completed the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire. The aim of the study was to track the changes in the quality of life of patients with post-covid syndrome by influencing their functional state. Our study found a decline in the quality of life of the examined patients. After the application of the kinesitherapy program, the functional status of the patients improved, their functional independence was optimized, which contributed to the improvement of the quality of life of the post-covid patients syndrome