Elevated Blood Pressure in School Children and Adolescents – Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors

Elevated blood pressure (BP) in children and adolescents is determined on normative distribution of BP in healthy children. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of high normal and elevated BP among school children and to assess associated risk factors. The study comprised 965 children (48.7% girls) in 8th grade of primary school. Data were obtained from questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. The prevalence of high normal BP was 28.5% in girls, 36.8% in boys, and elevated BP 7.9% in girls and 5.3% in boys. Overweight was present in 19.4% of girls and 9.3% boys with high normal, and 29.7% of girls and 30.8% boys with elevated BP. Hypertension in family history was the most common associated factor reported by boys and girls with high normal and elevated BP. Follow-up of children throughout school age makes possible taking of preventative measures and promotion of healthy life style

Elevated Blood Pressure in School Children and Adolescents – Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors

Elevated blood pressure (BP) in children and adolescents is determined on normative distribution of BP in healthy children. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of high normal and elevated BP among school children and to assess associated risk factors. The study comprised 965 children (48.7% girls) in 8th grade of primary school. Data were obtained from questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. The prevalence of high normal BP was 28.5% in girls, 36.8% in boys, and elevated BP 7.9% in girls and 5.3% in boys. Overweight was present in 19.4% of girls and 9.3% boys with high normal, and 29.7% of girls and 30.8% boys with elevated BP. Hypertension in family history was the most common associated factor reported by boys and girls with high normal and elevated BP. Follow-up of children throughout school age makes possible taking of preventative measures and promotion of healthy life style

Growth Charts for Croatian School Children and Secular Trends in Past Twenty Years

The aim of this study was to construct new Croatian growth charts for body height and weight of boys and girls aged 6.5 to 18.5 years and to investigate differences between our and pre-existing studies. Analysis was based on a multistage stratified sample representative for school children aged 6.5 to 18.5, 6046 boys and 5656 girls. Growth reference was constructed using LMS method. Present results demonstrated an increment of body height and weight during the last two decades. Highest increase of body height is in boys aged 13–14 years 6.5 cm, in girls aged 12 years is 5.0 cm. Highest increase of body weight is in 16 year age group of boys 8.7 kg and in 11–12 year age group of girls 5.2 kg. In conclusion, regarding presence of secular trend because previously used growth charts in Croatia are obsolete

Razlike u načinu života koji promiče zdravlje s obzirom na spol i godinu studiranja među studentima medicine u Hrvatskoj

Increasing awareness of healthy lifestyle is important during the period of adolescence because habits are diffi cult to modify in adulthood. Th e aim of the study was to examine gender differences in health-promoting lifestyle among medical students and to analyze changes between the first and second year of the study. Th is cross sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1186 students (36% male). Data were collected by self-administered anonymous questionnaire, the HealthPromoting Lifestyle Profile [HPLP II] (Adult Version), and analyzed by descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests. Th e 941 HPLP II questionnaires were collected and analyzed (79% response rate). Both genders showed a medium level HPLP II total score (male M=2.68; IQR=2.42-2.92 vs. female M=2.65; IQR=2.46-2.90), without significant gender difference. A significantly higher score was observed in the subscales on health responsibility (p=0.027) and interpersonal relations (p<0.001) among female compared to male students, and a significantly higher score in the subscales on physical activity (p<0.001) and stress management (p=0.025) among male compared to female students. Considering differences in the health-promoting lifestyle between study years, a significantly higher score was recorded among second-year students in the HPLP II total score (p=0.004) and the subscales on physical activity (p=0.007), stress management (p=0.006) and spiritual growth (p=0.029). In conclusion, study results implied the need of organized health care and physical activity programs for university students based on specific requirements and needs.Svijest o važnosti zdravog načina života među adolescentima veća je s obzirom na to da je teško mijenjati navike u odrasloj dobi. Glavni cilj ovoga rada bio je istražiti postoje li spolne razlike u načinu života koji promiče zdravlje među studen tima medicine te analizirati promjene između prve i druge godine studija. Presječna studija je provedena na uzorku od 1186 studenata, od kojih je bilo 36% mladića. Podaci su prikupljeni pomoću anonimnog upitnika Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP II, Adult Version) i analizirani deskriptivnim statističkim postupcima te neparametrijskim statističkim postupcima. Ukupno je prikupljen i analiziran 941 upitnik HPLP II (stopa odgovora 79%). Oba spola su pokazala umjerenu razinu u ukupnom rezultatu HPLP II, pri čemu nije zabilježena statistički značajna razlika. Značajno više vrijednosti zabilježene su u domenama odgovornost prema zdravlju (p=0,027) i međuljudski odnosi (p<0,001) u korist studentica, dok su značajno više vrijednosti u domenama tjelesna aktivnost (p<0,001) i nošenje sa stresom (p=0,025) ostvarili muški studenti. Studenti druge godine ostvarili su značajno više vrijednosti u ukupnom rezultatu HPLP (p=0,004) te u domenama tjelesna aktivnost (p=0,007), nošenje sa stresom (p=0,006) i samoodređenje (p=0,029). Zaključno, rezultati istraživanja upućuju na potrebu organizirane zdravstvene skrbi i programa tjelesne aktivnosti za studente medicine utemeljene na specifičnim zahtjevima i potrebama

Fight against Ignorance and Prejudice about Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Knowledge and Attitudes about HIV/AIDS of High-School Teachers and Students

Pojava HIV-a/AIDS-a u dvadesetom stoljeću i razmjeri proširenosti ove infekcije i bolesti ponovo su pokazali kako bolest može stigmatizirati i kako se protiv predrasuda i neznanja možemo boriti samo trajnom, kontinuiranom i sveobuhvatnom edukacijom. Stoga je u okviru programa "Unapređenje borbe protiv HIV/AIDS-a u Hrvatskoj 2003.–2006." proveden i projekt "Trening profesionalaca za primjenu programa prevencije HIV-a/AIDS-a". Jedan od ciljeva projekta bilo je procijeniti znanje i stavove o HIV/AIDS-u profesora i učenika srednjih škola prije i nakon provedbe projekta. Na početku provedbe programa anketirano je 476 profesora i 1.026 učenika prvih i trećih razreda srednjih škola i na kraju programa 1.024 učenika istih škola i dobi. Očekivano, razina znanja profesora veća je od znanja učenika. Pozitivni trend usvojenog znanja pokazuju učenici anketirani nakon završetka programa. Unatoč provedenom programu, 10,8% učenika smatra da se osoba može zaraziti HIV-om ako dijeli obrok s osobom zaraženom HIV-om, a ubodom komarca 23,9% učenika. Svaki četvrti učenik ne bi dopustilo školovanje HIV-pozitivnom učeniku i 40% ne bi dozvolilo rad u školi HIV-pozitivnim učiteljima. Tek svaki peti učenik bi išao liječniku koji je HIV-pozitivan i svega 17% stomatologu. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da bolje znanje ne znači i pozitivniji stav prema osobama s HIV-om/AIDS-om. Stoga treba naglasiti potrebu sveobuhvatne, kontinuirane i sustavne edukacije mladih, ali i cjelokupnog stanovništva o HIV-u/AIDS-u.The occurrence of HIV/AIDS in the 20th century and its geographical spread have again shown how a disease can be stigmatized and how prejudice and ignorance can be fought only with permanent, continuous and comprehensive education. Therefore, the project "Training of Professionals in the Implementation of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Program" was implemented within the program "Improving Fight against HIV/AIDS in Croatia, 2003 – 2006". One of the goals of this project was to assess the knowledge and attitudes about HIV/AIDS of high-school teachers and students prior to and after the implementation of the project. At the beginning of the implementation, 476 high-school teachers and 1026 first-grade and third-grade students were surveyed. At the end of the program, 1024 students from the same schools and of the same grades were surveyed. As expected, teachers exhibited a higher level of knowledge than students. A positive trend was recorded in students surveyed after the program completion. However, despite the program, 10.8% of students believed that HIV could be contracted by sharing a meal with an HIV infected person, while 23.9% believed that it could be contracted by mosquito bites. Every fourth student would not allow HIV positive children to go to school and 40% would not allow HIV positive teachers to work in school. Every fi fth student would not have an HIV positive physician, and only 17% would visit an HIV positive dentist. Survey results show that better knowledge does not necessarily entail a more positive attitude towards people with HIV/ AIDS. Therefore, one should emphasize the necessity of comprehensive, continuous and systematic HIV/AIDS education of both young and all other citizens

Behavioral Pattern of Overweight and Obese School Children

The aim of this study was to determine socio economic, health status, nutritional and behavioral differences in obese, overweight and normal weight children attending first grade elementary school. In overweight group there is 13.8% of boys and 12.6% of girls, in obese group 8.3% of boys and 6.9% of girls. In factor analysis 12 factors was excluded with cumulative loading of 60% variability. Discriminant analysis was performed with 12 factors as predictive variables and discriminant variables were three BMI groups: normal weight, overweight and obese. Function 1 discriminate well normal weight group from overweight and obese group. Overweight and obese groups is described with lower number of children in the family and lower order of birth, higher education of parents, they eat less vegetables and fruits, spend more time playing computer games, have less physical activity, drink more alcohol with their meals, exactly opposite to normal weight group

Behavioral Pattern of Overweight and Obese School Children

The aim of this study was to determine socio economic, health status, nutritional and behavioral differences in obese, overweight and normal weight children attending first grade elementary school. In overweight group there is 13.8% of boys and 12.6% of girls, in obese group 8.3% of boys and 6.9% of girls. In factor analysis 12 factors was excluded with cumulative loading of 60% variability. Discriminant analysis was performed with 12 factors as predictive variables and discriminant variables were three BMI groups: normal weight, overweight and obese. Function 1 discriminate well normal weight group from overweight and obese group. Overweight and obese groups is described with lower number of children in the family and lower order of birth, higher education of parents, they eat less vegetables and fruits, spend more time playing computer games, have less physical activity, drink more alcohol with their meals, exactly opposite to normal weight group

COUNSELING FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF EXCESSIVE BODY WEIGHT AND ADULT OBESITY AT PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTIONS IN CROATIA

Kronične nezarazne bolesti su vodeći uzroci smrti u brojnim zemljama svijeta, tako i u Hrvatskoj. Prekomjerna tjelesna težina je značajan čimbenik rizika za njihov razvoj i najčešće nastaje kao posljedica loših životnih navika. Strateški plan razvoja javnog zdravstva Republike Hrvatske 2013.-2015. predviđao je osnivanje savjetovališta za prevenciju i liječenje prekomjerne tjelesne težine u odraslih osoba u zavodima za javno zdravstvo, no plan je samo djelomično proveden. Cilj ovoga rada bio je ispitati dostupnost informacija o savjetovalištima za prevenciju i liječenje prekomjerne tjelesne težine u odraslih osoba u zavodima za javno zdravstvo u Hrvatskoj pretraživanjem Interneta. Rezultati pretraživanja pokazali su da savjetovalište imaju Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo i 10 od 21 županijskog zavoda za javno zdravstvo. Uz savjetovališta u zavodima, građanima su dostupni i različiti programi nevladinih udruga i drugih ustanova, od kojih su pojedini komercijalni. Od 11 županijskog zavoda za javno zdravstvo koji nemaju savjetovalište, na istom području djeluje 7 savjetovališta izvan zavoda. Pomoć osobama s prekomjernom tjelesnom težinom u Hrvatskoj je nedostatna i neujednačena obzirom na teritorijalnu rasprostranjenost. Potrebno je reguliranje i ujednačavanje rada savjetovališta u zavodima za javno zdravstvo, te kadrovska i financijska potpora, kako bi stručna pomoć bila široko dostupna i pod podjednakim uvjetima.Noncommunicable diseases have been the leading cause of death in many countries, including Croatia. Overweight is an important risk factor for the occurrence, commonly as a result of poor lifestyle. Establishment of the counseling services for the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults in public health institutes was in Strategic Plan of Public Health Development in Croatia 2013.-2015., but it was not operationalized. The aim of this paper was to make a snapshot of the availability of information about the counseling service for the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults in public health institutes in Croatia by searching the Internet. Counseling service was present in Croatian Institute of Public Health and in 10 public health institutes. Programs of non-governmental organizations and other institutions also have been available, some of them on commercial basis in 7 (out of 11) counties without counseling service in the public health institutes. Due to observed unequal access, regulation and standardization of counseling services in public health institutes and personnel and financial support is necessary that equal professional help would be available

COUNSELING FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF EXCESSIVE BODY WEIGHT AND ADULT OBESITY AT PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTIONS IN CROATIA

Kronične nezarazne bolesti su vodeći uzroci smrti u brojnim zemljama svijeta, tako i u Hrvatskoj. Prekomjerna tjelesna težina je značajan čimbenik rizika za njihov razvoj i najčešće nastaje kao posljedica loših životnih navika. Strateški plan razvoja javnog zdravstva Republike Hrvatske 2013.-2015. predviđao je osnivanje savjetovališta za prevenciju i liječenje prekomjerne tjelesne težine u odraslih osoba u zavodima za javno zdravstvo, no plan je samo djelomično proveden. Cilj ovoga rada bio je ispitati dostupnost informacija o savjetovalištima za prevenciju i liječenje prekomjerne tjelesne težine u odraslih osoba u zavodima za javno zdravstvo u Hrvatskoj pretraživanjem Interneta. Rezultati pretraživanja pokazali su da savjetovalište imaju Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo i 10 od 21 županijskog zavoda za javno zdravstvo. Uz savjetovališta u zavodima, građanima su dostupni i različiti programi nevladinih udruga i drugih ustanova, od kojih su pojedini komercijalni. Od 11 županijskog zavoda za javno zdravstvo koji nemaju savjetovalište, na istom području djeluje 7 savjetovališta izvan zavoda. Pomoć osobama s prekomjernom tjelesnom težinom u Hrvatskoj je nedostatna i neujednačena obzirom na teritorijalnu rasprostranjenost. Potrebno je reguliranje i ujednačavanje rada savjetovališta u zavodima za javno zdravstvo, te kadrovska i financijska potpora, kako bi stručna pomoć bila široko dostupna i pod podjednakim uvjetima.Noncommunicable diseases have been the leading cause of death in many countries, including Croatia. Overweight is an important risk factor for the occurrence, commonly as a result of poor lifestyle. Establishment of the counseling services for the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults in public health institutes was in Strategic Plan of Public Health Development in Croatia 2013.-2015., but it was not operationalized. The aim of this paper was to make a snapshot of the availability of information about the counseling service for the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults in public health institutes in Croatia by searching the Internet. Counseling service was present in Croatian Institute of Public Health and in 10 public health institutes. Programs of non-governmental organizations and other institutions also have been available, some of them on commercial basis in 7 (out of 11) counties without counseling service in the public health institutes. Due to observed unequal access, regulation and standardization of counseling services in public health institutes and personnel and financial support is necessary that equal professional help would be available

EATING HABITS, NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

Uvod: Uspješnost učenika u usvajanju znanja i vještina tijekom školovanja, vrednovana rezultatima i postignućem na ispitima prema unaprijed određenim kriterijima, nazivamo školskim uspjehom. Školski neuspjeh se očituje kao trajan neuspjeh u svim ili nekim predmetima, ponavljanju razreda, prekidu školovanja, ali i učenikovom osjećaju neuspjeha. Među uzroke školskog neuspjeha ubrajaju se zdravstveni čimbenici: spavanje, prehrambene navike, stanje uhranjenosti, tjelesna aktivnost i kronične bolesti zbog kojih djeca izostaju iz škole, a uzimanje lijekova i terapije može utjecati na proces učenja. Cilj: Prikazati povezanost prehrambenih navika, stanja uhranjenosti i školskog uspjeha. Metode: Izvršeno je pretraživanje literature u bibliografskim bazama PubMed i Hrčak, u razdoblju od 2008. do 2018. godine, korištenjem ključnih riječi na hrvatskom i engleskom jeziku. Rezultati: Dosadašnja istraživanja pokazali su da je stanje uhranjenosti – pothranjenost i pretilost, povezano s lošijim školskim uspjehom. Zdrave prehrambene navike, pravilan raspored obroka, unos zdravih namirnica, rijetka konzumacija zaslađenih pića i brze hrane, povezani su s boljim obrazovnim ishodima. Zaključak: Razumijevanje povezanosti zdravih načina prehrane i stanja uhranjenosti i školskog uspjeha, doprinijet će podizanju svijesti znanstvene i stručne javnosti o važnosti razvoja i očuvanja zdravih životnih navika i normalne tjelesne mase tijekom razdoblja školovanja, kako bi se ostvarili akademski potencijali te očuvalo i unaprijedilo zdravlje.Introduction: Students\u27 success in acquiring knowledge and skills during schooling, evaluated by results and achievement of examinations according to predetermined criteria, is called school success. School failure is manifested as a permanent failure in all or some of subjects, repeating the class, ending schooling, but also student\u27s feeling of failure. Among causes of school failure are health factors: sleep, nutrition habits, nutritional status, physical activity and chronic illnesses for which students are absent from school and taking medication and therapy may affect the learning process. Aim: To show relationship between dietary habits, nutritional status and school performance. Methods: Search of literature in bibliographic databases PubMed and Hrčak, from 2008 to 2018, was performed using keywords in Croatian and English. Results: Previous research has shown that nutritional status - undernutrition and obesity, is associated with poorer school success. Healthy eating habits, proper meal schedules, healthy food intake, low consumption of sweetened drinks and fast food, are associated with better educational outcomes. Conclusion: Understanding of relationship between healthy nutrition and nutritional status with school success will contribute to raising the awareness of scientific and professional public about the importance of developing and maintaining healthy living habits and normal body mass during schooling periods in order to achieve academic potential and maintain and enhance health