Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine whether fear and prejudice in relation to organ donation and the transplantation of organs may influence the decision to become an organ donor. Materials and Methods. Data were collected through four group interviews using open-ended questions and qualitative content analysis. Forty participants, 16 males and 24 females from seven countries, participated in the focus group interviews. Results. The analysis resulted in three main categories, and nine subcategories. Fears and prejudice caused by tradition and customs, approval of organ donation by family members, perception of the body as a gift from parents, the influence of religious leaders, knowledge about the religious understanding of organ donation, influence of social ambience on respondents, knowledge of the donation process in the healthcare system, including knowing about life after eventual organ donation, were some of predictors in the decision to agree to organ donation. Conclusion. More education on the factors that influence organ donation, more information in schools, health institutions and through the media, as well as more research with the aim of “dispelling” fears and prejudice about organ donation would significantly improve the current situation and result in a larger number of potential organ donors.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause a wide clinical spectrum, ranging from asymptomatic to severe disease with a high mortality rate. In view of the current pandemic and the increasing influx of patients into healthcare facilities, there is a need to identify simple and reliable tools for stratifying patients. Objective: Study aimed to analyze whether hemogram-derived ratios (HDRs) can be used to identify patients with a risk of developing a severe clinical form and admission to hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional and observational study included 500 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Data on clinical features and laboratory parameters were collected from medical records and 13 HDRs were calculated and analyzed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were included in the analysis. Results: Of the 500 patients, 43.8% had a severe form of the disease. Lymphocytopenia, monocytopenia, higher C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were found in severe patients (p < 0.05). Significantly higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived NLR (dNLR), neutrophil-to-platelet ratio (NPR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte-to-platelet ratio (NLPR) and CRP-to-lymphocyte ratio (CRP/Ly) values were found in severe patients (p < 0.001). In addition, they have statistically significant prognostic potential (p < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) for CRP/Ly, dNLR, NLPR, NLR, and NPR were 0.693, 0.619, 0.619, 0.616, and 0.603, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 65.7% and 65.6% for CRP/Ly, 51.6% and 70.8 for dNLR, 61.6% and 57.3% for NLPR, 40.6% and 80.4% for NLR, and 48.8% and 69.1% for NPR. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that NLR, dNLR, CRP/Ly, NPR, and NLPR can be considered as potentially useful markers for stratifying patients with a severe form of the disease. HDRs derived from routine blood tests results should be included in common laboratory practice since they are readily available, easy to calculate, and inexpensive.

Introduction. The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a lockdown resulting in an 85% reduction in the compulsory immunization of children in 82 countries in May 2020 compared to January and February 2020. The World Health Organization states that during the first four months, for the first time in 28 years, the vaccination coverage of children with the third dose of gout, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines dropped significantly. The objective of the research is to determine the effect of COVID-19 on the implementation of mandatory vaccination of children and youth in the FBiH in 2020 compared to 2019. Subjects and methods: Data for vaccination coverage for children and youth in FBiH were extracted from the official records of the Institute for Public Health of the FBiH, in 2019 and 2020. The percentage of children vaccinated through mandatory vaccination processes was analyzed, expressed as a percentage in primary vaccination and revaccination by FBiH counties in 2020 and 2019 in relation to the planned number of children. Results. The study found a decrease in vaccination with the first doses of vaccine in FBiH, with the exception of the BCG vaccine, which has an increase of 2.3% compared to 2019. In particular, there is a decrease in vaccination with the third dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine and the DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccine third dose. In 2020, in the FBiH, there was a decrease of 26.7% in vaccination with the first dose of MRP vaccine. Conclusion. The research found a significant decline in the vaccination of children and youth for almost all vaccines in all FBiH counties in 2020, which indicates an increased risk for vaccine-preventable diseases.Vaccination improvement activities in the FBiH need to be intensified in order to reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. © 2022 Hrvatski Lijecnicki Zbor. All rights reserved.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) is a pandemic disease that is today a global public health problem caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). COVID-19 is a disease of middle and old age, but clinical expression may also be present in childhood. Asymptomatic and mild clinical forms are most often present in persons aged 0-19, but severe clinical forms such as, among others, acute respiratory distress syndrome and multisystem inflammatory syndrome may occur. In addition to presenting the epidemiology, clinical symptomatology of COVID-19, the authors consider certain specifics of COVID-19, that is, possible reasons for the lower incidence of the disease as well as unusual and rare clinical forms of the disease in children. The current activities of health professionals in the supervision of COVID-19 are mainly focused on early detection, isolation and treatment of patients, isolation of contacts, the regular and thorough practice of respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene, and physical distancing. Future efficient and safe vaccination will solve the biggest global medical challenge caused by the new coronavirus in the best possible manner.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) is a pandemic disease that is today a global public health problem caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) COVID-19 is a disease of middle and old age, but clinical expression may also be present in childhood Asymptomatic and mild clinical forms are most often present in persons aged 0-19, but severe clinical forms such as, among others, acute respiratory distress syndrome and multisystem inflammatory syndrome may occur In addition to presenting the epidemiology, clinical symptomatology of COVID-19, the authors consider certain specifics of COVID-19, that is, possible reasons for the lower incidence of the disease as well as unusual and rare clinical forms of the disease in children The current activities of health professionals in the supervision of COVID-19 are mainly focused on early detection, isolation and treatment of patients, isolation of contacts, the regular and thorough practice of respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene, and physical distancing Future efficient and safe vaccination will solve the biggest global medical challenge caused by the new coronavirus in the best possible manner © 2020, University of Sarajevo - Faculty of Health Studies

Introduction: Violence at work has become an alarming problem worldwide. The real size of the problem is unknown because of underreporting. The aim of the survey was to estimate the prevalence of workplace violence (WPV) among primary health care professionals in the Public Institution Health Center of Sarajevo Canton (HCSC), Bosnia and Herzegovina, and determine possible association with demographic and work-related characteristics of participants. Aim: The aim of the survey was to estimate the prevalence of workplace violence (WPV) among Primary health care professionals in the Public Institution Health Center of Sarajevo Canton (HCSC), Bosnia and Herzegovina, and determine possible association with demographic and work-related characteristics of participants. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and May 2017. The sample consisted of medical professionals employed at HCSC. The data were collected by a questionnaire with 42 questions divided into 7 blocks of topic. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to test the association between the occurrence of violence and independent variables (gender, age, years of work experience and office setting). Results: A total of 558 out of 983 health professionals employed in Primary health care were involved in this survey. The overall prevalence of WPV was 90.3%, with 498 (89.2%) exposed to verbal violence and 417 (74.7%) exposed to indirect physical violence. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that the following demographic and work-related characteristics were positively significantly associated with WPV: women were associated with verbal violence [Odd ratio (OR) 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06, 1.47] and stalking [OR= 2.06, 95% CI (1.04, 4.08)]. Office setting (urban) was significantly positively associated with indirect physical violence [OR= 1.59, 95% CI (1.03, 2.47)]. Conclusion: Almost all health professionals in Sarajevo primary health care were subjected to different types of WPV. There is a need for intervention to provide safer workplace environment. Professional, administrative, legal support and protection of health professionals by the health authorities and institution management is urgently required.

Background: Preterm born children are at an increased risk for having cognitive and motor impairments at preschool age. In addition to this, children born preterm have a number of deficits in executive functioning. Although there are numerous studies examining executive functions (EF) in preterm born children, few used ecologically valid measures of EF. The goal of the present study was to examine EF in preschool children born preterm. Materials and Methods: The sample for this study consisted of 40 preschool children aged 5 – 6 years old born preterm, both sexes (21 boys, 19 girls). EFs were measured with Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function- Preschool Version, an ecologically valid instrument for EF assessment. Results: The results of this study revealed that the greatest EF deficits were in the area of emotional control and working memory. There were no gender differences in EF except for the domain of emotional control, with boys having larger deficits. Conclusion: Given the high rate of EF deficits in preschool children born preterm, it is of utmost importance to provide them with adequate therapeutic modalities early in preschool period. Pediatricians, psychologists and early education specialists should work together in identifying the potential EF problems in preterm born preschool children and in making the programs for ameliorating EF deficits.

Introduction: Immunization is a lifelong preventive activity that helps prevent/reduce disease, prevent/ reduce mortality and prevent disability from specific infectious diseases. Material and Methods: Authors of this paper researched the WHO extended program of mandatory immunization of children from birth to the age of 18 years and analyzed how it has been implemented in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H), because the guidelines of the specialist physician societies on immunization of adults, elderly people and risk groups of the population are missing. Results: The paper presents the basic characteristics of the immunization program in the FB&H and the world, points to the most frequent problems that the doctor practitioner has in carrying out immunization, and also presents possible modalities of improving immunization. It is pointed out the need to develop the national guidelines and individual immunization booklets, introduction of electronic registration of immunization, and continuous education of health professionals of all profiles, population, educators, teachers and harmonious partnership relations of health workers, population, social entities and the media with the aim of achieving an appropriate lifelong vaccination.

The most frequent disease of the arteries is atherosclerosis which is characterized by lumen reduction of blood vessels due to local thickening of internal blood vessels caused by plaque/atheroma. As a cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis is an interdisciplinary problem and one of the leading causes of death in developed countries. It begins in childhood, goes a long time without manifesting symptoms, increasing with age it begins to seriously threaten health. The most dangerous risk factors for the development of atherosclerotic disease are: Hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, high fibrinogen, excessive weight and physical inactivity.

Background: The increase in the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections lacking risk factors for exposure to the health care system has been associated with the recognition of new MRSA clones known as community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). These strains have been distinguished from health care-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) strains by epidemiological, molecular and genetic means as well as by antibiotic susceptibility profile, tissue tropism and virulence traits. Objective: To assess prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility profile of CA-MRSA in Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Results: Out of 1.905 positive Staphylococcus aureus isolates from various samples of outpatients collected during six months, 279 (14,64%) were MRSA isolates. Out of 279 MRSA samples, 133 (47,67%) were found in nasal swabs, from which 48 (36,09%) were in the age group <1 year and 39 (29,32 %) are in the age 1-5 year. Rate of the positive skin swabs was highest among the subject of age group <1 year (46 or 54,12 %) and 1-5 year (18 or 21,18 %). Predominantly antibiotic types among MRSA strains are resistant to penicillin and cefoxitin (36,90 %) and to penicillin, cefoxitin and erythromycin (61,35 %). Conclusion: Continued monitoring of epidemiology and emerging drug resistance data is critical for the effective management of these infections.