Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the cause of 17 million deaths a year worldwide, of which 25% are sudden cardiac deaths (SCD). In Europe cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remains a leading cause of death in Europe accounting for 3.9 million deaths each year. Even with well-known risk factors and the current standards of health care, improvement of health and quality of life of CVD patients are still remains one of the biggest public health challenges we must overcome. Objective: The aim of this study was to analize of current strategic documents and relevant facts of WHO and other appropriate institutions regarding CVDs prevention and control for potentialy use in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Methods: Authors made a narrative review to provide a brief overview of the recent and relevant documents of good practice in prevention, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of cardiovascular diseases that should be consider as milestones for the health authorities in the Federation of B&H. Results and Discussion: Bosnia and Herzegovina is among the countries with a high risk of CVD together with Albania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Poland, Slovakia, and Turkey. The main public health challenge in Bosnia and Herzegovina is reducing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs): heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease. NCDs are estimated to account for 80% of the country’s annual deaths, and addressing them is the foremost public health priority in the country. Cardiovascular diseases still represent a worldwide public health problem, with some new dimensions caused by challenges caused through pandemic of COVID-19. The well-known cardiovascular risk factors require new and more efficient public health approaches to the prevention and control. Conclusion: Due to the recently developed cardiovascular guidelines that were made by the European Society of Cardiology and World Heart Federation, key priority for health authorities should be is to update the existing CVD guidelines in the Federation of BiH in accordance with the international good practice to support healthcare professionals in their efforts to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in both individual patients, as well as at a population level..

Background: Dental documentation which includes main information about a patient and dental treatment provided is a very important asset of each dental office. Objective: This research aims to analyze the way of fulfilling and keeping mandatory dental records and periodic reporting forms by doctors of dental medicine in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H). Methods: The study was observational with a cross-sectional design using a questionnaire as a study tool. The questionnaire was distributed electronically to the participants working in public health care facilities and private practice. Results: A total of 426 Doctors of Dental Medicine (DDM) participated in the study, of whom 58.7% of respondents were employed in dental offices in the public health sector and 41.3% in dental offices in the private health sector. Dental records are filled out only manually by 53.5% of respondents, while 9.4% fill out the records only electronically, while 37.1% of respondents fill out records both manually and electronically. The manner of keeping dental documentation between respondents employed in dental offices in the public health sector and dental offices in the private health sector differs significantly (p<0.05). Almost all respondents understand the purpose and significance of keeping dental records. Conclusion: This paper points out that good dental records are of great importance as they allow monitoring the quality of services provided to patients for a longer period.

Introduction: The water pipe is a form of tobacco smoking that recently become very popular among youth in many countries all over the globe. Aim: To highlight recent data collected through Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) 2019, related to knowledge, attitudes and behavior of school children and youth to water pipe consumption. Methods: The GYTS questionnaire for the Federation of BiH 2019 contained 60 multiple-choice questions. The GYTS 2019 in the Federation of BiH was conducted in a total of 73 of the 75 sampled primary and secondary schools with a school response rate of 97.3%. From the 6,972 sampled students a total of 6,415 participated as eligible students in grades 8-9 of primary and 1st grade of secondary school, with a response rate for students of 92.0%. Results: Survey findings show that almost half (44.1%) of the school children confirm ever smoking the water pipe, while Current smoking of water pipe is confirmed by 16.1% school children. Conclusion: There is a substantial need for implementing of systematic and inter sectorial tobacco control measures that involves a water pipe as new public health challenge among youth.

Introduction: Health education is a process of acquiring knowledge and skills in order to improve the health of the individual and the community. It is considered the most effective, most economical and most rational aspect of health care and health culture. Aim To provide data on the effectiveness of printed health-educational materials. Methods This is a quantitative, applied, descriptive-analytical study. According to the type of research, it presents a public health evaluation manipulative study with triple testing. The research was conducted in elementary schools in the Zenica-Doboj Canton. The total number of students participating in the research is divided into groups: examined, control group. The research consisted of four phases. The research tool is a modified questionnaire The Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) with 38 questions, 8 modules. Results The total number of respondents was 120. The method of distribution of health-educational posters shows a lower but still present statistical significance (p<0.05) in relation to the acquired knowledge and a change in attitudes between the conducted surveys at different time points. There is no statistically significant change (p>0.05) in the level of knowledge and attitudes using leaflets between conducted surveys at three different times. In the control group without education, there was a low statistical significance (p<0.05) in terms of changing the level of knowledge and attitudes. Conclusion The distribution of health-educational posters is recommended in situations where it is necessary to reach a wide audience for a long period of time, if the site of the poster is protected. According to this study, there is no evidence that the leaflet distribution method should be used when it comes to the promotion of healthy lifestyles among healthy children. Alternative methods and ways of health education need to be identified.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the major cause of disability and premature death all over the world. Annually, 17.5 million people die from CVDs, representing 30% of the total number of deaths. Despite established guidelines for the treatment of acute coronary syndrome, cardiac weakness, atrial fibrillation and CVD prevention, many patients remain inadequately treated, particularly in less developed nations. A brief overview of the development of CVDs, description of the current practice guidelines, and a cross sectional analyses of the status of CVD prevention and control in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is given. In the past 7 years, there has been a steady increase in deaths, where half of all deaths in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are attributed to CVDs. Deaths from the acute myocardial infarction had a rate of 91.0/100,000 inhabitants, a significant increase compared to 2010, when this rate was 69.2. The second leading cause of death, a stroke, with a rate of 87.1 showed a slight decrease compared to 2010, when it was 89.9. The third leading cause of death, heart failure, with a rate of 68.4, has a slight decrease compared to 2010, when the rate was 75.7. CVDs are the leading cause of mortality in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, in addition to the large number of premature deaths, also causes major costs for the health sector and economy.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to assess the available data sources on the trends of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and related risk factors in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), in comparison with data from some of the neighbouring countries and the European Region average of the World Health Organization (WHO). Background: Mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular diseases in BiH are influenced by interaction of different socio-economic factors, metabolic and behavioural risk factors. Methods: Analysis of trends of CVDs mortality in BiH in the 2005-2014 period, with use of available data from the Agency for Statistics of BiH, entity Institutes for Public Health and the results of the population surveys conducted and analysed for BiH. Comparison of CVD mortality trends and risk factor exposure in BiH with the recent data for CVD trends in neighbouring countries and WHO average for the European Region. Results: The analysis showed that more than half of the population in BiH is dying from CVDs, while hypertension, overweight/obesity, lack of physical activity, alcohol and tobacco consumption contribute as main risk factors. CVD mortality and risk factor exposure are above the average of neighbouring countries and the WHO average for the European region. Conclusion: Emerging trends in morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases are one of the major public health challenges in BiH. Preventive oriented health services, mainly at primary health care, should be supported by health promotion interventions directed towards whole population and groups under risk.

Introduction: Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is defined as a human cancerogen class A, due daily exposure is responsible for health hazards consider as almost equal as smoking of tobacco. Goal: Monitoring of exposure of school children to ETS as indicator of enforcement of ban of smoking in public places as tobacco control measure in the Federation of BiH. Methods: Analysis of surveys findings performed in the Federation of BiH in period 2008-2013, with particular focus on ETS exposure in school children. Results: A survey findings indicates decrease of exposure to ETS in school children ate home from 79.0% in 2008 to 62.1% in 2013, as well decrease of exposure to ETS in public places from 85.0% in 2008 to 59.8% in 2013. However, 65.8% of school children in the Federation of BiH are daily expose to ETS in school premises and only 54.6% of school children have been taught in school about health consequences of tobacco smoke. Over three quarter of school children or 80.1% are in favor of ban of smoking in public places. Conclusions: Exposure to ETS in school children considers as significant evidence for more efficient enforcement of tobacco control legislation in the Federation of BiH.

Introduction: Quitting tobacco use has many benefits for both individuals and society. For individuals, quitting of smoking provides immediate and long-term benefits to health. Higher levels of nicotine addiction and start smoking at a younger age are factors consider as strongly influence on quit smoking. Access to youth friendly quit lines increases a smoking cessation of school children. Goal: Monitoring of trends of age of initiation of smoking and current smoking cigarettes as good motivation for smoking cessation among school children in the Federation of BiH. Methods: Analysis of survey’s findings performed in the Federation of BiH in period 2008-2013, with particular focus on indicators of every smokers, currents smokers, start to smoke before age of ten, signs of smoking dependence and motivation for quitting smoking in school children. Surveys involves two-stage cluster sample design aimed to enroll students in grades 7, 8 and 9th of primary and 1th grade of secondary school. Results: A survey findings indicates ever cigarettes smokers decreases from 45.9% in 2008 to 43.2% in 2013, as well decreases of current cigarette smoking from 14.3% in 2008 to 12.7% in 2013, both boys and girls. However, survey data shows decrease of current smoking students who want to stop smoking now from 50.5% in 2008 to 45.8% in 2013. Conclusions: Collected data confirmed decreases of current cigarette smoking in school children in the Federation of BiH in period 2008-2013. Access to available smoking cessation services and quit lines for school children and youth considers should be a significant part of tobacco control measure in the Federation of BiH.

Background The significant demographic, socio-economic and cultural changes affected the health of the population in the Federation of BiH in the past decades. It is of great importance to obtain up to date indicators on the risk factors and leading health problems in FBIH, which should enable government to undertake the appropriate measures for maintaining and improving the health of the population. Method The health survey was conducted as a cross-sectional study in 2012, and included 1402 households (3843 …

Inspite the ongoing reform process in health sector of the Federation of B&H, there are still disharmony in the current legislation framework of specialization training of health staff in public health. The paper contained a comparative overview of the training plans and programmes of current specializations social medicine and organization with health economics and public health in B&H as also news from Croatia and Slovenia. Through discussing of current situation in the Federation of B&H, this paper is aimed to initiate more active approach of all the public health professionals in defining priority actions in harmonization of specialization training of health staff in public health sector, in line with international guidelines.