Implementation of Newborn Hearing Screening in Albania.

Newborn hearing screening (NHS) was implemented in Albania in four maternity hospitals in 2018 and 2019. Implementation outcome, screening outcome, and screening quality measures were evaluated. Infants were first screened by midwives and nurses before discharge from the maternity hospital and returned for follow-up screening.

Nonpharmaceutical interventions reduce the incidence and mortality of COVID-19: A study based on the survey from the International COVID-19 Research Network (ICRN).

The recently emerged novel coronavirus, "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)," caused a highly contagious disease called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It has severely damaged the world's most developed countries and has turned into a major threat for low- and middle-income countries. Since its emergence in late 2019, medical interventions have been substantial, and most countries relied on public health measures collectively known as nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs).

May Measurement Month 2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Albania.

This article discusses the results of the May Measurement Month (MMM) 2019 campaign, which contributed to a third round of MMM hypertension screening campaigns carried out in Albania, a transitional country in the Western Balkans. The hypertension screening campaign in Albania was carried out during the period 1-31 May 2019 in 30 sites in many districts of the country. Overall, 19 154 participants aged ≥18 years were included (approximately 68% of these were women), with an overall mean age of 47.

Correlates of Lifetime Physical Abuse Among Schoolchildren Aged 15 Years in Post-communist Albania.

Our aim was to assess the prevalence and correlates of lifetime physical abuse among schoolchildren in Albania, a post-communist country in South Eastern Europe which is currently undergoing a rapid socioeconomic transition. The third wave of Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) in Albania was conducted in 2017-18 including a nationwide representative sample of 1,708 schoolchildren aged 15 years (54% girls; response rate: 95%). Children were asked to report on lifetime physical abuse and a wide range of socio-demographic factors, lifestyle factors and health status characteristics.

May Measurement Month 2018: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Albania.

This article reports on May Measurement Month (MMM) 2018, which consisted of the 2nd round of the hypertension screening campaign conducted in Albania, a former communist country in South Eastern Europe. The hypertension screening campaign in Albania was conducted during the period 13-31 May 2018. Overall, there were eight sites from seven districts of the country involving 7046 participants aged ≥18 years (61% women and 39% men; overall mean age 46.

Mothers' perceptions of universal newborn hearing screening in transitional Albania.

The universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) component of the multi-center EUSCREEN project is being piloted in Albania since January 1st 2018. The aim of this study was to explore mothers' perceptions about various elements of UNHS in Albania. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the three sites of UNHS in Albania, namely in Tirana, Kukës and Pogradec during May-June 2019.

Implementation of a neonatal hearing screening programme in three provinces in Albania.

Objectives: The EUSCREEN study compares the cost-effectiveness of paediatric hearing screening programmes and aims to develop a cost-effectiveness model for this purpose. Alongside and informed by the development of the model, neonatal hearing screening (NHS) is implemented in Albania. We report on the first year.

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.

Trend and Correlates of Leadership Competencies Among Female Health Professionals in Albania.

Our aim was to assess the trends and correlates of the leadership competency level of female health professionals in Albania, a transitional country in the Western Balkans, based on a standardized international instrument. Two nationwide cross-sectional studies were conducted in Albania in 2014 (first wave; = 105 women) and subsequently in 2018 (second wave; = 121 women). A structured questionnaire was administered to all female participants aiming at self-assessing the level of leadership competencies and the (desirable) level of leadership competencies for their current job position.

Breakfast Skipping Is an Independent Predictor of Obesity but not Overweight Among Children in a Southeastern European Population.

Aim: To assess the association of breakfast skipping with overweight and obesity among children in Albania, a post-communist country in the Western Balkans, which is undergoing a long and difficult political and socioeconomic transition towards a market-oriented economy.

Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study was carried out in Albania in 2013 including a representative sample of 5810 children aged 7.0 - 9.

Association between Nephrolithiasis, Hypertension and Obesity in Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Aim: We aim to define the correlations between nephrolithiasis, hypertension, age and obesity in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) in Albania.

Material And Methods: We included 100 patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney from 2011 to 2014. The patients underwent X-ray and renal ultrasonography.

INCIDENCE OF ACUTE PANCREATITIS IN ALBANIAN POPULATION.

Background: Acute Pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory pathology with large regional variations in incidence and etiology.

Aim: The aim of the study was to provide a description of the epidemiologic situation of AP in Albanian population, regarding incidence, etiology and severity of the disease.

Methods: We have studied all the files of all patients with acute pancreatitis admitted at the UHC 'Mother Theresa" during an eight year period (2005-2012).

Distribution of Risk Factors in Male and Female Primary Health Care Patients with Osteoarthritis in Albania.

Aim: We aimed to describe the distribution of the main risk factors among primary health care users diagnosed with osteoarthritis in Albania, a post-communist country in South Eastern Europe.

Methods: Our study involved all individuals who were diagnosed with osteoarthritis over a two-year period (January 2013 - December 2014) in several primary health care centers in Tirana, the Albanian capital. On the whole, during this two-year period, 1179 adult individuals were diagnosed with osteoarthritis (521 men aged 60.

Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics Among Primary Health Care Users Diagnosed with Osteoarthritis in Albania.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of demographic factors and socioeconomic characteristics among primary health care users diagnosed with osteoarthritis in Albania, a transitional country in the Western Balkans.

Methods: This study included all individuals diagnosed with osteoarthritis during January 2013 - December 2014 in selected primary health care centers in Tirana, the capital city of Albania. Overall, 1179 adult individuals were diagnosed with osteoarthritis (521 men and 658 women) during this time period.

Insulin resistance in early vs late nutrition and complications of sirs in neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU).

Background: Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) is a common complication in neurosurgical diseases in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Because of associated insulin resistance (IR) the ICU is in dilemma in which stage to start the nutrition to patients and what is the amount of Insulin Unit to control the hyperglycemia.

Aim: to define the IR and to compare IR and amount of insulin among ICU patients in "Mother Theresa" University Hospital Center (MTUHC) in Tirana Albania.

Prison health in transitional Albania.

Aim: The information about prisoners' health in transitional countries including Albania is limited. The aim of our study was to assess the health status and its correlates among adult prisoners in Albania, a post-communist country in Southeast Europe.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2013 including 401 prisoners in Albania [290 (72%) males and 111 (28%) females].

Public health aspects of the family medicine concepts in South eastern europe.

Introduction: Family medicine as a part of the primary health care is devoted to provide continuous and comprehensive health care to the individuals and families regardless of age, gender, types of diseases and affected system or part of the body. Special emphasis in such holistic approach is given to the prevention of diseases and health promotion. Family Medicine is the first step/link between doctors and patients within patients care as well as regular inspections/examinations and follow-up of the health status of healthy people.

Epidemiology of goiter and benign tumors of the thyroid gland in Albania.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the demographic characteristics and disease patterns among patients with thyroid nodular abnormalities (goiter) and benign tumors of the thyroid gland in Albania, a transitional country in South Eastern Europe.

Methods: Our study included all patients diagnosed with goiter and/or benign tumors of the thyroid gland who were hospitalized at the University Hospital Center (UHC) "Mother Teresa" in Tirana between 2004 and 2012 (N=2258). All patients underwent the same examination and interviewing procedures.

Prison health in transitional Albania.

Aim: The information about prisoners' health in transitional countries including Albania is limited. The aim of our study was to assess the health status and its correlates among adult prisoners in Albania, a post-communist country in Southeast Europe.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2013 including 401 prisoners in Albania [290 (72%) males and 111 (28%) females].

Correlates of hypertension among adult men and women in kosovo.

Aim: We aimed to assess the independent socioeconomic, behavioral and psychosocial correlates of hypertension among the adult population of Kosovo.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Pristina in 2012-2013 which included a large representative sample of 1793 consecutive primary health care users aged ≥35 years (mean age: 51.2±6.

Prevalence and factors associated with congenital malformations in tirana, Albania, during 2011-2013.

Aim: Congenital Malformations (CMs) represent a challenge especially for developing countries. Data about CMs in Albania are rather scarce. In this context, our aim was to assess the prevalence and factors associated with CMs in Tirana, the capital of Albania.

Evaluation of thrombocytopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus and correlation with different organs damages.

Introduction: Thrombocytopenia is highly prevalent among patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematous(SLE) and at the same time it has been reported that a correlation exists between Thrombocytopenia and organ damage. The aim of this study is to highlight the correlation between Thrombocytopenia and the clinical manifestations of SLE.

Objectives: The objective is to show the clinical manifestations and organ damage of Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE) patients who have been found to have Thrombocytopenia.

Lifestyle characteristics and gastroesophageal reflux disease: a population-based study in Albania.

Aim. We aimed to assess the prevalence and lifestyle correlates of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in the adult population of Albania, a Mediterranean country in Southeast Europe which has experienced major behavioral changes in the past two decades. Methods.

Cross-cultural adaptation of an instrument measuring primary health care users' perceptions on competencies of their family physicians in Albania.

Aim: The objective of this study was to validate an international instrument addressing family physicians' competency level from the primary health care sers' perspective in Albania, a post-communist country in Southeast Europe.

Methods: This validation study, conducted in March-April 2012, included a sample of 114 primary health care users in Tirana municipality aged 18+ years (49 males and 65 females; mean age: 60 +/- 15 years). All participants were asked to self-assess the level of abilities, skills and competencies of their respective family physicians regarding different domains of quality of health care.