Public knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding antibiotic use in Kosovo.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is becoming a major public health challenge worldwide, caused primarily by the misuse of antibiotics. Antibiotic use is closely related to the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of a population.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices about antibiotic use among the general public in Kosovo.

DOTS implementation in a post-war, United Nations-administered territory: lessons from Kosovo.

Setting: The WHO-recommended strategy of tuberculosis control (DOTS strategy) has been shown to be effective in reducing tuberculosis incidence in a variety of countries/ settings. Little evidence exists on the implementation, and effectiveness of DOTS in a transitional, post-war setting

Objective: To describe the process of establishing a National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) and implementing DOTS throughout Kosovo, and the outcomes achieved by this international collaboration in a post-war transitional setting during 1999-2005.

Methods: In 1999, as part of the re-organization of health services, a DOTS-based NTP was established and operationalized through a collaboration of several international partners in Kosovo.