BackgroundUnderstanding the experiences and expectations of women across the continuum of antenatal, perinatal, and postnatal care is important to assess the quality of maternal care and to determine problematic areas which could be improved. The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with maternal satisfaction with hospital-based perinatal care in Serbia.MethodsOur survey was conducted from January 2009 to January 2010 using a 28-item, self-administered questionnaire. The sample consisted of 50% of women who expected childbirths during the study period from all 76 public institutions with obstetric departments in Serbia. The following three composite outcome variables were constructed: satisfaction with technical and professional aspects of care; communication and interpersonal aspects of care; and environmental factors.ResultsWe analyzed 34,431 completed questionnaires (84.2% of the study sample). The highest and lowest average satisfaction scores (4.43 and 3.25, respectively) referred to the overall participation of midwives during delivery and the quality of food served in the hospital, respectively. Younger mothers and multiparas were less concerned with the environmental conditions (OR = 0.55, p = 0.006; OR = 1.82, p = 0.004). Final model indicated that mothers informed of patients’ rights, pregnancy and delivery through the Maternal Counseling Service were more likely to be satisfied with all three outcome variables. The highest value of the Pearson’s coefficient of correlation was between the overall satisfaction score and satisfaction with communication and interpersonal aspects of care.ConclusionsOur study illuminated the importance of interpersonal aspects of care and education for maternal satisfaction. Improvement of the environmental conditions in hospitals, the WHO program, Baby-friendly Hospital, and above all providing all pregnant women with antenatal education, are recommendations which would more strongly affect the perceptions of quality and satisfaction with perinatal care in Serbian public hospitals by women.

From the abused women's perspective, health care services are the institutions with the highest potential to help women in cases of IPV. Developing a comprehensive health sector response is of critical importance to ensure appropriate care and referral.

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Background This study aimed to identify factors associated with intimate partner violence against women living in Belgrade, Serbia. Method A cross-sectional, population based household survey was conducted in Belgrade as part of the WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence, using a standard questionnaire. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1456 women aged 15e49 years. Data used in this study were from a subset of 886 women who ever cohabited with their male intimate partners. The association between various factors at individual and relationship levels and reported physical or sexual partner violence, or both, was assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Multivariate logistic regression modelling revealed that partner violence was significantly associated with a number of factors relating to the male partner: daily alcohol consumption (AOR 4.25, 95% CI 1.78 to 10.11), having affairs (AOR 3.97, 95% CI 1.62 to 9.57), fighting with other men (AOR 3.62, 95% CI 1.91 to 6.88), his mother having experienced spousal abuse (AOR 2.71, 95% CI 1.40 to 5.23) and he himself being beaten as a child (AOR 3.14, 95% CI 1.48 to 6.63). Among the factors related to the women, only forced or unwanted first sexual intercourse was independently associated with exposure to partner violence (AOR 2.50, 95% CI 1.05 to 5.96). Conclusion The majority of factors associated with intimate partner violence related to the male partner; in particular his childhood experiences of violence in his own family. Long-term violence prevention programmes should target boys growing up in families with domestic violence.

The aim of this study was to assess the role of stressful life events, lack of social support and attachment insecurity in triggering exacerbations of psoriasis. Outpatients experiencing exacerbation of psoriasis in the last 6 months (n = 110) were compared with outpatients affected by skin conditions in which psychosomatic factors are believed to play a minor role (n = 200). Stressful life events during the last 12 months were assessed with Paykel's Interview for Recent Life Events. Perceived social support and attachment relationship were assessed with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, respectively. In comparison with controls the patients with psoriasis reported more stressful life events in the last year. The statistically significant difference was found only for the sum of the first 25 events (odds ratio (OR) 1.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-2.87; p < 0.001). Also, patients with psoriasis were more likely to score higher on both anxiety (OR = 1.44; CI = 1.09-1.92; p = 0.011) and avoidance attachment scale (OR = 1.49; CI = 1.04-2.14; p = 0.030), and perceived less support from their social network than did the comparison subjects. The results of this study confirm the relevance of psychosocial factors in psoriasis.

The poorest women in Serbia and the least educated men are those least likely to quit smoking, which indicates that ability to quit is predicted by socio-economic status.

Background: Health literacy is an important determinant of health. This concept is under-researched in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Objectives: To assess health literacy and its association with sociodemographic variables, self-perception of health and the presence of chronic conditions in primary healthcare setting. Methods: In May 2016, a cross-sectional study was executed in two primary healthcare centres. Out of approximately 1500 patients who visited both health centres during four consecutive days, about 800 were eligible. Of these, 110 patients agreed to complete the translated Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA). The influence of demographic, social, economic, and health characteristics (independent variables) on the S-TOFHLA score (dependent variable) was assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: One questionnaire was incomplete and therefore 109 questionnaires were analysed. Inadequate, marginal, and adequate health literacy were present in 19 (17.4%), 16 (14.7%) and 74 (67.9%) respondents. Adequate health literacy was found predominantly among respondents younger than 55 years and those with a high level of education. Regression analyses showed that low level of education (OR: 5.3), age 55 years and over (OR: 3.9), living in a rural area (OR: 3.7) and having three or more chronic diseases (OR: 2) were independently associated with inadequate or marginal health literacy. Conclusion: In this study performed in two primary healthcare centres in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, low health literacy was associated with low level of education, older age, living in a rural area, and having more chronic diseases.

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