Internet is important resource of health-related information and health services. Factors associated with higher level of online health (eHealth) literacy among adolescence have been understudied. The aim of this study was to assess psychometric properties of the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) in Serbian language and to evaluate eHealth literacy among adolescents in Serbia. The study was carried out in four high schools in Belgrade, Serbia in the period December 2016 to January 2017. A total of 702 students comprised the study sample. The eHEALS was translated according to internationally accepted methodology and its psychometric properties were analyzed. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire eHEALS was 0.849. On exploratory factor analysis we obtained two-factorial structure. Our adolescents reported low confidence in knowing what health resources are available online. High confidence was observed for knowing how to use and how to find health information online. There was no difference in eHEALS score between genders or between school years. After adjustment for gender, type of school program, parental marital status, fathers' education level and household income, being female was associated with higher eHealth literacy (B = 1.12, 95% confidence interval 0.07-2.18; p = 0.036). Serbian version of the eHEALS is a valid instrument in assessment of online health literacy and can be further used in evaluation of eHealth literacy in other population groups in Serbian language. It is advised that some classes in school are dedicated to appraisal and use of online health websites. This could be achieved through peer-education.

This study aimed to generate a linguistic equivalent of the COVID Stress Scales (CSS) in the Serbian language and examine its psychometric characteristics. Data were collected from September to December 2020 among the general population of three cities in Republic of Serbia and Republic of Srpska, countries where the Serbian language is spoken. Participants completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, followed by the CSS and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The CSS was validated using the standard methodology (i.e., forward and backward translations, pilot testing). The reliability of the Serbian CSS was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients and convergent validity was evaluated by correlating the CSS with PSS. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to examine the construct validity of the Serbian CSS. This study included 961 persons (52.8% males and 47.2% females). The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the Serbian CSS was 0.964 and McDonald’s omega was 0.964. The Serbian CSS with 36 items and a six-factorial structure showed a measurement model with a satisfactory fit for our population (CMIN/DF = 4.391; GFI = 0.991; RMSEA = 0.025). The CSS total and all domain scores significantly positively correlated with PSS total score. The Serbian version of the CSS is a valid and reliable questionnaire that can be used in assessing COVID-19-related distress experienced by Serbian speaking people during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as future epidemics and pandemics.

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Objective: Tracking of periods is recommended to adolescent girls because of their irregular menstrual cycle and longer cycle length compared to adult women. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of use of apps to track menstrual cycle among high school girls from Belgrade, Serbia, as well as to define factors associated with their use. Methods: A study was carried out in December 2016 and January 2017. The study included 394 high school girls from Belgrade, Serbia, who used smartphones. The students were asked to fill in an anonymous questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics, use of online platforms and smartphone apps as well as online health (e-health) literacy scale (eHEALS). Results: The prevalence of tracking menstrual cycle via smartphone apps was 29.7%. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that studying humanities-languages school program, using Wikipedia, websites run by physicians, health forums, but not YouTube were associated with use of menstrual cycle tracking apps. Girls who used fitness apps were more likely to use apps to track menstrual cycle. Conclusion: Approximately one third of girls in Belgrade highs schools who have smartphones used menstrual cycle tracking apps. Use of different digital media might influence the decision to track menstrual cycle via smartphone apps.

Objective -The study aimed to investigate the characteristics of women and their children as well as the deliveries completed using forceps in one tertiary center. Material and Methods -The study included all women who had vaginal delivery during 2019. Women were classified according to use of the outlet forceps for delivery into the study and control group. We recorded maternal age and parity, duration of delivery, stimulation and epidural analgesia use, neonatal measures and Apgar score, maternal and neonatal complications after delivery. Results -Of the 3,570 vaginal births, forceps was applied 23 (0.64%) times. Most women were aged <35 years and were primiparous. The indication for forceps use in all cases was the delay in the expulsion phase. Forceps deliveries lasted on average 6.20+/-2.15 hours. In both groups, birth canal injuries were frequently registered (P=0.001), while uterine atony was rare (P=0.001). Postpartum anemia was more frequent after forceps application, however, not significantly. A similar number of children with and without neonatal complications was registered (P=0.140). Children born using forceps had lower Apgar scores than those from the control group (P=0.046) and spent longer time in the intensive care unit (P=0.038). There were no other significant differences in any of the tested parameters of mothers and children between the study and the control group. Conclusion -Use of forceps is remarkably rare in our setting. Children born using forceps have less favorable early perinatal outcomes, but few serious long-term complications. If applied skillfully and according to indications, forceps is safe for both mothers and children.