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Acta
Medica Medianae
Contact:
Copyright 2006 by Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis |
KAP STUDY: KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICE OF THE ADULT INHABITANTS AS IMPORTANT REASONS FOR THE OCCURRENCE OF THE LEADING INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA Sladjana Jovic1, Slavica Zizic1, Aleksandar Visnjic2, Branislav Tiodorović2, Slobodanka Basic2 and Branislav Petrovic2
Institute of Public
Health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanović Batut" of Beograd,
Acute infectious diseases are the main problem in undeveloped countries, but still an important sociomedical problem in the developed world, due to high morbidity and mortality rates, economical losses and the suffering they cause. The aim of this study was to determine specific risk factors connected with knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP study) of adult inhabitants of the Republic of Serbia, which contribute to the appearance of infectious diseases according to territory (Belgrade, Vojvodina and Central Serbia), gender and age. The research on health conditions, health needs and utilization of health care of the population of Serbia were realized by the Public Health Institute of Serbia ‘Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut’, all IPHs in Serbia, WHO and UNICEF. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 9921 persons (52% women and 48% men). Hygienic habits were on the higher level in the population of Belgrade and Vojvodina compared to the Central Serbia: washing hands before meal (88,5:90,6:87,5%, p < 0,00046), on entering home (83,1:68,6:67,5%, p < 0,50), before using the toilet (50,8:46,9:40,1%, p < 00000), after using the toilet (92,3:93,7:91,4%, p < 0,0031). Before meal, 11, 5% of adults wash hands almost never or sometimes; on coming home every third person does not wash hands, before using the toilet more than 50%, and after using the toilet almost 8%. In this way, some intestinal infectious diseases and sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea, syphilis, HPV can be disseminated. Women have better hygienic habits than men, and younger persons have better hygienic habits than older persons. Every fifth man and every fourth woman does not accept personal responsibility for health. Habits and behavior that decrease individual immunity presented in high percent of the population of Serbia are: inappropriate eating habits, tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, stress (63,5% women and 53,3% men); only 7,9% women and 15,2% men use condom regularly for protection of STD and AIDS. The level of disease prevention knowledge is low. Utilization of health services is mostly present in the cases of illnes (44,1%) and for preventive purposes in minor percent (29,9%). Acta Medica Medianae 2006; 45(1):5-12. Key words: infectious diseases, risk factors, knowledge, attitudes, practice, adults |