UNASSIGNED: Our aim was to assess the level and socio-demographic correlates of the ability to maintain health among children in
Albania, a post-communist country in the Western Balkans.
UNASSIGNED: A cross-sectional study was conducted in
Albania in September 2022. The study population consisted of a nationwide representative sample of 7,831 schoolchildren (≈54% girls) aged 12-15 years. A structured self-administered and anonymous questionnaire inquired about the children\'s attitudes toward health promotion (ability to maintain and improve health) and a range of key dimensions on knowledge and practices regarding healthcare services. Socio-demographic data were also collected. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the socio-demographic correlates of children\'s ability to maintain health.
UNASSIGNED: Overall, about 71% of schoolchildren exhibited the best attitudes toward health promotion (ability to maintain and improve health). In the multivariable adjusted logistic regression models, poorer attitudes toward health promotion (ability to maintain and improve health) were significantly related to older age (OR=1.2, 95% CI=1.0-1.3), middle/low maternal education (OR=1.2, 95%CI=1.1-1.3), poor/very poor economic situation (OR=1.5, 95%CI=1.2-1.8), lack of appropriate knowledge about rights to healthcare (OR=1.3, 95% CI=1.1-1.5), lack of knowledge about obtaining healthcare services (OR=1.7, 95%CI=1.4-2.2), and lack of consultations/visits with health professionals excluding vaccinations (OR=1.2, 95%CI=1.1-1.4).
UNASSIGNED: Almost 1/3rd of Albanian schoolchildren included in this study did not exhibit the best attitudes toward health promotion (ability to maintain and improve health). The best attitudes were related to a higher socioeconomic level and adequate knowledge and practices regarding healthcare services. There is thus a need to increase health literacy levels among children in order to ultimately induce sustainable healthy behavioural/lifestyle practices.
UNASSIGNED: Naš cilj je bil oceniti raven in sociodemografske korelate sposobnosti ohranjanja zdravja pri otrocih v Albaniji – postkomunistični državi na Zahodnem Balkanu.
UNASSIGNED: Presečno študijo smo opravili septembra 2022 v Albaniji. Populacijo študije je sestavljal reprezentativni vzorec 7831 šolarjev (≈54 % deklic), starih 12–15, ki prihajajo iz celotne države. V strukturiranem samoocenjevalnem in anonimnem vprašalniku so otroci odgovarjali na vprašanja o odnosu do spodbujanja zdravja (sposobnosti ohranjanja in izboljšanja zdravja) in vrsti ključnih razsežnosti glede znanja in praks v zvezi z zdravstvenimi storitvami. Zbrali smo tudi sociodemografske podatke. Za ocenjevanje sociodemografskih korelatov sposobnosti otrok za ohranjanje zdravja smo uporabili binarno logistično regresijo.
UNASSIGNED: Skupno je približno 71 % otrok izkazalo najboljši odnos do spodbujanja zdravja (sposobnosti ohranjanja in izboljšanja zdravja). V modelih multivariatne prilagojene logistične regresije je bil slabši odnos do spodbujanja zdravja (sposobnosti ohranjanja in izboljšanja zdravja) pomembno povezan z višjo starostjo (RO = 1,2, 95-% IZ = 1,0–1,3), nizko/srednjo izobrazbo matere (RO = 1,2, 95-% IZ = 1,1–1,3), slabimi/zelo slabimi gospodarskimi razmerami (RO = 1,5, 95-% IZ = 1,2–1,8), pomanjkanjem ustreznega znanja o pravicah do zdravstvenega varstva (RO = 1,3, 95-% IZ = 1,1–1,5), pomanjkanjem znanja o pridobitvi zdravstvenih storitev (RO = 1,7, 95-% IZ = 1,4–2,2) in pomanjkanjem posvetovanja z zdravstvenimi delavci ali njihovih obiskov, razen za cepljenja (RO = 1,2, 95-% IZ = 1,1–1,4).
UNASSIGNED: Skoraj 1/3 albanskih šolarjev, ki so bili vključeni v študijo, ni izkazala najboljšega odnosa do spodbujanja zdravja (sposobnosti ohranjanja in izboljšanja zdravja). Najboljši odnos je povezan z višjo družbenogospodarsko ravnjo ter ustreznim znanjem in praksami glede zdravstvenih storitev. Treba je izboljšati raven zdravstvene pismenosti pri otrocih za spodbujanje trajnostnih zdravih vedenjskih praks in življenjskega sloga.