Women In Slovakia Research Articles

Risk factors for self-reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most common preventable cause of impaired fetal development. The amount of alcohol consumed by expectant mothers varies by country. Studies on the prevalence of alcohol use among pregnant women in Slovakia and the risk factors linked to alcohol consumption during pregnancy are scarce. Similarly lacking are the data regarding pregnant women's awareness of the negative consequences of alcohol use during pregnancy. The study comprised women who gave birth at the 2nd Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics between July 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023. All respondents received an anonymous retrospective questionnaire following childbirth. The questionnaire investigated alcohol consumption throughout the year preceding conception as well as during each of the trimesters. The questionnaire also included questions on the woman's plans to become pregnant, her demographics, and her awareness of the hazards associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Afilled-out questionnaire was obtained from 402 women. Of these, 51 women (12.8%) reported being completely abstinent before becoming pregnant. Complete abstinence before pregnancy was the greatest strongest protection against drinking during pregnancy (RR: 0.03). Among the 351 women who drank before pregnancy, 108 women (30.8%) continued to drink while pregnant, which constitutes 26.9% of all pregnant women. Risk factors of alcohol use during pregnancy included unplanned pregnancy (RR: 1.32), inadequate knowledge of the negative consequences of alcohol intake during pregnancy (71.9% vs 75.4%), and heavy drinking prior to pregnancy (RR: 2.55). In accordance with certain European data, the best means of protection against alcohol consumption during pregnancy include complete abstinence prior to conception, pregnancy planning, and high-quality education regarding the negative effects of alcohol during pregnancy (Tab. 4, Ref. 19). Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: fetal alcohol syndrome spectrum, alcohol drinking in pregnancy, pregnancy planning, prenatal alcohol exposure, pregnancy.

Screening attendance disparities among Hungarian-speaking Roma and non-Roma women in central and eastern European countries.

The Roma populations in Central and Eastern Europe are two to three times more likely to have unmet health needs compared to non-Roma residents. The aim of the present study was to investigate the disparity in screening attendance between Hungarian-speaking Roma (R) and non-Roma (nR) women in Hungary (HU-R:322; nR:294), Romania (RO-R:258; nR:183), and Slovakia (SK-R:146; nR:163), while also identifying the factors that influence attendance at any kind of screening tests in both populations. In order to examine these factors, a multiple binary logistic regression was conducted. The findings revealed significant associations between attendance at any kind of screening tests and certain factors among different groups. Among Hungarian Roma women, it was found that having a chronic disease and smoking were linked to attendance at any kind of screening tests (p = 0.009). Specifically, having a chronic disease increased the odds of attendance (OR = 1.71 [1.01, 2.90]), while smoking decreased the odds (OR = 0.57[0.365, 0.91]). In Romania, the study found that not having health insurance decreased the odds of attendance among Roma women (OR = 0.50 [0.27, 0.91]), whereas having a chronic disease increased the odds (OR = 2.87 [1.44, 5.72]) (p = 0.006). Among non-Roma women in Romania, physical inactivity was associated with a decreased likelihood of attendance at any kind of screening tests (OR = 0.48 [0.25, 0.95]). Among Slovakian Roma women, not having health insurance (OR = 0.09[0.02, 0.36]) and smoking (OR = 0.25[0.11, 0.61]) were found to decrease the odds of attendance (p < 0.001). On the other hand, non-Roma women in Slovakia with chronic diseases were more likely to attend at any kind of screening tests (OR = 2.52[1.12, 5.66]). Our research emphasizes the impact of lacking health insurance on screening attendance, particularly among the Roma population. It also highlights the significance of health-related behaviours such as smoking and physical inactivity in relation to missed screening tests, which in turn contribute to the development of non-communicable diseases. Therefore, promoting targeted screening programs for the Roma community is crucial to ensure their access to screening tests, especially in cases of chronic illnesses.

Relationship between Eating Habits and 4-Nonylphenol Concentration in Breast Milk of Women in Slovakia.

4-Nonylphenol belongs to the alkylphenol group of chemicals, and its high occurrence in the environment can cause an adverse effect on human health. Breast milk can serve as a marker to take measure of human exposure to these chemicals through different routes of exposure. In this work, the influence of selected factors (the kind of water drank by the mothers; the consumption of fish, pork, and beef; wearing gloves; using nail polish, gel nails, vitamins, and medication) on the concentration on 4-nonylphenol in 89 breast milk samples was studied. The concentrations of nonylphenol in breast milk were determined by HPLC with fluorescence detection. The lowest and highest concentrations of 4-nonylphenol in breast milk were 0.97 ng/mL and 4.37 ng/mL, respectively. Statistical significance was observed for the consumption of pork (p = 0.048) and fish (0.041) in relation to the 4-nonylphenol concentration. Certain parameters (use of gel nails, beef consumption, and vitamin supplementation) were at the border of statistical significance (p = 0.06). Other parameters did not show any statistical significance. The results showed that breast milk in Slovakia does not contain a harmful dose of 4-nonylphenol and does not cause health problems. But it is necessary to continue this research and perform extended screening on a larger number of samples.

Risk factors associated with postpartum depression and PTSD after birth in a sample of Slovak women

BackgroundPregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period represent a unique experience in a woman's life that significantly changes their life. MethodsThe aim of the study is to analyse risk factors of postpartum depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms after birth in a sample of women in Slovakia. Data from the INTERSECT project were collected, including 437 postpartum women (mean age 30.5 ± 4.8). Posttraumatic stress disorder was (PTSD) measured through the City BiTS questionnaire, postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms were detected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and birth satisfaction was measured by the Birth Satisfaction Scale- Revised (BSS-R). ResultsAn increased risk for the development of PPD (the EPDS score >12.5) was found in 11.4 % of respondents, PTSD after birth was identified among 2.8 % of respondents. In the linear regression models, birth satisfaction (95%CI: 0,56; −0,19), subjective perception of birth (95%CI: 0,82; 1,63), previous trauma (95%CI: 0,27; 3,74), respect during birth (95%CI: 5,08; −0,45), and health complications of both mother (95%CI: 0,12; 2,81) and child (95%CI: 1,53; 1,84) were found significantly associated with the posttraumatic stress symptoms after birth (total explained variance 37 %). Subjective perception of birth as traumatic (95%CI: 0,82; 1,63), previous trauma in the anamnesis (95%CI: 0,27; 3,74) and respect during birth (95%CI: 5,08; −0,45) were significantly associated with the depression symptoms (total explained variance 15 %). ConclusionSubjective perception of birth, birth satisfaction, previous trauma in anamnesis as well as lack of respect during birth were found as crucial risk factors for both PPD and postpartum PTSD.

Repurposing non-invasive prenatal testing data: Population study of single nucleotide variants associated with colorectal cancer and Lynch syndrome.

In our previous work, genomic data generated through non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) based on low-coverage massively parallel whole-genome sequencing of total plasma DNA of pregnant women in Slovakia was described as a valuable source of population specific data. In the present study, these data were used to determine the population allele frequency of common risk variants located in genes associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) and Lynch syndrome (LS). Allele frequencies of identified variants were compared with six world populations to detect significant differences between populations. Finally, variants were interpreted, functional consequences were searched for and clinical significance of variants was investigated using publicly available databases. Although the present study did not identify any pathogenic variants associated with CRC or LS in the Slovak population using NIPT data, significant differences were observed in the allelic frequency of risk CRC variants previously reported in genome-wide association studies and common variants located in genes associated with LS. As Slovakia is one of the leading countries with the highest incidence of CRC among male patients in the world, there is a need for studies dedicated to investigating the cause of such a high incidence of CRC in Slovakia. The present study also assumed that extensive cross-country data aggregation of NIPT results would represent an unprecedented source of information concerning human genome variation in cancer research.

International comparison of reproductive health seeking behaviour in Roma population.

Letter to the Editor, in response to the paper "Reproductive health of Roma women in Slovakia", Cent Eur J Public Health 2020 28(2):143-148.

DT56a in treatment of climacteric syndrome in the Central European population sample.

The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of using the DT56a for the therapy of acute climacteric syndrome in women in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Prospective interventional unblinded study. A sample of 453 women with symptoms of acute climacteric syndrome took 644 mg of soybeans´ phyotestrogenes DT56a in the period of 4 weeks. In course of the therapy, the total number of hot flushes decreased by 48 %, and the intensity decreased by 35 % (p < 0.01). In 85 % of women, the quantity or intensity of hot flushes decreased. Sleep quality increased in 65 % of women, headaches improved or significantly improved in 51 % of women, muscle aches and joint pains decreased by 40 %. Life quality improved in 72 % of women. DT56a is a possible alternative for the treatment of acute climacteric syndrome. In the Central European population, the efficacy of a daily dose of 644 mg corresponds with the effects observed in the Mediterranean population (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 21). Text in PDF www.elis.skKEY WORDS: DT56a, climacteric syndrome, menopause, non-hormonal treatment.

Reproductive health of Roma women in Slovakia.

In most indicators of the way of life, the Roma community is generally different from the majority population and dominant culture. The objective of the study was to describe factors affecting the health of the Roma living in Slovakia, with an emphasis on the sexual and reproductive health of Roma women, and report on the results of analysis of high-risk pregnancies of Roma women in the district of Rimavská Sobota, Slovakia. A retrospective study of medical documentation was used. The results were analyzed using the absolute and relative frequencies. Statistical methods were used. A total of 1,256 high-risk pregnancies were analyzed, of which 622 (49.52%) were in Roma women. The average age of Roma respondents was lower by 5 years compared to non-Roma. The age of Roma women at the first pregnancy was statistically significantly lower compared to non-Roma (p < 0.001). The Roma respondents achieved statistically significantly lower levels of education than non-Roma. There was a demonstrably higher number of pregnancies as well as a higher number of artificial and spontaneous abortions per Roma woman. These results were statistically significant. For Roma women, pregnancy began to be risky demonstrably earlier than for non-Roma (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in attending prenatal counselling. Roma women attended prenatal counselling statistically significantly less frequently than non-Roma (p < 0.001). A significant statistical dependence was found between attending prenatal counselling and the onset of pregnancy problems in Roma women. There was no significant difference in the incidence of other diseases associated with high-risk pregnancy among Roma and non-Roma respondents. The findings indicate that Roma women are exposed to health problems in the area of sexual and reproductive health in Slovakia. In the approach to the Roma, it is essential to focus on improving accessibility to health care, prevention, knowledgeableness and effectively preventing, eradicating and strongly penalizing all forms of discrimination in access to health care, especially for Roma women, who are more likely to receive health care.

Work 4.0 Competencies in the Female Optics

Abstract Recently, the research in Industry 4.0 has been focused not only on the technological aspects of Industry 4.0, but also on the wellbeing of the workers and their autonomy and job satisfaction. In this paper, specific requirements related to Industry 4.0 implementation are reflected with regard to female element. Based on the analysis of the key challenges of the Industry 4.0 development, specific challenges in human capital of women are pointed out, such as e.g. the social skills, maintenance of non-routine jobs, and support to adaptation to Industry 4.0. The aim of the paper is to analyse if women in Slovakia are prepared for the of Industry 4.0 development in terms of digital access, digital literacy and digital attitudes (patterns of digital participation).

Overtime Work Determinants of Men and Women in Slovakia

The paper deals with the supply side of the Slovak labour market. The main goal of the present study was to examine what variables contribute to the explanation of working over-time (e.g. devoting more than 40 hours per week to paid work) separately for women and men. A binomial logistic regression was used and factors were identified separately for men and women. The data were drawn from the results of primary research conducted in the year 2018.&#x0D; Results suggest that the probability of working overtime is higher for both men and women with higher income. It seems that the substitution effect of an increase in income dominates the income effect. Household circumstances influence the probability of one’s working overtime. In those multi-member households where the husband has higher level of education than the wife, the husband will more likely work overtime and women will be less likely to work overtime. The presence of very young children in households has a significant impact on the reporting of women working overtime. Women with preschool children were less likely to work overtime than women in households in which there were older children or households without children.&#x0D; &#x0D;

The benefits of the thyroid disease screening program in pregnant women in Slovakia

The benefits of the thyroid disease screening program in pregnant women in Slovakia

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILDBIRTH - RELATED FEAR AMONG SLOVAK WOMEN

Aim: Aim of the study was to examine the intensity of childbirth-related fear, its components and relationship with selected variables (age, parity, and delivery history) among pregnant women in Slovakia. Design: The study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study. Methods: A cross-sectional study, 156 pregnant women participated in the research (age 29.7 ± 4.73). The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ, version A) was used to assess the intensity of childbirth-related fear. A short questionnaire of our own design was used to measure the components of child-related fear. Correlation analysis, ANOVA, and linear regression were employed. Results: The average intensity of child-related fear in the research sample was 68.8 (± 11.6), extreme fear was identified among 9.6% of pregnant women. Child-related fear and age were significantly negatively correlated (R = -0.16; p = 0.05). Results of ANOVA showed significant differences in intensity of fear according to delivery history (F = 4.58; p = 0.005). In the linear regression model, parity and delivery history were shown to be significant predictors of fear of childbirth. The most prevalent components of childbirth-related fear were pain (21.2%), prolonged labor (19.2%), and use of forceps or vacuum extraction (17.6%). Conclusion: Being a primipara, or perceiving a previous labor as complicated were significant factors influencing the fear of childbirth in our sample. The identification of the components and related factors of childbirth-related fear is important in planning effective intervention strategies aimed at anxiety prevention during pregnancy, and contributes to improvement in the quality of life of pregnant women.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of cervical cancer prevention

Abstract Aim. Cervical cancer is the most common genital malignancy and one of the leading causes of death among female population in Slovakia. At present, this location of cancer is preventable disease visible in screening for premalignant lesions if the women use and participate in such screening regularly. We assessed the knowledge on the cervical cancer screening, the attitude towards it and its utilization among women in Slovakia. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study evaluated the knowledge, attitude and practice of cervical cancer prevention and screening among women. The sample was composed of 239 women aged 18-64 years. Data collection was conducted by selfadministered questionnaire in a period from January to April 2015. Results. Respondents exhibited an average knowledge of cervical cancer, about risk factors and early signs, but awareness of cervical cancer screening was satisfactory. Despite the fact that respondents expressed good attitude to cervical cancer screening, their level of practice was low (64% participation in preventative gynaecology check-ups and 43% in Pap smear tests within one year and 44% within three years). In the study we could observe better results in women with higher education when it comes to an illness (p &lt; .001), its prevention (p &lt; .001) and risk behaviour (p &lt; .001). Conclusions. The awareness of cervical cancer among women in Slovakia is limited. In the future there is a need to educate and promote awareness of cervical cancer among women to reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality.

Relationship between A163G osteoprotegerin gene polymorphism and other osteoporosis parameters in Roma and non-Roma postmenopausal women in eastern Slovakia.

The study was focused on evaluating the possible correlation between biochemical, anthropometric, and genetic indicators of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. The frequency of genotypes and differences in measured parameters were evaluated within two ethnically different groups of women in Slovakia. The study included 310 postmenopausal women divided into non-Roma and Roma groups. Based on results of densitometry, they were divided into control groups and women with osteoporosis and osteopenia. In all women, a genetic analysis of polymorphism of osteoprotegerin gene promotor region (A163G) was provided along with measurement of indicators of bone tissue metabolism. There is a particularly low incidence of osteoporosis in Roma women. We found a correlation between bone mineral density (BMD), body mass index, and waist and hip circumference in women with osteoporosis and in Roma women with osteopenia. The frequency of the AG genotype was higher in non-Roma women with osteoporosis, but reached only 10.7% in Roma women with osteopenia. While the presence of the G allele in the non-Roma population was accompanied by higher BMD and markers of osteoformation, it was accompanied by significantly higher concentrations of parathyroid hormone in the Roma population. The presence of the AG genotype has a different effect on bone metabolism in two ethnically diverse populations of women in Slovakia. In the general population, the presence of the G allele exhibited protective effects consistent with other studies, but in Roma population this appears to be the allele A. However, this requires a further study for confirmation and more detailed characterization of the differences between populations that have this work indicated.

PCN92 - The Indirect Costs of Breast Cancer in The Slovak Republic

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer (2009: standardised incidence ratio 62.35/ 100,000; accounting 17.72% of all new cases of cancer in females) and the most common mortality for cancer among women in Slovakia (2015: standardised mortality ratio 17.51/100,000; accounting 17.47% of all causes of cancer death in females). This cost study aims to estimate indirect costs of BC in Slovakia in 2015. To estimate indirect costs for BC the Human Capital method was used. The study was performed from the social perspective. Data were analysed from publicly available outputs of the database systems of Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, Social Insurance Agency and The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic. Data not publicly available were obtained from health authorities on request. In calculation parameters included sickness benefits during temporary incapacity, productivity loss, loss of taxes and contributions, invalidity pension (IP) and financial benefits for severely disabled person (FBSDP). Whereas some data were not available the outcome of the study is presented as a range of possible results. Total indirect costs of BC were estimated in the range from € 99.76 mil. to € 157.23 mil. The major financial burden were caused by expenditures on IP (proportion 82.90%-88.79%) and the minor costs were assigned to FBSDP (proportion 0.05%-0.39%). So far, no published study has estimated the indirect cost of BC in Slovakia. According to our findings BC can contribute substantially to total financial burden of BC. Our study provides the first estimate of the burden of disease and can serve as a baseline for cost of illness studies and cost-effectiveness evaluations of interventions used in BC.

Violence in Partnership and Persisting Problems of Assistance

The article focuses on an attempt to answer questions concerning domestic violence in accordance with the epistemology in contemporary scientific research. The phenomenology of violence is defined with respect to the superficial as well as the essential side of the phenomena. The problems are covered with respect to interdisciplinary relations We endeavor to open a broader view. The underlying research represents an alternative approach, attempting to reach a cumulative view based on the data acquired from various contexts. In social science research, it is important to look at the social reality not only through the numbers of quantitative research, because social reality is constructed in various ways. The issues of elimination of violence against women in Slovakia are entrenched in the program of various institutions. Based on the performed analysis, inconsistencies in the approach to providing assistance are identified as the most important problem. The paper deals with the institutional issues persisting in dealing with situations and identifies the fundamental failures of social intervention that still exist, among other reasons, due to the stereotypical, discriminatory perceptions of the issues by the competent.

VIOLENCE IN PARTNERSHIP AND PERSISTING PROBLEMS OF ASSISTANCE

The article focuses on an attempt to answer questions concerning domestic violence in accordance with the epistemology in contemporary scientific research. The phenomenology of violence is defined with respect to the superficial as well as the essential side of the phenomena. The problems are covered with respect to interdisciplinary relations We endeavor to open a broader view. The underlying research represents an alternative approach, attempting to reach a cumulative view based on the data acquired from various contexts. In social science research, it is important to look at the social reality not only through the numbers of quantitative research, because social reality is constructed in various ways. The issues of elimination of violence against women in Slovakia are entrenched in the program of various institutions. Based on the performed analysis, inconsistencies in the approach to providing assistance are identified as the most important problem. The paper deals with the institutional issues persisting in dealing with situations and identifies the fundamental failures of social intervention that still exist, among other reasons, due to the stereotypical, discriminatory perceptions of the issues by the competent.

The Struggle to Address Woman Battering in Slovakia

Following the fall of communism, Slovakia found itself in a challenging position: to openly acknowledge the existence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and its disproportionate effect on women and children without an infrastructure to address victim safety, and provide resources and legal help. With collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the government responded by developing shelters and introducing legislation that criminalized IPV and created social services for victims. To assess implementation efforts, we conducted in-depth interviews with governmental officials and NGO personnel who provide services for battered women. We focus on the operation and efficacy of shelters to discover what services are most needed for battered women, the criminal justice system's response to IPV, and what long-range goals will facilitate more permanent solutions to the social problem of violence against women in Slovakia.

Regional and ethnical aspects of viral hepatitis B in pregnant women in Slovakia

Regional and ethnical aspects of viral hepatitis B in pregnant women in Slovakia

Twenty Years of Maturing: Slovak Women Exploring the Frontiers of Democracy

The author analyzes Slovakia's road to democracy since the Velvet Revolution of 1989 and pays special attention to the changes in women's position in the society. In the first section, she outlines crucial transition challenges and milestones. The second section, central to the study, shows the last two decades in gender perspective. It starts by explaining women's lukewarm attitudes toward gender issues both during socialism and at the threshold of the new era. The chapter discusses women's persistent marginalization in politics, contrasting this with their active role in civil society. It cites enduring inequalities in the labor market as well as the lingering patriarchal division of responsibilities within families and outlines changes in the patterns of family and private life. Although women in Slovakia as well as men have become more aware of gender inequalities, politicians have remained reluctant to embrace a “gender agenda.” A typical feature of contemporary Slovakia is the gap between official documents promoting gender equality, approved under pressure from the European Union, and their implementation in practice. The main actor attempting to close this gap is the pluralist sector of women's nongovernmental organizations that has undergone remarkable growth and diversification. All these elements and processes constitute the setting in which the 2009 presidential election took place. For the first time in Slovakia's history, an incumbent president was seriously challenged by a popular female politician. The third section of the study analyzes the gender dimensions of this unique race.