Recognizing the Frequency of Exposure to Cyberbullying in Children: The Results of the National HBSC Study in Serbia.

Nowadays, children are able to enrich their reality via the Internet. Unfortunately, this may increase their risk of becoming victims of cyberbullying. We analyzed the health characteristics and risk behavior of two cohorts of children in Serbia; those who reported being exposed to cyberbullying and those who did not. The statistical differences and logistic regression models were applied to the data on 3267 students collected from 64 schools participating in the 2017 Serbian Study on health behavior in school-age children (HBSC). Children exposed to cyberbullying reported having the following health problems on a daily basis: headache (18.5%), back pain (19.5%), depression (21.6%), irritability or bad mood (17.7%), nervousness (16.0%), sleep problems (16.1%), and dizziness (21.2%). As for the different types of risk behavior, cigarette smoking ranging from six to nine days ever was the most prevalent (26.9%). It was followed closely by getting drunk more than 10 times ever (24.1%). Compared to non-victims, victims were found to be at a higher risk of perceived back pain (OR = 2.27), depression (OR = 1.43), irritability or bad mood (OR = 2.07), nervousness (OR = 2.23), and dizziness (OR = 2.43) as well as being injured once or twice (OR = 1.98) or three or more times (OR = 4.09). Victims were associated with further risk factors: having smoked more than five cigarettes ever in life (OR = 1.73) and having gotten drunk two to three times (OR = 1.71) or four or more times (OR = 1.65). As the number of school-age children using social media continues to rise, we must prioritize educating them about self-help and community resources for addressing related health issues with greater speed and intensity. The findings from Serbia suggest that while children may be aware of their health issues, they may be unaware of their link to cyberbullying, which could hinder their ability to address these issues promptly. The respondents' attention to the health implications of cyberbullying could be increased by reformulating the survey questions used in the HBSC study.

The Association between Participation in Fights and Bullying and the Perception of School, Teachers, and Peers among School-Age Children in Serbia.

Participating in physical fighting and bullying can be a cause of severe injury and death among school-age children. Research evidence can support school and health actors' efforts to improve school-age children's development and health capacity for life. The study aims to assess the prevalence of school-age children's participation in fights and bullying in Serbia, and to examine the relevance of students' socio-demographic characteristics and perceptions of school and relations with other students and professors for participation in fights and bullying. A secondary analysis is also performed on the original data of the 2017 HBSC study, which was conducted on 3267 students in a nationally representative sample of primary and high schools in Serbia. We sought to investigate the relationship between eight socio-demographic characteristics and nine school-related perceptions, with two outcome variables: taking part in fights and taking part in bullying, examined by using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The main results show that 50.8% of boys and 17.1% of girls have taken part in fights, while 17.7% boys and 10.4% of girls have taken part in bullying. Students who felt a large and very large burden of school obligations were 1.43 times more likely to participate in bullying at least once, while they were 1.38 and 2.12 times more likely to participate in multiple fights and 4.04, 1.24, and 2.78 times more likely to participate multiple times in bullying. Multiple participation in fights and in bullying is significantly negatively associated with female gender, younger age years, good and very good perception of family financial status and quality of life, and positive perceptions of school and relations they have with other students and professors. Fights among school-age children are significantly positively associated with living with relatives/legal guardians and poor quality of life. In conclusion, the prevalence of participating in at least one fight/bullying is higher than in multiple fights/bullying. These associations suggest a necessity to enhance the monitoring and control of peer behavior among school-age children. The findings of the study imply key enablers of protection, such as building relationships based on team spirit and work, friendly behavior, empathy, and help, which should be included in the value system of school and family activities in programs to combat fights and bullying in school-age children.

The Relationship between Individual and Family Characteristics and Cyberbullying Exposure in a Nationally Representative Sample of School-Aged Children Living in Serbia.

The study provides evidence on the individual and family factors as potential predictors (odds ratio-OR and 95% CI) of cyber-violence among school-aged children (11-17 years old) from 64 schools participating in the 2017 Serbian Study on health behavior in school-age children (HBSC). The standardized international HBSC research protocol was used. The study population was the nationally representative sample of 3267 students of V and VII grades of primary and I grade of secondary schools in Serbia. Potential predictors for the probability of occurrence vs. non-occurrence of cyberbullying exposure at least once and multiple times were identified among 24 explanatory variables, including the individual characteristics and family context. The cyberbullying exposure was more prevalent among girls than among boys of school-age, i.e., over one in seven girls and one in ten boys were exposed to cyberbullying. Over one in seven students at age 13 years and almost every seventh student at grade I of the gymnasium were exposed to cyberbullying. There were more students exposed to at least one cyberbullying than to multiple cyberbullying. Potential predictors of exposure to cyberbullying are gender, opinion of the family's affluence status, fathers' employment, communication with father, and family support. The study compensates for the evidence of cyberbullying in Serbia, which could help raise awareness, inform national and international stakeholders in the region and enable their efforts and strengthen cooperation in ending cyberbullying. This study's findings could inform the development of an intervention program aimed at families and various professionals involved in protecting and improving school-age children's health and well-being.

[Influence of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics on the quality of life].

INTRODUCTION: The quality of life is a multidimensional concept, which is best expressed by the subjective well-being. Evaluation of the quality of life is the basis for measuring the well-being, and the determination of factors that determine the quality of life quality is the basis for its improvement. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and assess the determinants of the perceived quality of life of group distinguishing features which characterize demographic and socioeconomic factors. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of the population in Serbia aged over 20 years (9479 examinees). The quality of life was expressed by the perception of well-being (pleasure of life). Data on the examinees (demographic and socioeconomic characteristics) were collected by using a questionnaire for adults of each household. To process, analyze and present the data, we used the methods of parametric descriptive statistics (mean value, standard deviation, coefficient of variation), variance analysis and factor analysis. RESULTS: Although men evaluated the quality of life with a slightly higher grading, there was no statistically significant difference in the evaluation of the quality of life in relation to the examinee's gender (p > 0.005). Among the examinees there was a high statistically significant difference in grading the quality of life depending on age, level of education, marital status and type of job (p < 0.001). In relation to the number of children, there was no statistically significant difference in he grading of the quality of life (p > 0.005). CONCLUSION: The quality of life is influenced by numerous factors that characterize each person (demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of individual). Determining factors of the quality of life are numerous and diverse, and the manner and the strength of their influence are variable.

Quality of haemophilia treatment in Serbia: National Haemophilia Registry Report.

INTRODUCTION: The National Registry of patients with inherited bleeding disorders was established in 1963 and ever since it has been in charge of the Haemophilia Centre, Blood Transfusion Institute of Serbia, Belgrade. OBJECTIVE: Purpose was to assess the quality of haemophilia treatment in Serbia from 2000 to 2008 based on the National Registry data related with the organization of care and quantities, and the choice of products. METHODS: Analysis of data collected by the National Registry from January 2000 to December 2008. RESULTS: The National Registry of patients with hereditary coagulopathy encompasses a database of 392 patients with haemophilia A (HA), 64 haemophilia B (HB), 217 von Willebrand's disease and 19 with rare bleeding disorders. Treatment can be obtained in seven haemophilia treatment centres; haematological and paediatric institutes and hospitals in Belgrade, Nis and Novi Sad, as well as in other twenty local hospitals. From 2000 to 2003 about three million units of FVIII concentrate were administered annually, e.g. 0.25 IU/capita/year. Besides, national cryoprecipitate was available for the treatment. In 2003, National Haemophilia Committee was founded and centralized products supply was introduced. During 2004 and 2005, about five million units of FVIII concentrate were provided: annually, i.e. 0.65 IU/capita/ year. The choice of products was also improved. Namely, until 2004 the availability of DDAVP, antifibrinolytic drugs and rFVIIa concentrate was limited, while from 2004 these products became available for haemophilia treatment in Serbia. In order to improve haemophilia care we established international cooperation; education, training, consulting and participation in clinical and research projects. As the result, FVIII concentrate consumption in 2008 was 10.5 million units, e.g. 1.35 IU/capita/year. CONCLUSION: The considerable improvement of treatment is the result of efforts made by health care and regulatory institutions in Serbia. Significant support has been provided by cooperation within twinning programmes between Stockholm and Belgrade Haemophilia Centres in 2003-2004 and Hamilton and Belgrade Haemophilia Centres in 2005-2008.