ABSTRACT
The worsening of the social-environmental conditions during the period of transition of Albania and an epidemic of cholera (1994) were the cue for the execution of the study. The main objective is the description of knowledge and attitudes of the Albanian mothers about the risk factors for the gastroenteritis. This is a descriptive study of a representative sample (2100 families) of the population who reside in the central area of Albania, in 1996. The sample has been selected by cluster-sampling method. Interviewers trained previously, collected the data with a questionnaire ad hoc. Data elaboration has been carried out with the software Epilnfo 5. 99.7% (2094) of the enlisted mothers, mean age 28.7 years, were interviewed. 2/3 of them reside in rural areas. We considered social-demographic variables and their relation with the generic hygienic norms and those relative to water, foods, animals. The basic knowledge was very insufficient, particularly in rural areas, and in relation with lower social-economic index and instruction. The study reflects the state of transition train of the political and social-sanitary situation of Albania in the last decade. Still the knowledge and the attitudes about the alimentary hygiene are inadequate. It seems opportune to face this emergency with campaigns aimed at health education and public health interventions.
Subject(s)
Diarrhea, Infantile/prevention & control , Hygiene , Mothers/psychology , Water Supply , Adult , Albania/epidemiology , Child, Preschool , Cholera/epidemiology , Cholera/prevention & control , Cholera/transmission , Diarrhea, Infantile/epidemiology , Diarrhea, Infantile/etiology , Disease Outbreaks , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Hygiene/education , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Risk Factors , Sampling Studies , Social Change , Socioeconomic Factors , Water Pollution/adverse effectsABSTRACT
After >10 years without detection of any cases of wild virus-associated poliomyelitis, a large outbreak of poliomyelitis occurred in Albania in 1996. A total of 138 paralytic cases occurred, of which 16 (12%) were fatal. The outbreak was due to wild poliovirus type 1, isolated from 69 cases. An attack rate of 10 per 100,000 population was observed among adults aged 19-25 years who were born during a time of declining wild poliovirus circulation and had been vaccinated with two doses of monovalent oral poliovirus vaccines (OPVs) that may have been exposed to ambient temperatures for prolonged periods. Control of the epidemic was achieved by two rounds of mass vaccination with trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine targeted to persons aged 0-50 years. This outbreak underscores the ongoing threat of importation of wild poliovirus into European countries, the importance of delivering potent vaccine through an adequate cold chain, and the effectiveness of national OPV mass vaccination campaigns for outbreak control.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Paralysis/etiology , Poliomyelitis/epidemiology , Poliomyelitis/prevention & control , Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Albania/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Middle Aged , Poliomyelitis/transmission , Poliomyelitis/virology , VaccinationABSTRACT
Between April and November 1996, a large outbreak of polio occurred in Albania, which had reported to be free of polio since 1985. Although Albania had not reported polio in that interval, the risk of introduction and circulation of wild poliovirus had in
ABSTRACT
In order to implement a community-based rehabilitation programme in the rural district of Lezha (Albania), a systematic survey to assess disabilities and related care needs of people under 18 years of age was carried out. The aim of the survey was to evaluate the prevalence rates and severity of disabilities, detected by means of a questionnaire issued by the WHO Community-Based Rehabilitation Programme. The prevalence of disabled people under 18 years of age was 5.86 per 1000 (180 subjects out of the estimated population of 30,712). The most frequent diagnosis was sequelae of infantile cerebral palsy (1.8 per 1000), followed by mental retardation and deafness. The results of the survey stress that the severe non-self sufficiency of these subjects could be improved by means of an appropriate programme to increase their autonomy, including rehabilitation treatment and early school attendance.
Subject(s)
Nervous System Diseases/epidemiology , Rehabilitation Centers , Adolescent , Albania/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Nervous System Diseases/therapy , Rural PopulationABSTRACT
In the 1990s, an epidemic of cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae 01 El Tor has spread from northern Pakistan to the Mediterranean. In 1993 sporadic cases of cholera, and epidemic foci, were recorded in many countries of the southern part of Eastern Europe.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis D/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Albania/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Hepatitis B/blood , Hepatitis B/immunology , Hepatitis D/blood , Hepatitis D/immunology , Humans , Male , Pregnancy , PrevalenceABSTRACT
In the 1990s, an epidemic of cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae 01 El Tor has spread from northern Pakistan to the Mediterranean. In 1993 sporadic cases of cholera, and epidemic foci, were recorded in many countries of the southern part of Eastern Europe.
