Emotional and physical abuse in family: survey among high school adolescents.

AIM: To determine the prevalence of different forms of child abuse among high school pupils in Slavonski Brod, Croatia. METHOD: The study included 2140 first and fourth-grade pupils aged between 14 and 18 years from all 10 high schools in Slavonski Brod and the area (4 grammar and 6 vocational schools). The pupils were asked to complete an anonymous structured questionnaire during a 45-minute class. The questionnaire, developed for the needs of this study, collected basic demographic data on family life and experience of emotional or physical abuse. RESULTS: First-grade pupils were more satisfied with their family life than fourth-grade pupils (96.9% vs 91.3%, P<0.001, chi(2) test). The feeling of being insufficiently loved or unloved was reported by 17.5% of the first-grade and 24.6% of the fourth-grade pupils and a greater percentage of pupils whose parents were divorced or who had a step-parent. Almost 80% of pupils had been verbally or nonverbally punished for disobedience. Emotional abuse was significantly associated with female sex (Nagelkerke R(2)=0.87, beta=0.474, P=0.028), younger age (beta=1.263, P<0.001), and alcoholism in the family (beta=2.037, P<0.001. Physical punishment for disobedience was reported significantly more often by first-grade than fourth-grade pupils (15.6% vs 12.9% P=0.021, chi(2) test). Physical abuse was significantly associated (Nagelkerke R2=0.69) with younger age (Beta=0.379, P<0.012), emotional abuse (Beta=0.665, P<0.002), alcoholism in the family (Beta=1.791, P<0.001) and the lack of parental love (Beta=-0.645, P<0.001). Possible sexual molestation was admitted by 6.0% boys and 3.3% girls. CONCLUSION: Most high school pupils in Slavonski Brod were satisfied with their life at home. Disobedience was usually punished verbally or by aggressive behavior of the parents. Physical punishment was less common and usually did not result in serious injuries.

Increasing rate of childhood tuberculosis in a region of east Croatia.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of childhood tuberculosis as well as the number of children being in contact with persons having tuberculosis has increased in the region of Slavonski Brod during the past decade (1993-2003). The region is located in east Croatia along the border with Bosnia and close to the besieged and destroyed town of Vukovar. The region was heavily involved in recent military activities and migrations in Croatia and Bosnia (1991-1995). Before the war, the population was reasonably well situated, educated and provided with health services. METHODS: Routine clinical and epidemiological methods for the diagnosis of tuberculosis were used. RESULTS: A total of 225 cases of tuberculosis were discovered among 271 suspected cases in a total number of 19 623 children below 18 years of age admitted during the last decade to the county hospital (1.38%). The number increased from three patients with tuberculosis in 1993 to 59 in 2003. Discharge diagnoses were: latent infection 40.1%, specific hilar lymphadenopathy 22.1%, primary lung tuberculosis 18.0%, postprimary tuberculosis 3.0%, and contact with infected person but otherwise normal findings 16.9%. The infection was usualy (53.1%) acquired within the family, more often so in younger patients. Bacteriological cultures were positive in 19 of 117 patients with tuberculosis (16.4%). Antituberculosis drug treatment was carried out to completion in all children. Resistance was not encountered. CONCLUSION: The authors attribute high incidence of childhood tuberculosis in the region of Slavonski Brod, the second highest incidence in Croatia, to the sequellae of migrations during military activities in Croatia and Bosnia (1991-1995) and to the post-war recession.