Croatian medical journal
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Croatian medical journal · Oct 2007
Comparative StudyDifferences that hurt: self-perceived health inequalities in Croatia and the European Union.
To investigate the differences in self-reported health status and access to health care according to different income groups, urbanization level, and regional distribution in Croatia and European Union (EU) countries. ⋯ Significant differences were found among 4 income quartiles in Croatia and two EU country groups in all indicators: self-perceived health status, satisfaction with health, having long-standing illness or disability, access to health care according to four indicators (distance to the nearest medical facility, delay in getting an appointment, waiting time to see the doctor on the day of the appointment, and the cost of seeing the doctor), and the quality of health services. Higher proportion of the Croatian citizens in the lowest income quartile reported poor health (27.8%) than their counterparts in the EU15 (9.2%) or NMS (18.6%). In Croatia, 26% respondents in the lowest quartile perceived the distance to the nearest medical facility as a very serious problem, compared with 5.4% in the EU15 and 9.4% in the NMS. Rural urban proportion ratio of those who reported poor health was about 80% higher in Croatia than in both EU country groups. Rural-urban proportion ratio of those who reported the cost of seeing the doctor as a very serious problem was almost 2-fold higher than in the two EU country groups. CONCLUSION. Health inequalities were more marked in Croatia than in EU countries, which should be taken into serious consideration in shaping health care reforms in Croatia.
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Croatian medical journal · Oct 2007
Comparative StudyMortality of Roma population in Serbia, 2002-2005.
To describe and compare mortality and population changes in the Roma and non-Roma population in Serbia in 2002 and 2005. ⋯ Our data show that mortality rates in the Roma population are significantly higher than in the general population, and morbidity structure of the most common causes of death significantly different from that of general population.
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Croatian medical journal · Oct 2007
EditorialSetting priorities in global child health research investments: assessment of principles and practice.
This article reviews theoretical and practical approaches for setting priorities in global child health research investments. It also provides an overview of previous attempts to develop appropriate tools and methodologies to define priorities in health research investments. A brief review of the most important theoretical concepts that should govern priority setting processes is undertaken, showing how different perspectives, such as medical, economical, legal, ethical, social, political, rational, philosophical, stakeholder driven, and others will necessarily conflict each other in determining priorities. ⋯ The case for a new methodology for setting priorities in health research investments is presented, as proposed by Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative, and a need for its implementation in global child health is outlined. A transdisciplinary approach is needed to address all the perspectives from which investments into health research can be seen as priorities. This prioritization requires a process that is transparent, systematic, and that would take into account many perspectives and build on advantages of previous approaches.
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Croatian medical journal · Aug 2007
Allele frequencies for 15 short tandem repeat loci in representative sample of Croatian population.
To study the distribution of allele frequencies of 15 short tandem repeat (STR) loci in a representative sample of Croatian population. ⋯ Obtained population data concurred with the expected "STR data frame" for this part of Europe.