Background and objectives: Persistent infection with carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer. The study explored students’ knowledge about cervical cancer and awareness of human papillomavirus and the HPV vaccine. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was carried out among 1616 first-year female college students at the University of Niš. It examined socio-demographic characteristics, measured the score of knowledge about cervical cancer, assessed awareness regarding HPV and the HPV vaccine and inquired about the source of information about cervical cancer and HPV. Results: The average cervical cancer knowledge score was 16.35 ± 7.92 (min 0, max 30), with medical professional education, parents’ education level, place of residence and relationship status having significant effects on the score. The awareness about HPV and the HPV vaccine was low, with only 14.2% of students having heard about both HPV and its vaccine. The most commonly reported sources of information were the media, while the most competent one was organized health education. Conclusions: Health promotion campaigns and educational programs are necessary in order to reduce cervical cancer burden and should be directed particularly towards those who have demonstrated low cervical cancer knowledge and low awareness regarding HPV and its vaccine.

Abstract

SUMMARYThe aim of the study was to assess recent changes in lung cancer incidence and mortality trends in the male and female population in Southeastern Serbia, in the period 1999-2008. Data used for analyses were provided by the Cancer Registry of the Institute for Public Health, Niš. Incidence and mortality trends were based on crude and age-standardized incidence and mortality rates for the period 1999-2008. Standardized rates were calculated by the direct method of standardization (per 100,000), using the world population as the standard. Statistical significance was checked on the basis of correlation coefficient (r) for probability (p) on the level of 0.05. A total of 3,128 new cases and 2,327 deaths from lung cancer were registered (males/females ratio is 4 : 1). In males, the crude (107.94) and the age-standardized incidence rate (59.88) were four-fold higher than in females (27.10 and 14.21). In males, the crude mortality rate was four-fold higher than in females (80.61 vs. 19.87), while the age-standardized mortality rate was four and a half higher than in females (43.78 vs. 9.54). Lung cancer incidence trend, based on crude and age-standardized incidence rates, in females was increasing while in males was decreasing. Lung cancer mortality trends, based on crude and age-standardized incidence rates, were increasing in both sexes. Registration of unfavourable incidence and mortality trends of lung cancer indicate failure in primary and secondary prevention in the past. It is thus of vital importance to provide much intensive and comprehensive activities for primary and secondary prevention of lung cancer in the future, including education and rigorous tobacco control as well.

These findings indicate that stressful life events are associated with AMI and that they are very important for further epidemiological investigation of the triggering mechanisms and should improve preventive strategies of this serious disorder.

Somach cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The objective of the paper was to analyze the incidence and mortality trends of stomach cancer in Central Serbia in the period between 1999–2017. Materials and Methods: trends and annual percentage change (APC) of the incidence and mortality rate with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by joinpoint regression analyses. The optimal number of Joinpoints was identified using the Monte Carlo permutation method. The trend was considered to be significantly increasing (positive change) or decreasing (negative change) when the p-value was below 0.05 (p < 0.05). Results: the total number of new cases was 16,914 (10,873 males and 6041 females) and the total number of mortality cases was 14,790 (9348 in and 5442 in females). Almost one third (30.8%) of new cases were registered in the 60–69-year age group, and new cases were significantly more frequent in males than in females (30.8% vs. 29.02%, p < 0.001). Joinpoint regression analysis showed a significant decrease of incidence trend in females during the 2000–2015 period with APC of −2.13% (95% CI: −3.8 to −0.5, p < 0.001). An insignificant decrease in incidence trend was in males with APC of −0.72% (95% CI: −2.3 to 0.9, p = 0.30). According to the joinpoint analysis, a significant decrease of mortality trends both in males during 2000–2015 with APC of −2.21% (95% CI: −1.6 to −7.5, p ≤ 0.001 and in females, during the same period, with APC of −1.75% (95% CI: −2.9 to −0.6, p < 0.001) was registered. From 2015 to 2017, a significant increase of mortality was registered with APC of 44.5% (95% CI: from 24.2 to −68.1, p ≤ 0.001) in females and in males with APC of 53.15% (95% CI: 13.5 to −106.6, p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: a significant decrease of stomach cancer incidence trend in females and insignificant decrease of incidence trend in males were determined in Central Serbia. Based on presented results, the mortality trend decreased significantly both in males and in females during 2000–2015, and from 2015 to 2017 we recorded a significant increase in mortality in both sexes. We found significantly more new cases in women than in men in the age group of 40–49, and the mortality of stomach cancer was significantly more frequent among females compared to males in the age groups 30–39, as well as in the 50–59 age group. There is a need for improving recording and registration of new cases of stomach cancer, especially in females. Urgent primary and secondary preventive measures are needed—introducing stomach cancer screening and early detection of premalignant changes. Urgent primary and secondary preventive measures are needed.