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Background The aim of this study was to assess the health needs and priorities of older people in Kosovo, the newest state in Europe striving for a functional democracy after the breakdown of former Yugoslavia and the following war in the region. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kosovo in 2011 including a nationwide representative sample of 1890 individuals aged ≥65 years (949 men, mean age: 73 ± 6 years; 941 women, mean age: 74 ± 7 years; overall response rate: 84%). All individuals were administered the full version of EASY-Care Standard 2010 instrument, inquiring about the need for support in activities of daily living ('independence'), the 'risk of breakdown in care' (leading to emergency admission to hospital) and the 'risk of falls'. Results The degree of 'independence' was lower, whereas the 'risk of breakdown in care' and the 'risk of falls' were significantly higher in: older women; the oldest individuals (≥85 years); rural residents; participants living alone; those perceiving themselves as poor; participants who could not access medical care; those who perceived their general health status as poor; and older people who reported at least one chronic condition. Conclusions This is one of the very few reports from Southeast European region informing about the health needs and priorities of older people in a large and representative population-based sample of older men and women. The poor health status of older people, especially evident in the socio-demographic disadvantaged categories, should raise the awareness of policymakers and decision-makers for appropriate health and social care of elderly in Kosovo and in other European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to describe health literacy among the older population of Kosovo, an Albanian speaking post-war country in the Western Balkans, in the context of self-perceived health status and self-reported chronic morbidity. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kosovo in 2011 including 1753 individuals aged ≥65 years (886 men, 867 women; mean age 73.4±6.3 years; response rate: 77%). Participants were asked to assess, on a scale from 1 to 5, their level of difficulty with regard to access, understanding, appraisal and application of health information. Sub-scale scores and an overall health literacy score were calculated for each participant. Information on self-perceived health status, presence and number of chronic diseases and socioeconomic characteristics was also collected. Mean values of the overall health literacy score and all sub-scale scores (access, understanding, appraisal and application) were lower among older people who reported a poorer health status or at least one chronic condition compared with individuals who perceived their health status as good or had no chronic conditions (p < 0.001 for all). Our findings provide valuable evidence on the independent and inverse association between health literacy levels and self-perceived health and chronic morbidity in this post-war European population. The putative link with chronic morbidity and lower adherence to health services is hard to establish through this cross-sectional study. Prospective population-based studies should be conducted in Kosovo and other transitional settings to replicate these findings and properly address the causal relationship between health literacy and health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A number of studies proved that social networks and social participation have beneficial health effects in Western countries. However, the evidence from Southeast European region is scant. We aimed to assess the extent of social networks and social participation and their relationship with self-perceived health status among older people in post-war Kosovo. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted in Kosovo in 2011 including a representative sample of 1890 individuals aged ≥65 years (949 men, mean age 73 ± 6 years; 941 women, mean age 74 ± 7 years; response rate: 83%). Social networks were assessed by means of number of friends and family members that participants had contacts with, whereas social participation by involvement in social groupings/organizations. Information on self-perceived health status and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics was also collected. Results: Overall, 93% of study participants reported that they had at least weekly contacts with more than one family member, and 97% reported daily contacts with their respective friends. Conversely, only 14% of participants reported engagement with social groupings. Generally, individuals who had contacts with friends and/or engaged with social organizations reported a better health status. Conclusion: Our findings point to strong family ties in this patriarchal society. Conversely, levels of social participation were considerably lower in Kosovo compared with the Western European countries. The low participation levels in social groupings and their putative deleterious health effects should raise the awareness of policymakers to improve the conditions and increase the degree of social participation among older people in transitional Kosovo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]