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Background High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is a known cause of cervical cancer (CC). Latvia has a high incidence of CC compared with the average incidence in the European Union. This study aims to fill the data gap on the HR-HPV burden in Latvia, providing information on its prevalence and associated factors. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2021 to April 2022. Participants 25–70 years old visiting a general practitioner (general population) or those referred to a colposcopy clinic with changes in their cervical cytology (colposcopy population) collected vaginal self-sample and completed a paper-based questionnaire. Samples were analyzed with Cobas 6800 System (Roche) for HPV16, HPV18 and other HR-HPV (HPV31/33/35/39/45/51/52/56/58/59/66/68). Descriptive statistics for categorical variables were performed. The Chi-square test was used to determine for the statistical significance of differences in the proportions of the dependent variable between subgroups of the independent variable. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with positive HR-HPV status. Results were considered statistically significant at P  < 0.05. Results A total of 1274 participants provided a valid sample. The prevalence of any HR-HPV infection was 66.8% in the colposcopy group and 11.0% in the general population. Factors associated with positive HR-HPV status were marital status single/divorced/widowed (vs. married/cohabiting) [adjusted OR (aOR) 2.6; P  = 0.003], higher number of lifetime sex partners [aOR 5.1 (P  < 0.001) and 4.0 (P  = 0.001)] for six or more and three to five partners in the general population; in the colposcopy group, the statistical significance remained only for Latvian ethnicity (vs. other) (aOR 1.8; P  = 0.008) and current smoking (vs. never) (aOR 1.9; P  = 0.01). Conclusion We documented a comparison to European Union HR-HPV infection burden in Latvia. Any HR-HPV positivity was significantly associated with sexual and other health behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose and aim. In Latvia, the 12-month prevalence of depression in the general population has been estimated at 7.9%, but the data of the National Health Service show that general practitioners (GP's) saw only 3514 unique patients with a diagnosis of mood disorders in 2014. This is the first study conducted at the national level that was aimed to estimate the point and lifetime prevalence of depression and associated factors in primary care settings in Latvia. Materials and methods. This study was conducted at 24 primary care facilities in 2015. During a 1-week period, all consecutive adult patients were invited to complete the study questionnaires. Within a period of 2 weeks, the respondents were interviewed over the phone using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.), Version 6.0.0. A hierarchical multivariate data analysis was performed. Results. The study population consisted of 1485 patients. According to the M.I.N.I., 28.1% (95% CI 25.9–30.4) of the patients had at least one depressive episode in the past, and 10.2% (95% CI 8.7–11.8) had current depression. In the final multivariate analysis model, current major depression was associated with the female gender (OR 2.01), basic or unfinished basic education (OR 1.86), loss of marital ties (OR 1.86), and gastrointestinal (OR 3.46) and oncological (OR 2.26) diseases as a reason for visiting the GP. Conclusions. The prevalence of major depression in primary care is consistent with that in other European countries but is significantly underdiagnosed. Enhanced training in Latvian primary care settings may improve clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latvia has one of the highest suicide mortality in the EU, with rate 15.5 per 100,000 population in 2020 (Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC) of Latvia), indicating a crucial public health problem. Previous suicide attempt (SA) is the most salient risk factor for completed suicide, especially within a year of a first episode (Carr., 2017). The study is based on secondary data of the Health Behavior Among Latvian Adult Population survey, provided by the CDPC. Study includes an information on a representative sample of the Latvian population aged 15–64 years old (in 2010, 2012, 2014) and 15–74 in 2016 (n = 12,601). Stratified random sampling was used. Respondents were asked to report SA during the previous year. Basic sociodemographic information was also included. Binary logistic regression was applied. The prevalence of the last year self-reported SA was 0.34% (95% CI 0.25–0.46%). Certain sociodemographic factors showed significant association with higher SA rates in adjusted OR. These factors were younger (15–34 years) age, compared to the oldest (55–74 years) age group (OR 0.11, p = 0.006), unemployment (OR 3.36, p = 0.016) in comparison with those who are employed. Education ≤9 years (OR 12.69, p < 0.001) and 10–13 years (OR 3.81, p = 0.042) showed higher odds for SA, compared to respondents with education ≥14 years. Other factors (gender, nationality, cohabitation status, income level, habitat) were not significantly associated with SA. Our study showed that certain factors (younger age, unemployment, education ≤13 years) are significantly associated with SA. Further research on the topic is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]