In terms of climate related security risks, the region of South-Eastern Europe (SEE) can be identified as one of the world’s hot spots. As weather-related hazards continue to increase in numbers and spatial distribution, risk perception in the tourism industry becomes even more important. Additionally, people’s perception of natural hazards is one of the key elements in their decision-making process when choosing a travel destination. Although a vast number of studies have examined aspects of risk perception, an integrated approach which considers both objective and subjective factors related to the tourism industry and hydro-meteorological hazards remains relatively scarce. This pioneering study inspects the causality between objective perceived risks, as well as subjective risk factors. A methodological approach and the obtained results present a certain novelty since the previous conceptualized Psychological Preparedness for Disaster Threat Scale (PPDTS) was applied for the first time in the tourism industry. The obtained results reveal the presence of a statistically significant relationship between objective risks and certain subjective risk factors (gender, age, education, prior experience, anticipation, and awareness). Therefore, this study may offer a conceptual platform for both theoretical and practical implications for enhanced approaches oriented toward more qualitative risk management at a given travel destination, in regions prone to hydro-meteorological hazards.

The objective of this study was a geographic medical analysis of noncommunicable diseases (cardiovascular diseases from 2010 to 2020 and diabetes from 2010 to 2019) in the AP Vojvodina (northern Serbia) in order to identify the most and least burdened counties as well as to present trends in the mentioned diseases. The Mann-Kendall trend test, a cluster analysis, and Getis–Ord Gi* method for hot spot analysis were applied in this analysis. Regarding acute coronary syndrome and myocardial infarction, the North Backa County had a lower mortality rate although the number of newly reported cases was above average. The largest number of new cases of unstable angina pectoris was in the North Backa, North Banat, and Middle Banat Counties, while the West Backa County was identified as a county with a higher mortality rate. The cluster analysis showed that the number of death cases from diabetes in the Srem County is significantly higher than that in the other counties. Likewise, the West Backa County had a high number of new diabetes patients, but also a much lower mortality rate. Chronic noncommunicable diseases are predominant in newly diagnosed incidences and death cases in the AP Vojvodina. Studies of this kind promote public health and healthcare systems in the researched area and in the Republic of Serbia, as well as in other countries.

The objective of this study is to analyse the spatial-temporal patterns of traffic accidents using data from 2011 to 2020 for the AP Vojvodina. The spatial-temporal patterns of traffic accident hotspots were identified at the municipality level using the Getis–Ord G i ⁎ statistic in ArcGIS Pro software. Trends in traffic accidents were analysed using the Mann-Kendall (MK) statistic. A certain trend in the number of traffic accidents, fatalities, and injuries was detected in 15 out of 45 municipalities. In two municipalities, the trend in the number of traffic accidents is decreasing, while in seven, it is increasing. In three municipalities, a decreasing trend in the number of traffic fatalities was observed. A decreasing trend in traffic injuries was identified in five municipalities. Hotspot analysis on the number of traffic accidents and traffic injuries revealed hotspots in seven municipalities, while no hotspots were detected in the number of traffic fatalities. In the traffic casualties weighted number, persons in tractors, hotspots were identified in two municipalities. This research has the potential to enhance traffic safety by directing targeted safety measures towards identified hotspots. Such measures could ultimately lead to a reduction in traffic accidents, consequently curbing the number of both fatalities and injuries.

Naturally high arsenic concentrations are characteristic for the ground water of the Pannonian Basin which covers parts of Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovakia. The aim of this study is to empirically test the relation between arsenic concentration values in water and cancer rates (lung and bladder cancer) using the well-established cause-effect framework (model) of Driving force–Pressure–State–Exposure–Effect–Action (DPSEEA) and systematically collected data in the AP Vojvodina (Northern Serbia). Two models were tested in this study. The first one was the Three-Element Model used for analysing the linkage between the state element (arsenic concentration values), the exposure element (water access), and the effect element (cancer rates). The second model was the Effect-Action Model for the analysis of the association between the effect element (cancer rates) and the action element (monitoring intensity). Both models confirm the intrinsic validity of the four elements of the DPSEEA framework. A linear function tested in the second model suggests that the association is not a simple, linear relationship between the four elements, but rather a more complex interaction. Research in this field may find a wider application in improving the health care management in Serbia.

This study analyzes the spatiotemporal patterns of seven common cancers in the male population using 23 years of data (1999–2021) across 18 counties in Central Serbia. The spatial distribution of cancer incidence and mortality rates and their temporal evolution were examined at the county level using Getis–Ord G i * techniques, while trends were analysed with Mann-Kendall statistics. Hot spot analysis revealed a decline in mortality rates, whereas incidence rates increased. New colorectal cancer incidence hotspots emerged in three counties, while consecutive bladder cancer hotspots appeared in two counties. Conversely, new cold spots in mortality rates were found for lung and bronchus cancer in four counties, stomach cancer in two, and laryngeal cancer in one. An increasing trend in both incidence and mortality rates was identified for lung and bronchus cancer and colorectal cancer in three counties. In addition, prostate and pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality rates rose in two counties. In contrast, stomach cancer showed a decreasing trend in four counties, as did laryngeal cancer in two. This research enhances public health efforts by identifying vulnerable areas, assessing current health strategies, and guiding new interventions.

Hypertension is one of the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases globally. This study presents a spatio-temporal analysis of hypertension among patients treated at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina between 2000 and 2023. A Mann–Kendall trend analysis was performed at the settlement level using Python to identify trends in hypertension cases. The Getis-Ord Gi* statistic, implemented through the Emerging Hot Spot Analysis (HSA) tool in ArcGIS Pro, was applied to detect spatial clusters of hot and cold spots. The Mann–Kendall analysis identified significant trends in 40 of the 467 settlements in Autonomous Province Vojvodina. Of these, 36 settlements exhibited an increasing trend in hypertension cases, while a decreasing trend was observed in 4 settlements. The Emerging HSA detected 19 clusters classified as “Consecutive Hot Spots” among 316 analysed clusters, with no discernible patterns observed in the remaining clusters. To compare the findings and results from these two analyses, the Kriging method was applied to the z -values of trends from both analyses. The method indicated higher trends in hypertension cases in settlements within South Bačka County. This research identifies areas with significant hypertension trends, helping to pinpoint high-risk regions. The results support further investigation into the causes and guide targeted public health interventions in the study area.