Introduction: Health literacy of women can significantly affect different aspects of reproductive health. The aim of this study was the assessment of relationship of health literacy, socio-demographic characteristics and reproductive health behaviors of women in Serbia.Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study on a random sample of women aged 18 and over from the territories of three Serbian regions, stratified according to age groups, region and type of settlement. A standardized version of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47) was used in assessing health literacy of women.Results: Based on the calculated index of health literacy, 9.6% of respondents had inadequate health literacy. Inadequate levels of health literacy were more common in women living in rural areas (OR = 1.111) and the poorer classes (OR = 5.122). Employed women (OP = 1.249), with good health (OR = 1.512) with a degree (OR = 1.535) had bigger odds to have adequate health literacy. Multivariate regression analysis showed the following significant predictors: commitment to the chosen gynecologist (OR = 1.530), contraceptive use (OR = 1.020), knowledge of the damages that could be caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) (OR = 1.578), awareness of vaccine availability against HPV infection (OR = 1.217) and following the health-related topics (OR = 2.350).Conclusion: Limited levels of health literacy were significantly higher among middle-aged women, among those living in rural areas, among women who rated their health as poor or very poor, and who exhibited more negative patterns of reproductive health behavior, indicating the need for implementation of prevention programs and strategies with the aim of increasing the level of health literacy.

It has been proven that health education is directly related to numerous decisions of young people regarding their reproductive health and sexual behavior. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact of health literacy and sexual behavior on the occurrence of unplanned pregnancies and abortions among young girls. We used STOFHLA to assess the health literacy level of young females and a questionnaire to collect socio-demographic characteristics of respondents and their behavior in the area of reproductive health. Descriptive statistics were presented in percentages, and a chi-square test was performed to assess the existence of correlation between categorical variables using SPSS. A total of 220 female respondents were included. The levels of health literacy were as follows: adequate literacy was observed in 78.2% of participants, marginal literacy in 15.9%, and inadequate literacy in 5.9%. Unplanned pregnancies occurred in 7.3%, and all respondents had an abortion. The chi-square test confirmed the existence of a connection between health literacy and unplanned pregnancies, abortions, and the age of the respondents. The frequency of sexual intercourse and the use of contraceptives showed a statistical association with unplanned pregnancy/abortion. Education of young people about sexual behavior needs to be an imperative of health institutions, and it is necessary to carry out more effective education at elementary school and high school. Good health literacy is a prerequisite for good reproductive knowledge.

Background/Objectives: One of the raising public health problems in the adolescent population is obesity, which has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. The aim of this work is to determine the prevalence of obesity in the population of children of secondary school, age 15 to 19 years in Serbia and the determinate connection with demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and their eating habits and physical activity. Methods: The research is part of the fourth National Population Health Survey conducted in 2019, which was conducted by the Republic Institute of Statistics, in cooperation with the Institute of Public Health of Serbia and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia. As a research instrument, questionnaires were used in accordance with the methodology of the European Health Survey. For the purposes of this research, data on the adult population aged 15–19 and over were used. Results: The association of overweight with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics was examined using binary regression. In the univariate model, male gender (OR = 1.95), younger age (OR = 1.57) and Region of Vojvodina (OR = 2.47) stood out as significant predictors of overweight, which was confirmed by the multivariate model. Conclusions: The results of our study emphasize that the prevalence of obesity in the population of high school youth is at a significant level and that a lot more needs to be done to promote healthy lifestyles and raise awareness of their benefits on health status.

Psychophysical preparation of pregnant women represents a significant component of prenatal healthcare, contributing to the optimal readiness of the woman for childbirth from physical, psychological, and emotional perspectives. The aim of this review paper was to analyze the impact of various psychophysical preparation methods on pregnancy and childbirth outcomes, as well as on maternal postpartum recovery and neonatal adaptation. The paper analyzes relevant scientific articles published between 2014 and 2024, retrieved from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library. The presented findings indicate that psychophysical preparation contributes to the reduction of fear and pain during childbirth, enhances the sense of control and satisfaction with the birthing experience, decreases the need for medical and surgical interventions, and reduces the incidence of postpartum depression. These interventions also prove valuable from a midwifery practice perspective, as they enable more effective communication and cooperation between the woman in labor and healthcare professionals. Psychophysical preparation of pregnant women can be regarded as an important factor in successful childbirth and positive outcomes for both mother and child.