Newborn Murder and its Legal Prevention

A newborn’s murder committed by his/her mother always causes an exceptional emotional response in the society. The fact of neonaticide evokes emotions not only because a new life is the most vulnerable part of the society unable to defend itself, but also the mother’s aggression directed to her own “ flesh and blood” contradicts the laws of existence, denies the power of mother instincts, unconditional love for her children. The aim of the work is to study the legal regulation in Lithuania, prevalence, dynamics of this crime, its murder locations, social characteristics of offenders, possibilities of applying preventive, rehabilitative measures and the new prospects to enlarge the efficiency of the legal persecution of the neonaticide in Lithuania. The retrospective investigation was conducted in a period from 1990 to 2012 by examining depersonalised statistical cards provided by The Information Technology and Communications Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of neonaticide was carried out in terms of a holistic generalisation of the issue, i.e., the infanticide situation in Lithuania has been investigated in depth, practical recommendations have been provided to introduce new concepts to the scientific doctrine, to adjust the existing legal acts on neonaticide and to develop new legal acts, as well as introduce preventive and rehabilitative measures. Results have shown that women, who murdered their first-day newborn at the time of delivery or shortly thereafter, were relatively young, with low education, without any profession or occupation at the time of the crime. The most common crime location is village, inside the residential place of a woman. Lithuania has not yet adopted a legal neonaticide prevention system. In Lithuania, the legal provisions relating to the murder of newborn should be improved.

Palankiausios dimensijos „sveikata visose politikose“ požiūrio taikymui

The main strategic documents in Lithuania are based on Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach and aim to reduce social inequalities in health. However, there is still no consensus on an instrument of effective implementation or optimal and comprehensive HiAP implementation model. By using HiAP approach, governments, health and other sectors can choose from a wide range of tools, methods, policy instruments and strategies. Therefore, this article aims to identify, summarize and analyze the conducive dimensions for successful efforts of HiAP. The main idea of this article is to show that the generalization of major dimensions of HiAP can contribute to the formation of theoretical and practical HiAP model in Lithuania. HiAP dimensions in this context are understood as the main tools and methods of HiAP, which are significant for HiAP efforts and determine conducive HiAP implementation. This article aims to analyze the concept of HiAP, to show its historical development and examine the conducive dimensions for successful efforts of HiAP. Methods of scientific literature and case study analysis as well as analysis of the Lithuanian legislation and EU legislation and generalization are used in this article.<br />The examination of HiAP concept from the historical and present perspective showed that this approach is derived from the changes in the health concept used in international academic and practical discourse. Moreover, HiAP approach is shaped by the transnational and national commitments, international health declarations, treaties and agreements. HiAP approach focuses on the contribution of public policies to the maintenance and improvement of public health. In order to implement this approach, possibilities must be provided for various public sectors to affect health; cooperation techniques and mechanisms must be developed to coordinate the actions of various institutions, and the inclusion of the stakeholders in decision-making and development processes of public health must be encouraged. The analysis of measures and methods of HiAP allows drawing the conclusion that the conducive dimensions for successful efforts of HiAP are as follows: windows of opportunities and the promotion of the priority of health; cross-sectorial and inter-institutional cooperation and the participation of all sectors; the new role of the health sector and health sector’s leadership; shared benefits, determinants across sectors and overlapping indicators; the context and the external and internal factors.

Vilius Grabauskas. Autorių kolektyvo parengtos monografijos „E. Sveikatos plėtros integruotos transformacijos: suinteresuotųjų pusių tinklo perspektyva“ recenzija

Review of collective monograph “Integrated transformations of e-health: perspectives of stakeholders”

Psichikos sveikatos pagalbos po ekstremaliųjų įvykių svarba

It is forecasted that in the coming decades, Europe will inevitably be affected by very important natural and social upheavals, which can significantly affect public welfare, physical and mental health disorders. That is why it is important to prepare properly. In this context, the emphasis is to be able to effectively adapt to a rapidly changing world. Because of geophysical situation changes, a target would be to create a resistant society, which would be able to neutralize any upheaval impact and timely recover from it. War, armed conflicts, natural and technological disasters have a major psychological and social impact on the affected population. After each disaster, many people experience emotional trauma. Strong emotional upheaval can be experienced not only by those directly involved in the event and/or physical trauma victims, but also by their relatives or even an event unrelated individuals.<br />The purpose of this article is to analyze the current scientific literature, highlight the negative impact on the mental health of the risk factors during the emergency and substantiate the necessity to plan mental health related preventive measures.<br />One of the most common mental health problems after a disaster is a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Various factors may increase the risk of the development of the PTSD. Social factors play a significant role among them. Psychological resistance is strongly influenced by the perception that during emergency, support to the victims will be provided not only by family, but also by the competent authority which will properly take care of the physical and psychological comfort reset. That is why the emergency plans should include not only search, rescue and other means related to saving lives and physical health, but also means related to psychosocial support services.<br />It is hardly possible to develop precise scenarios/prognosis of a disaster. Therefore, flexibility, regular checking and update are essential requirements for emergency management planning. Individuals who participate in actions in response to an emergency must have a clear understanding of their role. When planning a response to the disaster, it is necessary to ensure the availability of mental health services and psychosocial support to the affected communities, according to the risk factors, which influence the development of mental health disorders. Therefore, it is extremely important to create a long-term communitybased mental health care system for response during and recovery after disasters.

Autorių kolektyvo parengtos monografijos „E. Sveikatos plėtros integruotos transformacijos: suinteresuotųjų pusių tinklo perspektyva“ recenzija

Review of collective monograph “Integrated transformations of e-health: perspectives of stakeholders”

Veiksmingos vaikų ir jaunimo sveikatos stiprinimo politikos priemonės fizinio aktyvumo bei sveikos mitybos srityje vietos bendruomenių suinteresuotų grupių požiūriu

This article focuses on local stakeholders’ (policy-makers and decisionmakers, administrators and practitioners) attitudes towards effective health promotion policy measures in physical activity and healthy eating for children and youth. A qualitative study using semi-structured interview method was performed with 12 representatives of the Klaipeda city, Kaunas and Jurbarkas districts municipal institutions in July – September, 2013, implementing the international healthy eating and physical activity in a local communities’ project (HEPCOM). Based on the results, stakeholders in planning health promotion activities in physical activity and healthy eating for children and youth mainly apply policy development, strategic planning, action planning and implementation measures, however, they face the use of evaluation measures. The key prerequisites for the development of health promotion activities in physical activity and healthy eating for children and youth at the local communities include targeted health policy strategy and the priorities identified at the national level, inter-institutional cooperation, cross-sectoral activities, the availability of information on best practice interventions and their evaluation tools, as well as human, financial and information resources.

Išvengiamos hospitalizacijos kaip ambulatorinės sveikatos priežiūros veiklos atspindys Lietuvoje 2012 m.: Ką galima pakeisti?

<strong>Background</strong>. Avoidable hospitalizations (AH) are hospitalizations that could be avoided through accessible and effective ambulatory care setting which provides preventive care, early diagnostics and disease management. The scale of AH in Lithuania up to this date has been scarcely researched, but it is a topical issue as it is in all other countries with health systems that provide universal coverage. Purposeful strategies in policy and management that increases the effectiveness of ambulatory care setting could reduce the number of AH and save budget as stationary care is known to be very expensive. The aim of this study is to evaluate patterns of AH in Lithuania in 2012 and to recommend strategies for reducing the number of AH.<br /><strong>Materials and methods.</strong> The research was based on Australian methodology, which is used to monitor the quality of ambulatory care. The study population was all residents of Lithuania that were hospitalized due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) in 2012. ACSC were selected by ICD-10-AM code and ACHI procedure codes. Data on hospitalizations was gathered from National Health Insurance Fund Information System (“Sveidra”) and Statistics of Lithuania.<br /><strong>Results.</strong> Over 110 thousands of acute care hospitalizations in Lithuania in 2012 can be considered as avoidable. It accounted for 16,2 percent of overall acute care hospitalizations. The majority of AH were due to diabetes and its complications, angina, congestive heart failure, influenza and pneumonia. AH rates differed by gender, age and residence place (urban/rural). The majority of patients were at pre-school and retirement age. AH rate for males and rural residents was higher than for females and urban residents. The majority of patients were hospitalized with committal. Rates of AH in municipalities ranged from 27.0 to 57.7 cases per 1000 population. Differences among municipalities can be considered as consequences of systematic causes in municipalities.<br /><strong>Conclusions.</strong> AH is a significant problem in Lithuania. Reducing the number of AH provides an opportunity to reduce the expenditure of National Health Insurance Fund. Not all opportunities are being used in ambulatory care to avoid the hospitalization. Further research on AH is recommended to elucidate essential reasons and to plan the strategies to increase the effectiveness of ambulatory care setting.

Gydytojų ir slaugytojų požiūris į nepageidaujamų įvykių ir neatitikčių valdymą lietuvos bendrojo pobūdžio ligoninėse

Adverse events and near-miss management in Lithuanian general hospitals is analyzed in this article. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the attitudes of physicians and nurses towards adverse events and near-miss management. 1020 general hospitals health care professionals took part in the anonymous survey, which was performed during the period of June - December, 2014. The results suggested that 9.9% of the respondents did not know what adverse event is, and 10.7% did not know the meaning of near-miss. Nurses compared to physicians knew much more about the process of what and where to register the adverse event or near-miss. Most of the respondents declared that it is useful to register adverse events and near-misses. Older health care professionals with longer work experience were considerably more active in this process. Most of the respondents declared that after the near-miss happens, the efforts are put to examine causes of the event, but only half of them knew further near-miss investigation steps and were instructed about the adjustment and preventive actions.