ALBANIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENTThe prevalence of adverse childhood experiencesand their relationship with behavioral factors <strong>in</strong> the<strong>Albania</strong>n young populationGentiana Qirjako 1,2 , Genc Burazeri 1,2 , Bajram Hysa 3 , Erka Amursi 2 ,Alban Ylli 1,2 , Gazmend Bejtja 4 , Vasil Miho 5 , D<strong>in</strong>esh Sethi 61Faculty of Public Health, University of Medic<strong>in</strong>e, Tirana, <strong>Albania</strong>;2Institute of Public Health, Tirana, <strong>Albania</strong>;3Faculty of Medic<strong>in</strong>e, University of Medic<strong>in</strong>e, Tirana, <strong>Albania</strong>;4M<strong>in</strong>istry of Health, Tirana, <strong>Albania</strong>;5WHO Country Office, Tirana, <strong>Albania</strong>;6WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.Aim: In the past decade, several <strong>in</strong>ternational studieshave reported on the l<strong>in</strong>ks between child maltreatment,risky behaviors and various chronic diseases.Our survey aimed to describe the magnitude ofAdverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) <strong>in</strong> the<strong>Albania</strong>n young population and their associationswith risky behaviors.Methods: This survey was conducted <strong>in</strong> arepresentative sample of young adults (N=1437)selected from public universities [971 females (67.6%)and 466 males (32.4%); mean age: 21.2±2.3 years].The data collection consisted of an anonymous andself-adm<strong>in</strong>istered structured questionnaire.Results: Results showed that the prevalence of childmaltreatment <strong>in</strong> this student population was high:sexual abuse 6%, physical abuse 42%, and emotionalabuse 51%. Overall, 14% of the students reportedat least four ACEs and almost half of themreported two or more ACEs. As for the lifestyle/behavioral factors, ACEs were positively associatedwith smok<strong>in</strong>g, alcohol consumption, early lifetimesexual <strong>in</strong>tercourse, number of sexual partners (>3)and unwanted pregnancies.Conclusion: Of particular importance, the f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gsof this study conducted <strong>in</strong> <strong>Albania</strong> show that theodds of develop<strong>in</strong>g health risk behaviors such assmok<strong>in</strong>g, alcohol abuse, illicit drug use, multiplesexual partners and suicide attempts <strong>in</strong>crease withthe ACE score, imply<strong>in</strong>g a causal relationship.Appropriate strategies are needed for the preventionof child maltreatment <strong>in</strong> <strong>Albania</strong>.Keywords: adverse childhood experiences, alcohol abuse, behavioral factors, drug use, lifestyle factors, smok<strong>in</strong>g.14 ALBANIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT
INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH CONFERENCE IN TIRANA, ALBANIAPARALLEL SESSIONSSession 1: Chronic DiseasesModerator:Genc BurazeriALBANIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT15