CINDI Finland
Finland
is a member state in the WHO EURO CINDI programme. CINDI Programme (
Countrywide Integrated Noncommunicable Disease Intervention
) was developed in 1984. The aim of the CINDI programme is to develop and evaluate intervention strategies and methods for chronic disease prevention. In Finland, CINDI programme is coordinated in the National Public Health Institute in the Department of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention, which is also a WHO Collaborating Centre for Noncommunicable Disease Prevention, Health Promotion and Monitoring. The Finnish CINDI Director is Professor Erkki Vartiainen. Practical coordination of the programme is carried out in his department in the Chronic Disease Prevention Unit. Unit coordinates several CINDI activities such as the development of health monitoring system in CINDI countries (CINDI Health Monitor) and the International training seminar on integrated noncommunicable disease strategies and prevention (Noncommunicable Disease Seminar, see below). Contact person:
Tiina Laatikainen
NCD Seminar is an international training seminar on integrated noncommunicable disease strategies and prevention. The seminar is organized yearly in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the North Karelia Center for Public Health. North Karelia project is a well known example of community-based chronic disease prevention programme. The seminar reviews the experiences of the North Karelia project in planning, implementation and evaluation of prevention interventions. Programme includes a three day interactive training in national Public Health Institute in Helsinki and a two day site visit in North Karelia. The seminar is aimed at health authorities and health professional working with national NCD strategies and prevention programmes. Training is given in English by international experts. Contact person:
Elina Hirvikallio
Karelian allergy and asthma survey
Since 1997 a collaborative study between the Helsinki University Skin and Allergy Hospital and the National Public Health Institute has been carried out to examine the prevalence and etiology of allergy and asthma in economically and environmentally very diverse circumstances in Finnish and Russian Karelia. The first survey was carried out in 1997-1998 among adult population. It was observed that allergy and asthma is much more prevalent in Finnish Karelia compared to Russian Karelia. Study was continued in 2003 by surveying 7-15 year old children and their mothers in the same areas. the aim of the study is to assess allergy and asthma related risk factors, behaviors, environmental factors and genotype. Asthma and allergy prevalence is further assessed in 2007 in a substudy of the National FINRISK Study. Contact person:
Tiina Laatikainen
Pitkäranta Risk Factor Study
Since 1990 National Public Health Institute has had health collaboration with the Republic of Karelia in Russia. One of the main areas of collaboration has been the development of the health monitoring system. First risk factor survey among adult population was carried out in the district of Pitkäranta in 1992. Monitoring activities were continued in 1997, 2002 and 2007. The aim of the health monitoring is to follow the prevalence main risk factors and behaviors related to chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and asthma and allergy. Contact person:
Tiina Laatikainen
Health Behavior in Pitkäranta
Health behaviour surveys among adult population in Pitkäranta are part of the larger health monitoring system development approach in the area. Surveys are carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in the Republic of Karelia and the Central Hospital of Pitkäranta. So far surveys have been conducted in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2004. The aim of the health behaviour monitoring is to follow the trends in health related lifestyles, use of health services and self-reported health and illnesses. The target population in the surveys has been adults between 25 to 64 years of age. Contact person:
Tiina Laatikainen
Study on school children health from Pitkäranta, Republic of Karelia, Russia
In 1995 and 2004, the KTL, University of Kuopio, Ministry of health and social development of the Republic of Karelia and Central hospital of the Republic of Karelia, have implemented a health survey among all 9th grade school children in Pitkäranta, in the Republic of Karelia, Russia. Survey included self-administered questionnaire and physical measurements of height, weight, blood pressure, total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL). The purpose of the survey was to study prevalence and changes in health behaviour and chronic disease risk factors among adolescents from the Pitkäranta region. Contact person:
Anastasiya Rogacheva
Together against substance misuse – School and community based intervention in Pitkäranta, Republic of Karelia
“Together against substance misuse” is a school and community based intervention in the district of Pitkäranta, Republic of Karelia, Russia. The project is aiming at raising awareness and communal responsibility of issues related to substance use of young and preventing the use of alcohol and tobacco among young people, encouraging substance free lifestyle. The project comprises of activities that are targeted directly at young people, for example teaching social skills and organising activities aiming at making an impact on the school environment and the whole community. The project is carried out over a period of three years (2006-2008). In the beginning phase there are four schools taking part within the district of Pitkäranta. The implementing body of the project is KTL, collaborating bodies are University of Helsinki, University of Kuopio, Central hospital of Pitkäranta, Pitkäranta project and Public Health centre of North Karelia. Contact person:
Mikko Tawast.