Russian Health and Mortality
SA4D2- Health and Population in Developing and Transitional Societies
Unassessed Essay
What are the main causes of the health and mortality crisis in Russia? Can alcohol consumption count for this crisis?
Russia is facing an enormous demographic crisis with respect to the health status in the country, and increasing mortality rates. This constitutes one of the most important global public health concerns after the HIV-AIDS pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. (http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/35/6/1406). Over the past two decades, Russia has experienced unprecedented increases in mortality “for an industrialised nation at peace”(RAND, population policy, 2001). Different aspects of socioeconomic change are associated with the increases in mortality. Alcohol plays a significant role in increasing “mortality and the global burden of disease”(Oxford Analytica, Forbes.com, July 2009). In Russia, the greatest contributions to increasing rates of mortality in both sexes occurring during age 30-60 were “from conditions directly or indirectly associated with heavy alcohol consumption”(Walberg et al, BMJ, August 1998). http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/317/7154/312#609
This essay will briefly outline the historical context of health and INFANT AND ADULT mortality in Russia, followed by an analysis of the main determinants of this health crisis. The role of alcohol consumption as a mechanism for increasing mortality will be examined in particular. The essay will primarily focus on Russian mortality post the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
In the last few decades, Russia has experienced dramatic fluctuations in mortality. Life expectancy began to decrease in 1965, initially “regarded as a minor and transient fluctuation of little significance”(Schkolnikov and Leon, International Journal of Epidemiology, 2006).
Russian govt restricted mortality data.. ceased publication
In 1991 and article by Nick Eberstadt published in The New York Review “provided an
Unassessed Essay
What are the main causes of the health and mortality crisis in Russia? Can alcohol consumption count for this crisis?
Russia is facing an enormous demographic crisis with respect to the health status in the country, and increasing mortality rates. This constitutes one of the most important global public health concerns after the HIV-AIDS pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. (http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/35/6/1406). Over the past two decades, Russia has experienced unprecedented increases in mortality “for an industrialised nation at peace”(RAND, population policy, 2001). Different aspects of socioeconomic change are associated with the increases in mortality. Alcohol plays a significant role in increasing “mortality and the global burden of disease”(Oxford Analytica, Forbes.com, July 2009). In Russia, the greatest contributions to increasing rates of mortality in both sexes occurring during age 30-60 were “from conditions directly or indirectly associated with heavy alcohol consumption”(Walberg et al, BMJ, August 1998). http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/317/7154/312#609
This essay will briefly outline the historical context of health and INFANT AND ADULT mortality in Russia, followed by an analysis of the main determinants of this health crisis. The role of alcohol consumption as a mechanism for increasing mortality will be examined in particular. The essay will primarily focus on Russian mortality post the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
In the last few decades, Russia has experienced dramatic fluctuations in mortality. Life expectancy began to decrease in 1965, initially “regarded as a minor and transient fluctuation of little significance”(Schkolnikov and Leon, International Journal of Epidemiology, 2006).
Russian govt restricted mortality data.. ceased publication
In 1991 and article by Nick Eberstadt published in The New York Review “provided an
References: See Vladimir G. Treml, ‘Alcoholism and State Policy in the Soviet Union’, in Zbigniew M. Fallenbuchl, ed., Economic Development in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, vol. W (Praeger, 1976).