Geographical divergence of mortality in Ukraine

Svitlana Poniakina, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)

Ukraine is a large and diverse country, wedged between European Union and Russian Federation and torn up inside by internal differences. This contrast among its remote parts is visible on the scale of many dimensions: socio-economic situation, political preferences, cultural habits, lifestyles, and, thus, access to medical care, and surviving. The difference between maximum and minimum life expectancy reaches 5 years. This gap is even more pronounced for males – almost 7 years, and to a lesser extend for females – 3.6 year (according to 2001 census). This paper gives an overview of general east-west disparities in mortality, uncovers inter-regional disproportions as well as more profound intra-regional patterns. The aim of such analysis is to investigate the heterogenic nature of survival process in each region, to highlight patterns invisible at a rough level of territorial division, and to explore leading causes of death and their continuities over borders. The role of cities is tent to be identified. The study period refers to very recent years, 2001-2010. The basic data used for analysis comes from civil data registers and census of 2001. The figures for latest years are estimated, and mortality indicators are calculated using indirect methods of standardization. Provisional analysis put on evidence several facts: there is a visible contrast between western and south-eastern parts of Ukraine; regions with similar level of mortality tend to be in groups; three regions of the north (around Chernobyl zone) have developed one dark area only in recent decades. The coefficient of variation doubles once we move from regional to district dimension. The most homogenous is the western part of Ukraine while other regions are quite heterogeneous inside of themselves.