Mortality and self-protective behaviour among the Russian youth

Elena V. Zemlyanova, Central Public Health Research Institute, Moscow
Alla E. Ivanova, Central Public Health Research Institute, Moscow

Currently, mortality rates among the Russian youth are several times higher compared to mortality rates among their peer in the Western and Eastern European countries. However, at the end of the “Soviet” period the difference was twice lower. The situation in the young age groups is heterogeneous. The lowest rates of mortality is registered in the 15-19 years old age group. Mortality male rates as of early 1980s were achieved in the year 2000, while the “Soviet” era mortality rates in females were achieved in 2008. In the age group of 20-24 the mortally growth rates were higher. In males, the mortality rates of the 1980s were achieved only in 2008, while in females the mortality rates still excess the rates of 1980s by 4%. The fastest growth in mortality rates was registered in the age group of 25-29 compared with other young age groups. Current rates are 5% higher in males and 32% - in females compared to the 1980s. Mortality reduction in youth was not accounted for by improved lifestyle and was only due to other factors. Representative all-Russia survey of the youth (1000 respondents) in 2006 and 2010 showed that risk groups in terms of harm to health among the Russian youth hardly changed at all: due to alcohol use – 16.1% of males and 12.7% of females (per capita use of absolute alcohol >16 l in males and >6 l in females); due to smoking – about 10% of males and 0.5% of females (daily smoke more that 1 pack of cigarettes); extreme body weight deficit or obesity - 5-10% of youth. It is the risk groups who are least ready to change their behavior primarily with regard to the use of psychoactive substances – alcohol and tobacco.