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Title [en]
Health and Population Developments in Eastern Europe in the Conditions of Economic Crisis
Abstract [en]
While average life expectancy in Western EU countries increased by almost five years between 1986 and 2008, in several Eastern European countries it is now actually lower than it was twenty years ago. At the same time, the population is rapidly decreasing due to the high mortality and emigration. The proposed project, “Health and Population Developments in Eastern Europe in the Conditions of Economic Crisis”, will focus on the health and population crises affecting Eastern Europe. In the project, a number of studies concerning these vital areas will be conducted, most of them in Russia, Ukraine, and the Baltic countries. In the course of the project, studies examining the development of the general health situation (mortality and self-rated health) and especially the unequal distribution of health among the population will be undertaken. In addition, several important areas have been singled out for in-depth study, including: • Adolescent health, especially substance abuse and violence • Housing and urban health • Alcohol consumption • Violent causes of death, i.e. suicide and homicide • The relationship between social capital and health • The governance of the perceived population crisis Various types of data materials will be employed in the course of the project. However, many of the proposed studies will utilise the large health interview surveys in Ukrainian Stakhanov (2009), Russian Yaroslavl (2010), and among the school children of Russian Arkhangelsk (2010). The current economic downturn that has seriously affected the Eastern European economies will receive special attention in the project. Taken together, these studies will provide an overview of health and population situation and factors affecting health in a time of economic hardship in Eastern Europe. In addition to its scientific interest, such knowledge is vital also from a public-health perspective for any future attempts to ameliorate this situation.
Publications (10 of 12) Show all publications
Kulik, M., Menvielle, G., Eikemo, T., Bopp, M., Jasilionis, D., Kulhánová, I., . . . Mackenbach, J. (2014). Educational inequalities in three smoking-related causes of death in 18 European populations. Nicotine & tobacco research, 16(5), 507-518
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Educational inequalities in three smoking-related causes of death in 18 European populations
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2014 (English)In: Nicotine & tobacco research, ISSN 1462-2203, E-ISSN 1469-994X, Vol. 16, no 5, p. 507-518Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Introduction: Smoking is an important determinant of socioeconomic inequalities in mortality in many countries. As the smoking epidemic progresses, updates on the development of mortality inequalities attributable to smoking are needed. We provide estimates of relative and absolute educational inequalities in mortality from lung cancer, aerodigestive cancers, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)/asthma in Europe and assess the contribution of these smoking-related diseases to inequalities in all-cause mortality.

Methods: We use data from 18 European populations covering the time period 1998–2007. We present age-adjusted mortality rates, relative indices of inequality, and slope indices of inequality. We also calculate the contribution of inequalities in smoking-related mortality to inequalities in overall mortality.

Results: Among men, relative inequalities in mortality from the 3 smoking-related causes of death combined are largest in the Czech Republic and Hungary and smallest in Spain, Sweden, and Denmark. Among women, these inequalities are largest in Scotland and Norway and smallest in Italy and Spain. They are often larger among men and tend to be larger for COPD/asthma than for lung and aerodigestive cancers. Relative inequalities in mortality from these conditions are often larger in younger age groups, particularly among women, suggesting a possible further widening of inequalities in mortality in the coming decades. The combined contribution of these diseases to inequality in all-cause mortality varies between 13% and 32% among men and between −5% and 30% among women.

Conclusion: Our results underline the continuing need for tobacco control policies, which take into account socioeconomic position.              

National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
Research subject
Baltic and East European studies; Other research area
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-20283 (URN)10.1093/ntr/ntt175 (DOI)000334678100001 ()24212763 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-84898614396 (Scopus ID)1332/42/2010 (Local ID)1332/42/2010 (Archive number)1332/42/2010 (OAI)
Funder
The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, A052-2010
Available from: 2013-11-29 Created: 2013-11-29 Last updated: 2022-07-04Bibliographically approved
Stickley, A., Koyanagi, A., Koposov, R., Schwab-Stone, M. & Ruchkin, V. (2014). Loneliness and health risk behaviours among Russian and US adolescents: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 14, Article ID 366.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Loneliness and health risk behaviours among Russian and US adolescents: a cross-sectional study
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2014 (English)In: BMC Public Health, E-ISSN 1471-2458, Vol. 14, article id 366Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background: For some adolescents feeling lonely can be a protracted and painful experience. It has been suggested that engaging in health risk behaviours such as substance use and sexual behaviour may be a way of coping with the distress arising from loneliness during adolescence. However, the association between loneliness and health risk behaviour has been little studied to date. To address this research gap, the current study examined this relation among Russian and U.S. adolescents. Methods: Data were used from the Social and Health Assessment (SAHA), a school-based survey conducted in 2003. A total of 1995 Russian and 2050 U.S. students aged 13-15 years old were included in the analysis. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between loneliness and substance use, sexual risk behaviour, and violence. Results: After adjusting for demographic characteristics and depressive symptoms, loneliness was associated with a significantly increased risk of adolescent substance use in both Russia and the United States. Lonely Russian girls were significantly more likely to have used marijuana (odds ratio [OR]: 2.28; confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-4.45), while lonely Russian boys had higher odds for past 30-day smoking (OR, 1.87; CI, 1.08-3.24). In the U.S. loneliness was associated with the lifetime use of illicit drugs (excepting marijuana) among boys (OR, 3.09; CI, 1.41-6.77) and with lifetime marijuana use (OR, 1.79; CI, 1.26-2.55), past 30-day alcohol consumption (OR, 1.80; CI, 1.18-2.75) and past 30-day binge drinking (OR, 2.40; CI, 1.56-3.70) among girls. The only relation between loneliness and sexual risk behaviour was among Russian girls, where loneliness was associated with significantly higher odds for ever having been pregnant (OR, 1.69; CI: 1.12-2.54). Loneliness was not associated with violent behaviour among boys or girls in either country. Conclusion: Loneliness is associated with adolescent health risk behaviour among boys and girls in both Russia and the United States. Further research is now needed in both settings using quantitative and qualitative methods to better understand the association between loneliness and health risk behaviours so that effective interventions can be designed and implemented to mitigate loneliness and its effects on adolescent well-being.

Keywords
Adolescent, Health risk behaviour, Loneliness, Russia, United States
National Category
Sociology
Research subject
Baltic and East European studies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-24068 (URN)10.1186/1471-2458-14-366 (DOI)000336177600001 ()24735570 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-84900858661 (Scopus ID)1332/42/2010 (Local ID)1332/42/2010 (Archive number)1332/42/2010 (OAI)
Funder
The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, A052-2010
Available from: 2014-06-12 Created: 2014-06-12 Last updated: 2023-08-28Bibliographically approved
Kaleta, D., Usidame, B., Dziankowska-Zaborszczyk, E., Makowiec-Dąbrowska, T. & Leinsalu, M. (2014). Prevalence and factors associated with hardcore smoking in Poland: Findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (2009–2010). BMC Public Health, 14, 583
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Prevalence and factors associated with hardcore smoking in Poland: Findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (2009–2010)
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2014 (English)In: BMC Public Health, E-ISSN 1471-2458, Vol. 14, p. 583-Article in journal (Refereed) Published
National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
Research subject
Baltic and East European studies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-24152 (URN)10.1186/1471-2458-14-583 (DOI)000338966400002 ()24916122 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-84903517586 (Scopus ID)1332/42/2010 (Local ID)1332/42/2010 (Archive number)1332/42/2010 (OAI)
Funder
The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, A052-2010
Available from: 2014-06-23 Created: 2014-06-23 Last updated: 2023-08-28Bibliographically approved
Stickley, A., Koyanagi, A., Koposov, R., Razvodovsky, Y. & Ruchkin, V. (2013). Adolescent binge drinking and risky health behaviours: Findings from northern Russia.. Drug And Alcohol Dependence, 133(15), 838-844
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Adolescent binge drinking and risky health behaviours: Findings from northern Russia.
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2013 (English)In: Drug And Alcohol Dependence, ISSN 0376-8716, E-ISSN 1879-0046, Vol. 133, no 15, p. 838-844Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

BACKGROUND: Some evidence suggests that in recent years the prevalence of heavy drinking has increased among Russian adolescents. However, as yet, little is known about either heavy alcohol consumption or its relationship with other adolescent health risk behaviours in Russia. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate the association between binge drinking and health risk behaviours among adolescents in Russia.

METHODS: Data were drawn from the Social and Health Assessment (SAHA), a survey carried out in Arkhangelsk, Russia in 2003. Information was obtained from a representative sample of 2868 adolescents aged 13-17 regarding the prevalence and frequency of binge drinking (five or more drinks in a row in a couple of hours) and different forms of substance use, risky sexual behaviour and violent behaviour. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between binge drinking and adolescent involvement in various health risk behaviours.

RESULTS: Adolescent binge drinking was associated with the occurrence of every type of health risk behaviour - with the sole exception of non-condom use during last sex. In addition, there was a strong association between the number of days on which binge drinking occurred and the prevalence of many health risk behaviours.

CONCLUSIONS: Binge drinking is associated with a variety of health risk behaviours among adolescents in Russia. Public health interventions such as reducing the affordability and accessibility of alcohol are now needed to reduce binge drinking and its harmful effects on adolescent well-being.

Keywords
Adolescent, Binge drinking, Health risk behaviour, Russia
National Category
Sociology
Research subject
Baltic and East European studies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-19869 (URN)10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.08.028 (DOI)000329274600006 ()24080314 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-84888438760 (Scopus ID)1332/42/2010 (Local ID)1332/42/2010 (Archive number)1332/42/2010 (OAI)
Funder
The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, A052-2010
Available from: 2013-10-03 Created: 2013-10-03 Last updated: 2022-07-04Bibliographically approved
Vals, K., Kiivet, R.-A. & Leinsalu, M. (2013). Alcohol consumption, smoking and overweight as a burden for health care services utilization: a cross-sectional study in Estonia. BMC Public Health, 13, Article ID 772.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Alcohol consumption, smoking and overweight as a burden for health care services utilization: a cross-sectional study in Estonia
2013 (English)In: BMC Public Health, E-ISSN 1471-2458, Vol. 13, article id 772Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background: Alcohol consumption, smoking and weight problems are common risk factors for different health problems. We examine how these risk factors are associated with the use of health care services.

Methods: Data for 6500 individuals in the 25-64 age group came from three cross-sectional postal surveys conducted in 2004, 2006, and 2008 in Estonia. The effect of alcohol consumption, smoking and weight problems on the use of primary and specialist care services, hospitalizations and ambulance calls was analysed separately for men and women by using binary logistic regression.

Results: Overweight and/or obesity were strongly related to the use of primary care and out-patient specialist services for both genders, and to hospitalizations and ambulance calls for women. Current smoking was related to ambulance calls for both genders, whereas smoking in the past was related to the use of primary care and specialist services among men and to hospitalizations among women. Beer drinking was negatively associated with all types of health care services and similar   association was found between wine drinking and hospitalizations. Wine drinking was positively related to specialist visits. The frequent drinking of strong alcohol led to an increased risk for ambulance calls. Drinking light alcoholic drinks was positively associated with all types of health care services (except ambulance calls) among men and with the use of specialist services among women.

Conclusions: Overweight and smoking had the largest impact on health care utilization in Estonia. Considering the high prevalence of these behavioural risk factors, health policies should prioritize preventive programs that promote healthy lifestyles in order to decrease the disease burden and to reduce health care costs.

National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
Research subject
Baltic and East European studies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-19577 (URN)10.1186/1471-2458-13-772 (DOI)000323616500001 ()2-s2.0-84882457623 (Scopus ID)1332/42/2010 (Local ID)1332/42/2010 (Archive number)1332/42/2010 (OAI)
Funder
The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, A052-2010
Available from: 2013-08-23 Created: 2013-08-23 Last updated: 2023-08-28Bibliographically approved
Reile, R. & Leinsalu, M. (2013). Differentiating positive and negative self-rated health: results from a cross-sectional study in Estonia. International Journal of Public Health, 58(4), 555-564
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Differentiating positive and negative self-rated health: results from a cross-sectional study in Estonia
2013 (English)In: International Journal of Public Health, ISSN 1661-8556, E-ISSN 1661-8564, Vol. 58, no 4, p. 555-564Article in journal (Refereed) Published
National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-19483 (URN)10.1007/s00038-013-0445-6 (DOI)000322117400010 ()2-s2.0-84880921459 (Scopus ID)1332/42/2010 (Local ID)1332/42/2010 (Archive number)1332/42/2010 (OAI)
Funder
The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, A052-2010
Available from: 2013-08-06 Created: 2013-08-06 Last updated: 2022-07-04Bibliographically approved
Stickley, A., Koyanagi, A., Koposov, R., McKee, M., Roberts, B. & Ruchkin, V. (2013). Peer victimisation and its association with psychological and somatic health problems among adolescents in northern Russia. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 7(1), Article ID 15.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Peer victimisation and its association with psychological and somatic health problems among adolescents in northern Russia
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2013 (English)In: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, E-ISSN 1753-2000, Vol. 7, no 1, article id 15Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

BACKGROUND: A growing body of evidence from countries around the world suggests that school-based peer victimisation is associated with worse health outcomes among adolescents. So far, however, there has been little systematic research on this phenomenon in the countries of the former Soviet Union. The aim of this study was to examine the relation between peer victimisation at school and a range of different psychological and somatic health problems among Russian adolescents.

METHODS: This study used data from the Social and Health Assessment (SAHA) - a cross-sectional survey undertaken in Arkhangelsk, Russia in 2003. Information was collected from 2892 adolescents aged 12-17 about their experiences of school-based peer victimisation and on a variety of psychological and somatic health conditions. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between victimisation and health.

RESULTS: Peer victimisation in school was commonplace: 22.1% of the students reported that they had experienced frequent victimisation in the current school year (girls - 17.6%; boys - 28.5%). There was a strong relationship between experiencing victimisation and reporting worse health among both boys and girls with more victimisation associated with an increased risk of experiencing worse health. Girls in the highest victimisation category had odds ratios ranging between 1.90 (problems with eyes) and 5.26 (aches/pains) for experiencing somatic complaints when compared to their non-victimised counterparts, while the corresponding figures for boys were 2.04 (headaches) and 4.36 (aches/pains). Girls and boys who had the highest victimisation scores were also 2.42 (girls) and 3.33 (boys) times more likely to report symptoms of anxiety, over 5 times more likely to suffer from posttraumatic stress and over 6 times more likely to experience depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION: Peer victimisation at school has a strong association with poor health outcomes among Russian adolescents. Effective school-based interventions are now urgently needed to counter the negative effects of victimisation on adolescents' health in Russia.

National Category
Sociology
Research subject
Baltic and East European studies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-19835 (URN)10.1186/1753-2000-7-15 (DOI)000209640300014 ()23672615 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-84877588968 (Scopus ID)
Funder
The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, A052-2010
Available from: 2013-09-27 Created: 2013-09-27 Last updated: 2024-01-17Bibliographically approved
Stickley, A., Koyanagi, A., Richardson, E., Roberts, B., Balabanova, D. & McKee, M. (2013). Prevalence and factors associated with the use of alternative (folk) medicine practitioners in 8 countries of the former Soviet Union. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 13, Article ID 83.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Prevalence and factors associated with the use of alternative (folk) medicine practitioners in 8 countries of the former Soviet Union
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2013 (English)In: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, E-ISSN 1472-6882, Vol. 13, article id 83Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background: Research suggests that since the collapse of the Soviet Union there has been a sharp growth in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in some former Soviet countries. However, as yet, comparatively little is known about the use of CAM in the countries throughout this region. Against this background, the aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of using alternative (folk) medicine practitioners in eight countries of the former Soviet Union (fSU) and to examine factors associated with their use. Methods: Data were obtained from the Living Conditions, Lifestyles and Health (LLH) survey undertaken in eight former Soviet countries (Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine) in 2001. In this nationally representative cross-sectional survey, 18428 respondents were asked about how they treated 10 symptoms, with options including the use of alternative (folk) medicine practitioners. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with the treatment of differing symptoms by such practitioners in these countries. Results: The prevalence of using an alternative (folk) medicine practitioner for symptom treatment varied widely between countries, ranging from 3.5% in Armenia to 25.0% in Kyrgyzstan. For nearly every symptom, respondents living in rural locations were more likely to use an alternative (folk) medicine practitioner than urban residents. Greater wealth was also associated with using these practitioners, while distrust of doctors played a role in the treatment of some symptoms. Conclusions: The widespread use of alternative (folk) medicine practitioners in some fSU countries and the growth of this form of health care provision in the post-Soviet period in conditions of variable licensing and regulation, highlights the urgent need for more research on this phenomenon and its potential effects on population health in the countries in this region.

National Category
Sociology
Research subject
Baltic and East European studies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-19426 (URN)10.1186/1472-6882-13-83 (DOI)000318016200001 ()2-s2.0-84875918604 (Scopus ID)1332/42/2010 (Local ID)1332/42/2010 (Archive number)1332/42/2010 (OAI)
Funder
The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, A052-2010
Available from: 2013-07-11 Created: 2013-07-11 Last updated: 2024-01-10Bibliographically approved
Kulik, M., Hoffmann, R., Judge, K., Looman, C., Menvielle, G., Kulhánová, I., . . . Mackenbach, J. (2013). Smoking and the potential for reduction of inequalities in mortality in Europe. European Journal of Epidemiology, 28, 959-971
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Smoking and the potential for reduction of inequalities in mortality in Europe
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2013 (English)In: European Journal of Epidemiology, ISSN 0393-2990, E-ISSN 1573-7284, Vol. 28, p. 959-971Article in journal (Refereed) Published
National Category
Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
Research subject
Baltic and East European studies; Other research area
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-20282 (URN)10.1007/s10654-013-9860-5 (DOI)000328066300003 ()24242935 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-84890548197 (Scopus ID)1332/42/2010 (Local ID)1332/42/2010 (Archive number)1332/42/2010 (OAI)
Funder
The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, A052-2010
Available from: 2013-11-29 Created: 2013-11-29 Last updated: 2022-07-04Bibliographically approved
Gentile, M. & Marcinczak, S. (2012). No more work for Stakhanov: migrants and stayers in teh depopulating Donbas, Ukraine. Urban geography, 33(3), 401-419
Open this publication in new window or tab >>No more work for Stakhanov: migrants and stayers in teh depopulating Donbas, Ukraine
2012 (English)In: Urban geography, ISSN 0272-3638, E-ISSN 1938-2847, Vol. 33, no 3, p. 401-419Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Labor migration from the less to the more affluent cities and regions is a defining trait of the patterns of population redistribution in Central and Eastern Europe, especially in the former Soviet Union, where international disparities in income and living standards are particularly manifest. While these macro-trends are well portrayed in the literature, their outcome at the household level seldom figures in the literature. In Ukraine, labor out-migration to Russia is a frequently chosen strategy, not least because of the Russophone background of eastern Ukraine and of many of the major cities, including Kiev and Odessa. This out-migration contributes to urban decline. Using multivariate methods, we analyze the characteristics of population subgroups with and without the experience of working abroad. We also use descriptive statistics to assess the impact of migration events within households on the standard of living of the latter. Our data source is the city of Stakhanov Health Interview Survey 2009 (n = 3,000).

National Category
Sociology
Research subject
Baltic and East European studies
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-17738 (URN)10.2747/0272-3638.33.3.401 (DOI)000302726400004 ()2-s2.0-84859798124 (Scopus ID)
Funder
The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies, A052-2010
Available from: 2012-12-19 Created: 2012-12-19 Last updated: 2022-07-04Bibliographically approved
Co-InvestigatorGentile, Michael
Principal InvestigatorMäkinen, Ilkka Henrik
Co-InvestigatorLeinsalu, Mall
Co-InvestigatorRodin, Johnny
Coordinating organisation
Södertörn University
Funder
Period
2011-01-01 - 2013-12-31
Keywords [sv]
Östersjö- och Östeuropaforskning
Keywords [en]
Baltic and East European studies
National Category
Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)
Identifiers
DiVA, id: project:1898Project, id: A052-2010_OSS