Environmental and medical and social factors in the quality of life, reproductive health of the population: Priamurye as a case study

Abstract

Quality of life (QL) is one of the most important indicators of human wellbeing and health. We have developed the systematic approach to analyze natural, environmental, medical and social features of the region. We were aimed to study the factors affecting the QL of pregnant women and women of reproductive age: assessment of drinking water quality, medical and social situation in rural and urban areas of Priamurye. To assess the quality of drinking and surface water, 64 samples were analyzed in different functional zones of five settlements; a sociological survey of women of reproductive age and pregnant women was carried out to study the impact of medical, social and environmental factors on their health and quality of life. The results of the study have shown that the ecological state of surface water and underground drinking water is relatively satisfactory: there is an excess in iron and manganese, which is typical for the Ussuri geochemical province; barium content is insignificant. The use of groundwater for drinking purposes requires special purification. More than a half of women are satisfied with their health status; approximately 40% of women claim that high income can provide a certain set of goods and services necessary to maintain and strengthen their health potential.