Methodology for Integral Assessment of Physical Population Health

Abstract

5ISEE-0348 Background and Objective: The prevention of negative changes in human organisms is impossible without adequate estimations of the background environment and the general population health. Methods: A unified procedure enabled the definition of the integral criteria describing the risks for biota and humans from harmful ecological factors, and the assessment of the physical health of the population was based on central health statistics. Morbidity rates for various illnesses characterising the physical health of the adult and child population in 24 regions and the Crimea were analysed, and maps of integral physical population health for 2002 and 2006 were prepared. Results: The analyses showed that in 2002 and 2006 there were no regions with a “dangerous” state of health. A “critical” state of health was found in only one region (Vinnitsa) in 2002, whereas in 2006 four regions of “high” and “critical” levels of health damage were detected (Vinnitsa, Cherkassk, Dnepropetrovsk and Kharkov). In 2002 it was observed that a “conflicting” condition of population health was the most common occurrence (16 regions), and in 2006 it was that of “threatening” condition (12 regions). As a whole, the integral physical health of the child and adult population in 2002 was estimated as “conflicting” (ICID = 0.436), whereas in 2006 it was “threatening” (ICID = 0.520). Conclusions: The calculated data enabled: (i) the ranking of each region according to the status of population health; (ii) the identification of regions most hazardous to human health and which require the introduction of rehabilitation measures; (iii) the estimation of environmental conditions as per these parameters; and (iv) the identification of regions with favourable conditions for the rehabilitation of population health.