On Dynamics of Gender-Specific Mortality Among the Population of the Republic of Belarus in the Second Half of the XX – the Beginning of the XXI Centuries

Abstract

Aim of the study: to evaluate the dynamics and to make a comparative analysis of male and female mortality among the population of Belarus Republic during 1959 – 2015.Materials and methods. The data on natural population movement in the Republic of Belarus during 1959 – 2015 have been analyzed in the research work. Crude and standardized mortality rates have been calculated using the direct standardization according to the world standard (Standard “World”), approved by WHO. JoinPoint software was used to investigate time trends as well as office suite MSEXCEL 2010.Results of the study. The minimum values of male and female crude and standardized mortality rates were established in 1964. Throughout the study period, the male population mortality rate grew 1.8-fold (based on crude rates – 2.4-fold), the female population mortality rate – 1.6-fold (based on crude rates – 2.2-fold). During 1985 – 2005, the differences in crude mortality rates among men and women grew 1.2-fold, and during 1962 – 2011, the differences in standardized rates increased 1.8-fold. Since 2003, the mortality rate among men and since 1999, the death rate among women has declined with an annual decrease rate to be more than twice as high as compared to an annual mortality increase registered during its growth.Conclusion. Since the 1960s, the changes in population age structure of the male and female population affected the crude mortality rates. The male and female mortality growth is due to an increased unfavorable impact of combined environmental factors. The adaptive capacity of women to sustain environmental changes contributed to their later entry into the period of mortality growth, as compared to men. The mortality rate reduction in men since 2003 and the excess of a decrease over an increase rate is associated with a set of state measures aimed at protecting and strengthening the public health in the republic.