Population Of Vojvodina Research Articles

Demographic situation in Vojvodina in the last decade of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century

On the basis of the analyzed demographic data for the last decade of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, one could conclude that the most significant characteristics of the population of Vojvodina are: slow demographic increase; negative population growth; more and more unfavourable age structure; increase in the decision to remain single; relatively low level of urbanization, a very heterogeneous national composition of the population; acceptance of low reproductive norms in the majority of the population; and a very probable depopulation in the future. The discussed demographic features characteristic for Vojvodina as a whole are also present in most of the smaller territorial-administrative units like districts and muinicipalities. Their population is also characterized by the negative population growth, low birthrate and fertility, high general mortality-rate as well as by a very advanced process of demographic ageing. The analysis about the demographic situation in Vojvodina was primarily based on the data from the 1991 and 2002 censuses, as well as on the data of the vital statistics for that inter-census period.

Association of class II HLA antigens and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in the population of Vojvodina

Class II HLA antigens were investigated in a group of 28 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 218 healthy unrelated persons (control group) from Vojvodina. We used a modified two-colour immunofluorescence method (serologic technique) to determine the phenotype of DR and DQ locus HlA antigens. Phenotype frequencies of class II HLA antigens were determined in both investigated groups and were used for calculating relative risk (RR). If RR was higher than 1, we calculated the population attributable risk (EF), and if RR was lower than 1, we calculated the preventive fraction (PF). Investigation of statistically significant differences in frequencies of class II HLA antigens in patients and control group was performed by using chi 2 test. Results of investigation showed that values of RR were higher than 1 for HLA DR4 (2,808), DR10 (1,116) and DQ3 (1,386), while we noticed a statistically significant difference in frequencies of HLA DR4 (chi 2 test: 4,805) in patients regarding control group. HLA DQ1 antigen has a preventive role in development of IDDM due to highest value of PF (0,314). Results of our investigation confirm that there is an association of HLA DR4 with IDDM in population of Vojvodina. High values of relative risk of IDDM, noticed in persons with HLA-DR4 antigen, point to the degree of risk of IDDM, which is a disease with great socioeconomic importance in Vojvodina.

Distribution of ABO, Rh, MNSs, Kell and Duffy blood-group antigens in population of Vojvodina

Analysis of erythrocyte blood group antigen polymorphisms and genetic variability in population of Vojvodina was performed by investigating gene and genotype frequencies which determine antigens of ABO, Rh, MNSs, Kell and Duffy blood-group systems. We investigated 350 unrelated persons from Vojvodina in regard to appurtenance of ABO, Rh, MNSs, Kell and Duffy blood-group systems. We calculated gene, genotype, phenotype frequencies and proportion significance test. Results of investigation revealed that gene and genotype frequencies of investigated blood-group systems are similar to corresponding data for majority of European populations, while statistically significant differences were established in inhabitants of geographically distant regions. Values of proportion significance test revealed statistically significant differences of genotype frequencies for ABO and MNSs blood-group antigens in populations of: Australian Aborigines, Chinese population, Arabians, Blacks, Eskimos, American Indians (Navaho and Pueblo) and population of Papua New Guinea. Statistically significant differences of genotype frequencies were established in inhabitants of narrow geographical areas of Europe such as: Finland, Germany, Sweden, Albania, England and Netherlands. Our results point to the fact that erythrocyte blood-groups have different frequencies in some parts of the world, and that there are great differences in frequencies of some blood-groups among inhabitants of various continents and races. Genetical peculiarity of the population of Vojvodina points to the fact that differences in blood-group frequencies are also present among inhabitants of narrow geographical areas.

Comparative analysis of basic aggregate indicators of Danube-Morava corridor municipalities’ demographic change

In this paper basic indicators of demographic change of Danube-Morava Corridor municipalities were analyzed on the basis of definite results of censuses 1948-2002. Almost half of population of Vojvodina and Central Serbia live in Danube-Morava Corridor municipalities. It is characteristic that these municipalities in all of three big macro-regions differ from the Non-Corridor municipalities by both total population change and population density. Higher values of these indicators in Corridor municipalities throughout region in observed half-century period point out to this territory as potentially main axis of Republic’s development. However, disproportion in Corridor population’s distribution must be noticed, because the largest part of population is located on proportionally very small area of Belgrade municipalities.

Use of a computer program (POSSUM) in examination of residents in a home for developmentally handicapped children and adults in Veternik-Novi Sad for occurrence and diagnostic significance of dysmorphologic signs on the skin

The authors have examined frequency of dysmorphological signs by POSSUM at the Home for developmentally handicapped children and adults in Vetemik--Novi Sad. The aim was to establish possible different hereditary and congenital skin diseases and genetic syndromes in this population. The study was based on the following methods: method of family history including genealogy; dermatoglyphic methods; screening tests methodology in medical genetics; method of cytogenetic analysis; histo-pathological analysis; method of dermatovenerologic, genetic and dysmorphologic examinations of skin diseases by analysis of dysmorphological signs on the skin using a special computer programme. The study included 504 wards with 269 males and 235 females, and sex ratio of 1:1.14 in favour to males. Non-parametric statistics and Log-linear analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the incidence of dysmorphological signs in the studied group and the Vojvodina population. The obtained incidence of dysmorphological signs in the examined group is presented in tables. Our results regarding the incidence of dysmorphological signs in the examined group showed significantly increased values in comparison to the population of Vojvodina.

Population decrease or increase?: First results of the Census 2002 in Central Serbia and Vojvodina

This article analyses the first results of the latest census of population taken in 2002. For the first time, the census was not taken on the whole territory of the FR of Yugoslavia. The Census 2002 was taken after a year long delay, and for the first time, it wasn't conducted in the entire country. It was postponed in Montenegro for another year. So far, a census conducting was not planned in Kosovo and Metohija.According to the first results of the Census 2002, 5454950 persons lived in Central Serbia, and 2024487 in Vojvodina. At the same time, a total of 328795 inhabitants of Central Serbia and 67148 inhabitants of Vojvodina were at 'temporary' work/stay abroad. Compared to the previous census (1991), the population (in the country) of Central Serbia was decreased by 127,7 thousand or -2,3%, while the population of Vojvodina increased by 58,1 thousand or 3,0%. The number of persons 'temporary' abroad, compared to 1991, was significantly increased in Central Serbia (102,5 thousand or 45,3%) and Vojvodina (19,6 thousand or 41,3%). The total population (in country and abroad) of Central Serbia was 5783745, and in Vojvodina 2091635. In the intercensual period, the population of Central Serbia decreased by 25,2 thousand, and it increased by 77,7 thousand in Vojvodina. These dynamics are contrary to the dynamics in the previous intercensual period (1981-1991), when the number of inhabitants of Central Serbia was increased (114,4 thousand, 91,6 out of which was in the country) and of Vojvodina was decreased (by 20,9 thousand, 2,8 out of which was in the country).The second part of the article analyses the population dynamics of municipalities and settlements. In the intercensual period of 1991-2002, three quarters of municipalities (120 out of 161) and four fifths of settlements (3835 out 4705), there was a negative population growth rate. As a rule, these are municipalities and settlements with a relatively large share of refugees and IDPs.

The educational structure of the population of Vojvodina

From the year 1953 to 1991 the population of Vojvodina increased in number at 18.5%. However, the increase was different in each particular region in Vojvodina. Thus, the population increase in Bačka was 21.3%, in Banat 5.1% and in Srem 41.9% in the same period. Similar changes appeared in the educational structure of the analyzed groups of population: persons over 10 years of age (in 1953 there were 1.396.005 people belonging to this age group in Vojvodina, i.e. 82.8% of the total population), and over 15 years of age (in 1991 there were 1.627.459 people belonging to this age group in Vojvodina, i.e. 80.8% of the total population). During this period the portion of the illiterate decreased at 8.6%, i.e. almost three times (by 109.299 persons). The majority of these were women (in 1953 69.6% of the illiterate were women, and in 1991 as many as 75.4%). From the year 1953 to 1991 the portion of people without primary school education decreased at 21.7%, i.e. 4.2 times (by 286.836 persons). It should be noticed that in 1991 there were as many as 432.679 persons (26.6%) who had not completed primary school. The portion of those who completed primary school decreased from 56.3% in 1953 to 25.3% in 1991, whereas the portion of those who completed secondary school increased from 14.0% to 33.0% (2.4 times). However, the major change took place in the group of population who acquired college or university degrees. In the year 1953 the portion of this group represented 0.5% of the analyzed population whereas in 1991 it was 7.4%, which means that the portion of this category increased 14.8 times. .