Premature Death in the New Independent States

In recent years there have been alarming reports of rapid decreases in life expectancy in the New Independent States (former members of the Soviet Union). To help assess priorities for health policy, the Committee on Population organized two workshops—the first on adult mortality and disability, the second on adult health priorities and policies. Participants included demographers, epidemiologists, public health specialists, economists, and policymakers from the NIS countries, the United States, and Western Europe. This volume consists of selected papers presented at the workshops. They assess the reliability of data on mortality, morbidity, and disability; analyze regional patterns and trends in mortality rates and causes of death; review evidence about major determinants of adult mortality; and discuss implications for health policy.

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Premature Death in the New Independent States: Overview
• Recent Trends in Life Expectancy and Causes of Death in Russia, 1970-1993
• Spatial, Age, and Cause-of-Death Patterns of Mortality in Russia, 1988-1989
• Issues of Data Quality in Assessing Mortality Trends and Levels in the New Independent States
• Mortality in the New Independent States: Patterns and Impacts
• Epidemiological Transitions in the Former Socialist Economies: Divergent Patterns of Mortality and Causes of Death
• Soviet and Russian Statistics on Alcohol Consumption and Abuse
• The Anti-Alcohol Campaign and Variations in Russian Mortality
• Mortality from Tobacco in the New Independent States
• Cigarette Smoking and Priorities for Tobacco Control in the New Independent States
• Tobacco Control Policy Strategies: Lessons from Western Developed Countries
• Nutritional Risk Factors in the Former Soviet Union
• Chronic Disease Prevention in the New Independent States: Finnish Experiences
• Diet Modification and Food Policy Strategies: What Works?
• Appendix - Workshop Agendas
• Index
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