The Soviet country profile: Health of the U.S.S.R. population in the 70s and 80s--An approach to a comprehensive analysis

This paper reviews data from 1970 onwards on the distribution of health resources and health status for urban and rural areas and for the 15 Soviet republics. Major disparities exist between republics and especially between the European republics in the North and West and those of Central Asia and Transcaucasia. The former show relatively low infant death rates but high adult mortality, particularly for middle-aged males; rates of death due to circulatory diseases and malignant neoplasms have increased in these republics and special studies reveal a high incidence of alcohol-related diseases. In contrast, the Central Asian and Transcaucasian republics have extremely high infant mortality but high levels of life-expectancy thereafter. An index of medical inequality shows a much lower level of resources in these republics. Recent long-term strategies are described which aim to raise the income and status of health personnel from their relatively low levels and to equalize the distribution of health care across the country.