Trends in the number of internally displaced persons in Ukraine in the context of main demographic indicators

Abstract

According to the results of the health index calculation, Ukraine faces a complex situation regarding demographic indicators, characterized by a declining population, a rise in negative natural population growth, and low average life expectancy. The number of migrants and internally displaced persons is growing, and they face numerous barriers to accessing medical and social assistance. The purpose of this study is to examine general demographic changes and trends, including the dynamics and regional characteristics of the number of internally displaced persons in Ukraine. Materials and Methods. A comprehensive retrospective statistical analysis was conducted of data from the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine on key demographic indicators broken down by region of Ukraine, as well as data from the Unified State Information and Database on Internally Displaced Persons (USIDP) regarding the number of internally displaced persons, broken down by region and social category. The following methods were applied: medical-statistical; bibliosemantic; content analysis; and structural-logical analysis. Results. Since gaining independence Ukraine has lost a significant portion of its population, particularly in rural areas. Its gender composition remains unchanged (women account for about 54.0% of the population, and men for about 46.0%). The gap between the average age of men and women exceeds five years in favor of women (the average age of women is 44.7 years, compared to 39.4 years for men). Despite this decline, in 2021 the difference in average life expectancy between women and men was 9.2 years (average life expectancy for women was 74.36 years, compared to 65.16 years for men). Compared to countries with a high Global Health Index, these figures in Ukraine are significantly lower (for example, in Singapore –84.5 years, in Japan – 84.7 years, and in Norway – 84.09 years). Conclusions. With projections of a further decline in Ukraine’s population, there remains a significant number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are forced to rebuild their social networks, including access to and logistics of receiving medical care. This group is vulnerable to various challenges due to the loss of their previous socioeconomic status and social environment. Such circumstances affect their health, and IDPs, as a socially vulnerable group, require access to affordable medical care. It is necessary to identify barriers to the provision of medical care to IDPs while also studying the regional characteristics of their settlement patterns and their age- and gender-based composition, including the proportion of persons with disabilities, older adults, and children. Further clarification is needed regarding the need for psychological and rehabilitative assistance, which can be conducted in conjunction with a study of the IDPs’ lifestyles and attitudes toward their own health in their new living conditions.