Consequences of the war with the russian federation for the public health of Ukraine

Abstract

According to experts’ data, the war between Ukraine and Russia may become one of the bloodiest in modern history – the scale of losses on both sides is already much higher than in a typical war of the modern era. The objective: to determine the consequences of the war with the Russian Federation for the public health of Ukrainian population in the regions temporarily occupied by Russian army and located in the war zone.Materials and methods. The research materials were the data from scientific literature and personal practical experience in the organization of public health care. The method of the system approach, the bibliosemantic method and the method of structural and logical analysis were used. Results. The analysis of the was consequences with the Russian Federation for public health in the regions that are temporarily occupied and are located in the zone of active hostilities shows that they are complex and include medical-demographic, socio-economic and behavioral-biological groups. The main negative medico-demographic consequences include: an increase in the incidence of socially significant and infectious diseases, mental exhaustion with an increase in the level of psychological and mental problems with a high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder development with an increase in the general and premature mortality of the population without receiving medical help and self-medication and a high level of forced population migration. The main socio-economic consequences that negatively affect the state of public health include: the tragic loss of relative persons, housing and property, a decrease in the economic level of the population, the loss of social status of the large part of the population, a low level of access to the Internet and mobile communications connection or its complete absence (forced isolation), the significant damage of the infrastructure of the energy supply system for life, a low level of access to medical services and medicines. The main behavioral and biological consequences that negatively affect the state of public health include: the loss of previously stable conditions of quality life, living in unfavorable sanitary and hygienic conditions and in constant stress, the loss of motivation for behavior directed at a responsible attitude to personal health.Conclusions. The war with the Russian Federation has a significant negative impact on the state of public health in Ukraine.

Identification of the Consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian War for the Health Care System

“…Вітчизняні дослідники проблем громадського здоров'я в Україні І. Миронюк, Г. Слабкий, О. Щербінська, В. Білак-Лук'янчук зазначають, що «наслідки війни для України сьогодні найчастіше оцінюють через призму економічних збитків, руйнувань інфраструктури та кількості загиблих» [8]. Погоджуємося із даним твердженням та подальшими обґрунтуваннями вчених щодо значної вузькості такого підходу до ідентифікації та оцінки наслідків російсько-української війни.…”

Analysis of the State of Psychiatric Care in Ukraine

“…The population affected by armed conflicts is more than 20 % more vulnerable to psychosocial stress and the prevalence of mental and behavioral disorders, namely depression, anxiety, etc. [2]. WHO expert on mental health and psychosocial support, Fami Khan, believes that more than 8.5 million Ukrainian residents are at potential risk of developing depression and post-traumatic stress as a result of the war [3].…”

The Nature of Combat Stress Development During Military Operations and Psychotherapy in Extreme Situations

“…Because combat stress can manifest itself at multiple levels and affects adaptive activity in combat, the other concepts include prolonged pathological conditions of the central nervous system, where the battle stress is the primary cause. Myroniuk et al (2022) paid special attention to psychogenic disorders that occur during military operations in both defenders and civilians. The authors have defined combat stress as mental exhaustion, which carries a number of organic diseases with it.…”