MODELLING OF FACTORS THAT REDUCE DEATH RATE OF RURAL POPULATION IN RUSSIA
The study aims to analyze the structure of the causes of death in rural areas of Russia, to assess the socio-economic, demographic, and environmental factors that lead to death rate reduction. The methodology of research includes the methods of cluster, correlation, and regression analysis. Through cluster analysis the authors identify five relatively homogeneous, according to the nosological profile of rural population mortality, groups of regions in Russia. Through regression models the authors assess the impact of socio-economic, demographic and environmental indicators on the mortality rate of the rural population in Russia. The results of the models show that increasing funding for healthcare leads to falling mortality rate of the rural population. However, there are factors that hinder the reduction of the death rate, they are, first, demographic aging of the rural population, growing proportion of people of retirement age; second, alcohol abuse; and third, high level of crime in rural areas. Apart from the above mentioned factors, there are other statistically significant factors in each group of regions: they are, in the first and fourth groups of regions, increasing the number of doctors and hospital beds in rural hospitals, in the second group, increasing the number of all medical staff, and, in the fifth group, decreasing unemployment rate. The results and findings of the research can be used in the implementation of regional programs of demographic and social development.