Epidemiology of alcoholism in Russia and Belarus
The aim of this study was comparative analysis the levels and dynamics of epidemiological parameters of alcoholism in Russia and Belarus Soviet (1970-1991) and post-Soviet (1992-2015) periods. Methods. The following indices were used in this study: incidence of alcoholism, incidence of alcoholic psychoses, alcohol sales per capita, vodka sales per capita, fatal alcohol poisonings, affordability of alcohol, gender gap in suicide mortality, gross domestic product. To examine the relationship between the independent and dependent variables a Spearman's correlation analysis was performed using the statistical package «Statistica 12.StatSoft». Results. According to the results of the correlation analysis, in Russia, the incidence of alcoholism and alcoholic psychoses were positively associated with vodka sales per capita, fatal alcohol poisonings, the gender gap in suicide rates and negatively associated with gross domestic product and affordability of alcohol. In Belarus, the incidence of alcoholism positively correlated with gross domestic product, alcohol sales, fatal alcohol poisonings and affordability of alcohol. The incidence of alcoholic psychoses positively associated with fatal alcohol poisonings, gender gap in suicide rates and negatively associated with gross domestic product. Conclusions. The dynamic of epidemiological parameters of alcoholism in Russia and Belarus in the post-Soviet period was affected by complex interplay of different factors including affordability of alcohol, psychosocial distress and effectiveness of functioning of narcological service.