Living Standards Measurements Study - Serbia 2002 - 2007

educe the negative trends in the health of the
population. Of all health disorders, the population of
Serbia is mostly affected by non-infectious diseases:
ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases,
lung cancer, unipolar depressive disorders, and
diabetes mellitus were responsible for almost two
thirds of diseases (70 percent) 7 . Every second
inhabitant in Serbia dies each year of cardiovascular
diseases, and every fifth inhabitant dies of
malignant tumours. The two most common causes
of death in Serbia have been the same for some time
now, with a tendency toward an increase in 2002
and 2006: diseases of the circulatory system are
becoming a more significant cause of death with 55
percent in 2002 to 57 percent in 2006, and tumours,
as a cause of mortality, with 18 percent in 2002 to
20 percent in 2006 8 .
7.3. State of the Populations Health
One of the significant indicators of the state of
health and quality of life is ones own perception of
health, i.e. subjective health assessment. This does
not accurately reflect the medically measured state
of health, but most frequently correspond to clinical
findings. It includes individual evaluation of
physiological, psychological and social welfare and
the effects that health has on other aspects of life.
In 2007, 60 percent of the population in Serbia
assessed their health as good and 19 percent as bad
(Graph 1). If we consider only the population over
15 years 9 (people below the age of 14 typically
assess their health as good and very good) the
percentage of those who assess their health as good,
was 56 percent, and as bad, 22 percent. It can be
seen that only every third inhabitant is in the first
quintile (32 percent), and only every ninth
inhabitant of the richest quintile (12 percent)
assessed their health as bad. The proportion of the
population that assesses their health status as good
increases with economic prosperity whereas the
percentage of inhabitants, who assess their health as
bad, decreases (Graph 2).
Nearly one third of the population in Serbia
(32 percent) reported that they suffered from a longlasting
disease or a health problem. Women
reported it more frequently than men (36 percent
and 28 percent respectively), and it was particularly
high in those aged over 60 (73 percent). The
frequency of this finding was also higher among
poorer respondents who fell into the first and
second quintile (30 percent and 29 percent).
Health
Graph 7.1. Self-assessment of population health,
2007
21%
15%
4%
33%
27%
Very good
Good
Fair
Bad
Very bad
Graph 7.2. Self-assessment of population health
reported by 15+ according to expenditure
quintiles
Richest
4
Bad
3
Fair
Good2
Poorest
Total
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
% population 15+
The most frequently reported chronic diseases
and health problems were increased blood pressure
and heart diseases (16 percent) and 6 percent
reported hand and arm disability (including arthritis
and rheumatism) 10 . Since the frequency of these
diseases increases with age, they are most common
in those aged over 45. For those aged over 60 these
diseases are three to four times more frequent than
compared to the average population. In relation to
individually observed diseases no significant
difference was observed regarding the type of
habitation, geographic region and socio-economic
category.
Four fifths of the population with chronic
diseases (80 percent) used health services. Children
between the ages 0 and 14 years used services
significantly less frequently (only 56 percent) - a
very unfavourable finding. One of the worst
85