A Population Study of the Quality of Life of the Habitancy of the Chukotka Autonomous Area

The aim was to study the indicators of quality of life of the adult population of the Chukotka Autonomous Region (ChAO) and to identify characteristics specific to the remote arctic area. Methods: The study included 424 residents of the Chukotka Autonomous Region aged 18 to 77 years old (231 - women and 193 - men). Using the RAND SF-36 questionnaire, health-related quality of life indicators were evaluated. Results: The average indicators of the life quality of Chukotka population were the following: physical functioning - 87.1 ± 17.9 points; role-physical functioning - 79.0 ± 32.1 points; pain index - 76.2 ± 23.3 points; general health - 63.9 ± 20.0 points; viability - 65.1 ± 18.1 points; social functioning - 81.7 ± 19.3 points; role-emotional functioning - 79.9 ± 31.1 points; mental health - 69.7 ± 16.9 points. The life quality of women was significantly lower than that of men according to the following scales: physical functioning (84.0 versus 90.1 points), role-physical functioning (75.2 versus 82.6 points), role-emotional functioning (77.2 versus 82, 4 points), pain (72.5 versus 79.7 points) and social functioning (79.9 versus 83.3 points). The lowest vitality index (59.9 points), role-emotional functioning (68.6 points) and mental health (65.3 points) were stated in the age group of 55-64 years. Conclusion: The quality of life indicators in women living in Chukotka area are lower than in men according to the scales: physical functioning, role-physical and role-emotional functioning, pain index and social functioning. The scales: overall health, vitality, and mental health indices were similar in men and women. The highest indicators of quality of life were in residents aged 18-34 years. Urban residents had higher quality of life indicators than residents of rural areas and urban-type settlements. The quality of life of the indigenous population of Chukotka area was significantly lower than that of the non-indigenous population for all the indicators; no differences were found in the life quality indicators between the Chukchi and other indigenous ethnic groups of Chukotka. Widowed respondents showed the lowest indicators of quality of life

Epistemology · Geography · Population · Sociology · Arctic and Russian Policy Studies · Demography · Healthcare Systems and Public Health · Human Health and Disease · Philosophy