Assessment of awareness of Kazakhstan population about influence of radiation on the health status

Lyudmila M. Pivina, Yuliya M. Semenova, Т И Белихина, A Manatova, Булегенов Т.А., Abisheva A.S., Tamara Zhunussova

2018

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DOI 10.1093/eurpub/cky218.070
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

Background: Evaluation of psychological health in the population of East-Kazakhstan Area suggests a more severe depression, anxiety and asthenization in the residents of exposed to radiation areas. The cause of this can be inadequate public awareness of the impact of radiation risk factors on health status. Methods: We evaluated the awareness of influence of radiation and non-radiation factors on the health status in the population exposed to radiation on the territories of Abai (n = 233), Borodulikha (n = 222) districts, and control Kurchum district (n = 245) of East Kazakhstan region. We used a specially created questionnaire including questions about the most disturbing problem, the opinion on the impact of the nuclear test site on health, satisfaction with state compensation for damage to health and sources of information on radiation doses. 76.9% examined people were exposed in childhood, 23.9% were born from irradiated parents. Average individual dose for the population of Abai district was 7.53 cSv, Borodulikha district – 2.8 cSv; dose of their parents – 96.75 and 26.73 cSv respectively. Results: More than 70% of respondents in the main group noted that the most disturbing problem is their own health and environmental situation, in the control group only 53% identified these factors as the main problem. In regard to negative impact of radiation on the health over 80% of the respondents in the main group responded positively, while in the control group such rate was only 40%. More than 68% of the main group responded that state compensation for health damage was inadequate. The main sources of information for 38% of the people were neighbors or relatives, for 50% - official documents, and for 12% - television. Conclusions: These respondents' answers indicate insufficient efforts of government programs in solving of social problems in the radiation contaminated territories, which can lead to exacerbation of psychological maladaptation in the population. Key messages: Residents of radiation contaminated areas are dissatisfied with state compensations and health state. It is needed to strengthen governmental support to solve the social problems of exposed population.