[Population health and socioeconomic problems of society]

The results of a social-and-hygienic study of the health condition of different social-and-economic population groups are under consideration. It was established that the income status of people determines directly their life quality, i.e. the volume and assortment of foodstuffs, the regularity and value of recreation, the mode of labor and life, a possibility to improve their professional skills, satisfaction of spiritual needs etc. The differences of the life quality between various social-and-economic groups are a social gradient predetermining the differences in their health condition. As the material welfare of a family decreases, the frequency rate of diseases among both the adults and children goes up. The property status determines a degree of availability of medical care and of medical preparations. The definition of a realistic picture of population health is necessary to provide an information foundation for determining the population's objective needs in various types of medical assistance, in medical drugs and in medical equipment means.