[Children's health status in ecologically unfavorable regions]

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Pediatrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Official and research data on congenital developmental defects frequency (CDDF) in Novomoskovsk children present discrepancies.
• Previous assessments may not accurately reflect the current health status of the pediatric population in the region.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare official and research data on CDDF in Novomoskovsk children.
• To assess the physical development and health status of children in relation to environmental factors.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of official and research datasets on CDDF.
• Evaluation of physical development against biological age benchmarks.
• Assessment of respiratory health and environmental pollution impact.
• Classification of children's health groups using WHO criteria.

Main Results:

• Discrepancies identified between official and research data on CDDF.
• Average CDDF in Novomoskovsk children does not exceed the Middle European level.
• 25% of children exhibit physical development insufficient for their biological age.
• A significant number of children suffer from respiratory diseases, linked to ambient air pollution.
• 88-93% of children fall into WHO health groups 2-4, indicating compromised health.

Conclusions:

• While overall CDDF rates are comparable to European averages, localized environmental factors like air pollution significantly impact children's health.
• Physical developmental delays and high prevalence of respiratory diseases necessitate targeted public health interventions.
• The study highlights the need for improved environmental monitoring and pediatric healthcare strategies in Novomoskovsk.