Cent Eur J Public Health 2005, 13(3):125-131

Could Socio-economic Transformation and the Resulting Psychological Stress Influence Cancer Risk in Opole Province, Poland?

Tukiendorf A.

Technical University, Opole, Poland

The paper presents the results of a risk assessment analysis of cancer morbidity in Opole province before and after a political transformation in Poland, i.e. in the 1985-1989 quinquennium and the following two equivalent periods of: 1990-1994 and 1995-1999. Measures of morbidity are given and its growth in males and females are compared with the ageing effect as well as with unemployment. In the paper a general conclusion has been drawn suggesting that the socio-economic transformation begun after 1989 and the resulting stress could have been the one of the possible background effects influencing the health status in the region. It must be accentuated, however, that the relation has not been a subject of statistical proving due to a methodological impossibility; a divagated question is offered for scientific concern and open discussion.

Keywords: cancer morbidity, socio-economic transformation, ageing effect, unemployment, stress, risk assessment

Received: September 2, 2004; Revised: March 18, 2005; Accepted: March 18, 2005; Published: September 1, 2005  Show citation