Deaths more than births in 2012
For the first time since 1941 in Greece, deaths outnumbered births in 2012, according to statements made today by assistant professor of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Medical School of the University of Thessaly, Georgios Rachiotis.
Specifically, as he mentioned in accordance with recent data from the National Statistical Office, in 2012 we had 16,000 more deaths than births, something that happened for the first time in Greece after 1941 and resulted in a declining of the population. He noted that the trend of depopulation was spotted in 2011, but at a much lower rate, as it was found that deaths outnumbered births. He in fact remarked that it can be attributed to the significant social and economic changes of recent years.
Moreover, Professor of Hygiene and Epidemiology Christos Hatziichristodoulou pointed out that long-term studies would be required to demonstrate how the crisis affects the demographic data, but all indications show a direct correlation. Nevertheless, he used as an example a study of Aggelos Hatzakis, Professor of Epidemiology in Athens, where there is a surge in AIDS cases among intravenous drug users, after comparing data before and after the crisis.
Those observations were made in the context of statements about Thessaly preparing to participate in two national health studies in the next semester of which one relates to chronic diseases and the second to infectious. The aim of the investigations, which will evolve nationwide, is to to assess the level of public health and improve the prevention process for the first time. The survey will involve 400 randomly selected citizens of Thessaly.
