Schreuder, Lisa (2021) The contribution of alcohol use and smoking to the gender gap in life expectancy in Central Asia between 1981-2017. Master thesis.
|
Text
Master thesis - Gender gap in life expectancy in Central Asia - Lisa Schreuder - s2973294.pdf Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Background: Gender differences in alcohol consumption and smoking play a role in the gender gap in life expectancy and have an apparent advantage for women, but little is known about this in Central Asia. Examining the gender gap in life expectancy can reduce mortality differences and identify societal gains. The objective is to explore the impact of alcohol use and smoking on the gender gap in life expectancy in Central Asia and how this is changing between 1981-2017. Data and Methods: To calculate gender differences in life expectancy and alcohol- and smoking-attributable mortality, the WHO mortality database was used with population, all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality data. Life tables were calculated for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan for the period 1981-2017 and were afterwards decomposed into the contribution of alcohol- and smoking-attributable mortality. Using the alcohol cause-specific fractions from the GBD alcohol-attributable mortality was estimated. Using WHO lung cancer mortality data and the Peto-Lopez method, smoking-attributable mortality was calculated. The Arriaga decomposition technique was used to calculate the contribution of alcohol and smoking to the gender gap in life expectancy. Results: Central Asian women live on average 6.1 years longer than men in the most recent situation. The average gender gap in life expectancy within the countries and research period ranges from 10.1 years (Kazakhstan) to 4.7 years (Tajikistan). Over time the gap showed subsequently a decrease, an increase, and a slight decrease again. In the most recent situation alcohol-attributable mortality accounts on average for 1.30 years (21%) of the gender difference in life expectancy and smoking-attributable mortality for 1.21 years (18%). In Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan the contribution of alcohol is bigger and in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, the contribution of smoking is bigger. Alcohol-attributable mortality first showed a decrease and subsequently increased and decreased again. Smoking-attributable mortality remained more stable at first and decreased in the 1990s. The contribution of alcohol or smoking-attributable mortality followed a similar trend in all five countries, but differences between them are large. Kazakhstan is having the highest absolute and relative contributions and Tajikistan the lowest. Conclusion: Even though the gender gap in life expectancy at birth is decreasing in Central Asia, women live on average 6.1 years longer. The gap in life expectancy can for 21% be explained by alcohol use and for 18% by smoking. Addressing the difference in male and female smoking patterns and especially alcohol use will help decrease the gender difference in life expectancy and country differences must be considered when conducting future research or formulating new policies.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Population Studies |
| Supervisor: | Janssen, F. |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Aug 2021 13:43 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Aug 2021 13:43 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3646 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |