Human potential of the region: problems of reproduction, preservation and use in the context of sustainable development
Authors:   Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University, Yermishev O. , Batsylyeva O. ,   Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University, Shumihai I. ,   Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University, Kuchenko T. ,   Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University
Published: January 2021

Human capital is one of the components of national wealth, therefore, its development should be considered as a factor for strengthening the stability of the territory in the formation of regional policy. The authors' analysis shows that the trends in the development of the human capital lead to a decrease in the stability of the region indicated by the aging population, reduced quality of labour potential, the development of negative migration processes and especially its intellectual characteristics and health capital. As the world practice shows, ensuring sustainable development of a region and a country as a whole is not possible without increasing human capital and its potential. Its importance in the modernization of all aspects of public life is growing steadily. According to the World Bank, in developed countries 64% of the structure of national wealth belongs to human capital, 16% to physical one and only 20% to raw materials. In this regard, the human capital and its potential are among the key factors in the transition to an innovative type of development of a region and a country as a whole. Purpose – to identify patterns of changes and trends in demographic processes and socially determined morbidity of the population of the industrial region of Ukraine, their main causes and opportunities to improve the situation Materials and methods. The materials of the study were domestic and world scientific sources, annual collections of statistical data of the Dnipropetrovsk region and Ukraine as a whole from the demographic development and morbidity of the population; annual reports of the country’s leadership and the Ministry of Health on these issues, information from the WHO Regional Office; legislative documents. Methods were used: bibliosemantic, system analysis, retrospective analysis of public health over demographic indicators (fertility, mortality, natural increase, average life expectancy, child mortality) morbidity for individual classes of diseases leading to the largest share of deaths; medical statistics: relative values, time series, assessment of trends in demographic indicators, morbidity, graphic representation of statistical data, computer technologies Results. The development of the human capital of the population, the quantitative and qualitative potential of its reproduction is a condition, a basis and a goal of sustainable development of society and the state. State policy in the field of public life should be focused primarily on solving the most pressing, priority tasks. In recent years, Ukraine has had a problem of depopulation - a steady decline in population. Public health is the main factor in the formation of demographic processes. Moreover, its level largely affects the development of such processes as mortality and fertility as well as future life expectancy. Thus, the health of the nation determines the number and quality of human resources not only today but also in the future. The population, having a certain life and work potential, loses it at every stage of the development of generations due to injuries, diseases, abortion, stillbirth, premature mortality and so on. The article highlights the main problems of the formation of the population of the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine: the intensification of mortality, male mortality, negative natural growth, a decrease in the total fertility rate, high levels of demographic aging. The population of the Vinnytsia region has decreased over the years of independence by 16.9% (Ukraine – by 18.1%). The overall fertility rate decreased by 30.9%, the overall mortality rate increased by 33.0%, which resulted in negative natural growth and depopulation. The main causes of death in 2019 were diseases of the circulatory system – 67.8%; neoplasms – 14.6%; injuries, poisoning and other consequences of external factors – 5.7%. Despite the decrease in the death rate of children under 1 year by 2 times, the number of children in the region has decreased by more than 100 thousand. people. The elderly population increased to 300 ppm, which led to a regressive type of age structure. Average life expectancy lags far behind (by 10 or more years) from the countries of Western Europe. Proposals are presented on how to improve the demographic situation and prevent diseases leading to the greatest number of deaths. Conclusions. While assessing the real opportunities for human development in the future taking Vinnytsia region as an example, we can see that the significant deterioration of all major medical and demographic indicators that has occurred in recent years puts significant limitations on human resources for further sustainable development of the region and Ukraine. Demographic indicators of the population of Ukraine indicate a deep demographic crisis, as a result of which the population has decreased by 9,7mln. people over the years of independence, in the Vinnytsia region – by 667 thousand. There are a number of objective prerequisites for further depopulation, rejuvenation of death rates from most diseases, high levels demographic old age etc. It is necessary to develop a new long-term targeted comprehensive intersectoral program "Health of the Nation", the main section of which should be measures to overcome the demographic crisis, which would cover not only the issues of simple reproduction of the population, but also its development in a broad social context. The target program should include the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and monitor their implementation at the highest level.