Branislav Šprocha, Department of Economic and Social Geography, Demography and Territorial Development, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University Bratislava, INFOSTAT – Demographic Research Centre, Slovak Republic

Type of article: scientific article
Pages: 3 – 22

Abstract

One of the important reasons for the lower life expectancy at birth in Slovakia compared to some countries, especially in northern and southwestern Europe, seems to be the higher mortality from avoidable causes of death. This is also reflected in premature deaths and years of life lost due to deaths from this specific causes of death. The paper aims to empirically identify the years of life lost in Slovakia and its regions due to causes of death that are perceived as avoidable according to the latest Eurostat and the OECD classification. We also attempt to point out the main development trends. The internal structure of avoidable mortality is also analyzed through its three main subgroups. The regional analysis is aimed above all on the development and identification of the primary spatial differences in the years of life lost due to premature deaths from one of the avoidable causes of death.