Predicting fertility, neonatal and perinatal mortality, and stillbirths for evaluation of the needs for perinatal care in the future post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To predict trends in fertility, neonatal and perinatal mortality, and stillbirth rates to ascertain future perinatal care requirements during the post-war reconstruction in Ukraine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The study uses the data from the Centre for Medical Statistics of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, covering the years 2012 to 2022. The data analysis was by a univariate linear regression model. The quality of these models was evaluated using the coefficient of determination, R2. RESULTS: Results: In 2022, the birth rate in Ukraine had declined to 2.5 times lower than that of 2011. The period was characterized by a notable increase in the incidence of premature births and in neonates with birth weights under 1000 grams and between 1000 to 2499 grams. While the neonatal mortality rate decreased by 3.7 times, there remains a statistically significant (p<0.05) increase in the mortality rates of premature infants and neonates weighing less than 1000 grams. The stillbirth rate in Ukraine remains constant; however, it exceeds that of the European Union. Predictions indicate a rise in antenatal mortality and a reduction in both intranatal and perinatal mortality. As of 2022, the perinatal mortality rate in Ukraine made up 7.72 per 1000 live births, which is significantly higher than the rate in the European Union. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The optimization of the network of healthcare facilities and resources should be prioritized, in response to the reliable decline in the birth rate. This necessitates improvements in the medical care for premature and low birth weight infants, and efforts for preventing stillbirths.

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS: THE THIRD MARIE SKLODOWSKA-CURIE SYMPOSIUM ON CANCER RESEARCH AND CARE AT ROSWELL PARK COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER, BUFFALO, NY, SEPTEMBER 20-22, 2023.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie Symposia on Cancer Research and Care (MSCS-CRC) promote collaborations between cancer researchers and care providers in the United States, Canada and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), to accelerate the development of new cancer therapies, advance early detection and prevention, increase cancer awareness, and improve cancer care and the quality of life of patients and their families. The third edition of MSCS-CRC, held at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, in September 2023, brought together 137 participants from 20 academic institutions in the US, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Croatia and Hungary, together with 16 biotech and pharma entities. The key areas of collaborative opportunity identified during the meeting are a) creating of a database of available collaborative projects in the areas of early-phase clinical trials, preclinical development, and identification of early biomarkers; b) promoting awareness of cancer risks and efforts at cancer prevention; c) laboratory and clinical training; and d) sharing experience in cost-effective delivery of cancer care and improving the quality of life of cancer patients and their families. Examples of ongoing international collaborations in the above areas were discussed. Participation of the representatives of the Warsaw-based Medical Research Agency, National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the United States, National Cancer Research Institutes of Poland and Lithuania, New York State Empire State Development, Ministry of Health of Ukraine and Translational Research Cancer Center Consortium of 13 cancer centers from the US and Canada, facilitated the discussion of available governmental and non-governmental funding initiatives in the above areas.