The Health of Children Aged 15-17 as the Basis of Russia's Labor Potential

Significance. The health of children aged 15-17 is a significant problem, since it is this group of the population that forms the economic and labor potential of the country. This period is a critical stage of development, during which the foundations necessary for a healthy and productive future life are laid. Purpose. To study the general and newly identified morbidity of the 15-17-year-old child population in the Russian Federation for 2019-2023, which will serve as the basis for the development of organizational measures. Material and methods. The study analyzed data on overall morbidity among adolescents aged 15–17 in the Russian Federation for the period from 2019 to 2023 based on the data of statistical yearbooks of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation using statistical (descriptive statistics) and analytical methods, including calculations of intensive and extensive indicators. Conclusions. Diseases of the respiratory system consistently occupied the leading position in the structure of both general and newly identified morbidity rates among adolescents, regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which their share increased by 4.1% and 6.1%, respectively. From 2019 to 2023 among children 15-17 years old, total morbidity increased in six federal districts (Northwestern, Far Eastern, Urals, Volga, Central, Siberian federal districts) and decreased in two federal districts (Southern, North Caucasian federal districts). An increase in total morbidity was registered in 70.6% of the subjects, a decrease - in 29.4%. During the same period, newly identified morbidity increased in virtually all federal districts (Northwestern, Far Eastern, Ural, Volga, North Caucasian, Central, and Siberian), with a decrease recorded only in the Southern Federal District. Growth in the newly identified morbidity rate was observed in 75.29% of the regions and a decrease in 24.71%. Nationally, overall morbidity increased by 6.68%, and newly identified morbidity by 8.95% among adolescents aged 15–17 during the study period. Keywords. child population 15-17 years old; general and newly identified morbidity; morbidity structure.