Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Gordana Bjelobrk Author-Workplace-Name: Head of the Department of Demography, Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia Title: Challenges in collecting data on mortality during the pandemic Publication-Status: Published Journal: Stanovnistvo Pages: 77-79 Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 Month: June DOI: 10.59954/stnv.444 File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/view/444 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/download/444/391 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:eto:stanov:v:59:y:2021:i:1:id:444 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Čipin Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Demography, Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Zagreb, Zagreb (Croatia) Author-Name: Dario Mustač Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Demography, Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Zagreb, Zagreb (Croatia) Author-Name: Petra Međimurec Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Demography, Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Zagreb, Zagreb (Croatia) Title: Impact of COVID-19 on mortality in Croatia Publication-Status: Published Abstract: The main goal of this paper is to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality in Croatia. We estimate two effects of the pandemic on mortality: (1) excess mortality during 2020 and (2) the age- and cause-specific components of life expectancy decline in 2020. We calculate excess mortality in 2020 as the difference between the registered number of deaths in 2020 and the expected number of deaths from a Poisson regression model based on weekly death counts and population exposures by age and sex from 2016 to 2019. Using decomposition techniques, we estimate age- and cause-specific components (distinguishing COVID-19-related deaths from deaths from other causes) of life expectancy decline in 2020. Our results show that excess mortality in 2020 almost entirely results from the second, autumn-winter wave of the epidemic in Croatia. Expectedly, we find the highest excess in deaths in older age groups. In Croatia, life expectancy in 2020 fell by almost eight months for men and about seven months for women. This decline is mostly attributable to COVID-19-related mortality in older ages, especially among men. Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic; excess mortality; life expectancy; Croatia Journal: Stanovnistvo Pages: 1-16 Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 Month: June DOI: 10.2298/STNV2101001C File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/view/447 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/download/447/386 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:eto:stanov:v:59:y:2021:i:1:id:447 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Vladimir Nikitović Author-Workplace-Name: Demographic Research Centre, Institute of Social Sciences, Belgrade (Serbia) Title: Editor’s introduction to the thematic issue ‘COVID-19 in the region of ex-Yugoslavia: the first demographic insights’ Publication-Status: Published Abstract: No. Journal: Stanovnistvo Pages: I-II Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 Month: June DOI: 10.59954/stnv.451 File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/view/451 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/download/451/392 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:eto:stanov:v:59:y:2021:i:1:id:451 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Damir Josipovič Author-Workplace-Name: Institute for Ethnic Studies, Ljubljana (Slovenia) Title: COVID-19 and excess mortality: Was it possible to lower the number of deaths in Slovenia? Publication-Status: Published Abstract: This paper presents new data on the age structure of hospitalised SARI (severe acute respiratory infection) patients, with or without COVID-19, broken down by gender, place of infection, and region. The leading hypothesis that COVID-19 deaths are overestimated despite the high share of excess deaths was confirmed, bringing to light the important issue of the demographic breakdown of the population at risk. Thus, the main reason for the decreasing number of COVID-19 deaths is to be sought within the exhausted demographic pool of the elderly population in 2020, when the mortality rate was 19% higher compared to the previous five-year period (2015–2019). Demographic disparities across regions are immense and statistically explain the differences in the “infected versus deceased” ratio. The excess mortality in 2020 was unusually high, but the projected value for 2020 based on the mortality pattern across age groups from 2015 to 2019 contributed up to one-third of the surplus. So, for one-quarter of alleged COVID-19 deaths (roughly 600 out of some 3,300 in 2020), death was expected to take place in 2020 anyway. Keywords: COVID-19 deaths; excess mortality; age structure; elderly; population projections Journal: Stanovnistvo Pages: 17-30 Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 Month: June DOI: 10.2298/STNV2101017J File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/view/441 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/download/441/389 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:eto:stanov:v:59:y:2021:i:1:id:441 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Marko Galjak Author-Workplace-Name: Demographic Research Centre, Institute of Social Sciences, Belgrade (Serbia) Title: Online scientific conference ‘COVID-19: sociodemographic processes, challenges, and consequences of the pandemic’ Publication-Status: Published Keywords: zoom; conference; corona; SARS-CoV2; Serbia Journal: Stanovnistvo Pages: 81-84 Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 Month: June DOI: 10.59954/stnv.443 File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/view/443 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/download/443/388 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:eto:stanov:v:59:y:2021:i:1:id:443 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mirjana Bobić Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade (Serbia) Author-Name: Daniela Arsenović Author-Workplace-Name: University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences - Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Novi Sad (Serbia) Title: Guest editors’ introduction Publication-Status: Published Abstract: No. Journal: Stanovnistvo Pages: III Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 Month: June DOI: 10.59954/stnv.449 File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/view/449 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/download/449/393 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:eto:stanov:v:59:y:2021:i:1:id:449 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Sanja Klempić Bogadi Author-Workplace-Name: Department for Migration and Demographic Research, Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb (Croatia) Title: The older population and the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Croatia Publication-Status: Published Abstract: The probability of older people contracting COVID-19 is high, and the disease in this population is in a significant percentage of cases accompanied by severe symptoms that can be fatal. Unlike numerous European countries, Croatia introduced epidemiological measures during the first and second waves of the disease that were no more rigorous for the elderly living in their own homes than those for the general population. However, the urge to stay at home and maintain physical distancing has significantly altered the daily lives of all senior citizens. At the same time, very strict measures were introduced for older residents living in nursing homes during both waves. This paper aims to analyse the differences between the lifestyles of the elderly living in their own homes and those accommodated in nursing homes in the context of the epidemiological measures implemented, and to analyse the dominant narrative about the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia. News stories focusing on the elderly exclusively in terms of care, (in)security, and illness(es) construct a position that further excludes, isolates, and intimidates them. In doing so, most attention is paid to problems within social and health institutions (nursing homes and hospitals), while the elderly living in their own homes are largely marginalised. Keywords: COVID-19; older population; Croatia; narrative about the elderly; exclusion Journal: Stanovnistvo Pages: 31-46 Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 Month: June DOI: 10.2298/STNV210406003K File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/view/434 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/download/434/385 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:eto:stanov:v:59:y:2021:i:1:id:434 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Milica Vesković Anđelković Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade (Serbia) Title: The experiences and expectations of returnees to Serbia during the COVID-19 pandemic Publication-Status: Published Abstract: This article discusses the experiences of Serbian citizens who came back to their country of origin just before or at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of the state of emergency. We analysed their motives to return and their experiences during self-isolation. We also highlighted the problems they encountered at the beginning of the pandemic and the impact they had expected the pandemic would have on their social and economic status. The paper covers their plans for mobility after the end of pandemic, as well as potential motives for staying in Serbia. The aim is to show that even though a large number of citizens came back to Serbia when the crisis broke out and could not have predicted what would happen to their social and economic status in their destination countries, they still did not intend to stay in Serbia after the end of the pandemic. The whole social system in Serbia would need to be changed for them to decide to stay. Discussion of the results is based on data collected at the beginning of pandemic by researchers from the Institute of Sociological Research, one of whom was the author of this paper. Due to the health risks related to the coronavirus, we used a quantitative method: a questionnaire distributed online via the Google platform. As such, the respondents were mostly young and educated people who took part in the research because they used the internet on a daily basis and were able to fill in the survey easily. For this reason, the results presented in this article cannot be generalised to represent the whole population, but only the respondents of this research. The findings are placed within a contextual framework in which the world’s population is extremely mobile. We recognised a similarly high level of mobility among Serbian citizens, too. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many different aspects of life, and so a large share of respondents decided to come back to their home country. This was a normal coping strategy, especially for those migrants who did not have officially recognised status in their destination country. Returnees faced many problems when they returned to their home country; they had to self-isolate and did not know what would happen with their jobs once the pandemic was over. They also didn’t know if they would receive an income or what would happen with the social system, either in their home country or in their country of emigration. Analysis of the data revealed that despite their expectations of an economic crisis following the drastic measures introduced to suppress the spread of the coronavirus, a large share of respondents believed that the crisis wouldn’t have an impact on their material and social status in their destination country. Because of that, we noted that most respondents wished to go back to their destination country after the crisis was over. However, it’s suggested that if we want them to stay in Serbia, then the state should introduce measures that include both economic and social reforms. Keywords: returnees; experience of self-isolation; motives of return; expectations after the pandemic; state policy Journal: Stanovnistvo Pages: 47-60 Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 Month: June DOI: 10.2298/STNV2101047V File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/view/442 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/download/442/387 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:eto:stanov:v:59:y:2021:i:1:id:442 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ivan Marinković Author-Workplace-Name: Demographic Research Centre, Institute of Social Sciences, Belgrade (Serbia) Author-Name: Marko Galjak Author-Workplace-Name: Demographic Research Centre, Institute of Social Sciences, Belgrade (Serbia) Title: Excess mortality in Europe and Serbia during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 Publication-Status: Published Abstract: The 2020 pandemic came at a huge demographic cost, particularly regarding the increase in mortality. In this paper we examine excess deaths in Serbia and 34 other European countries in 2020. Methodological inconsistencies and big differences in how COVID-19 deaths were recorded across different countries make it difficult to make any cross-country comparisons, even with the scope limited only to Europe. Since the number of total deaths is a methodologically solid indicator, we looked at the differences between the total number of deaths in 2020 and compared that to deaths in 2019. The lowest increase in mortality – below 5% – occurred in countries in the north of Europe (Norway, Denmark, Finland, Latvia), while the highest increase – over 18% – was recorded in the southern and central parts of the continent (Albania, Northern Macedonia, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Slovenia, Russia). There is no clear geographical regularity. In 2020, Serbia had 12.6% more deaths compared to 2019, which was close to the European average. Within Serbia, statistical differences between regions were not large. Measuring the contribution of COVID-19 deaths to excess mortality is much more problematic. The excess death ratio is more helpful for understanding methodological and data-gathering issues than finding evidence about composition and divergence in mortality. According to this indicator (based on preliminary data), only 25% of excess deaths in Serbia in 2020 were caused by COVID-19, while the European average was 54%. However, in many (primarily Eastern European) countries in 2020, the indirect consequences of COVID-19 on the health of the population were more significant than the direct ones. It is precisely the ratio of COVID-19 diagnoses that led to death in total mortality that shows this. The final results may confirm this statement or indicate potential data manipulation. While this paper focuses only on the year 2020, as of Q1 of 2021, the pandemic is not nearing its end. Based on preliminary data published daily, Serbia had more COVID-19 deaths in the first four months of 2021 than for the whole of 2020. This indicates that the consequences of the pandemic for Serbia will be dire in 2021, regardless of the course the pandemic takes. Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic 2020; preliminary data; excess mortality; Europe Journal: Stanovnistvo Pages: 61-73 Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Year: 2021 Month: June DOI: 10.2298/STNV2101061M File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/view/438 File-Function: Abstract page File-Format: text/html File-URL: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/download/438/390 File-Function: Full text File-Format: application/pdf Handle: RePEc:eto:stanov:v:59:y:2021:i:1:id:438