Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 8, Suppl. 2, 2010 453 Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 8, Suppl. 2, pp 453-465, 2010 Copyright © 2009 Trakia University Available online at: http://www.uni-sz.bg ISSN 1313-7050 (print) ISSN 1313-3551 (online) DYNAMICS OF SOME BASIC DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS IN BULGARIA FOR THE LAST CENTURY G. Petkov 1* , J. Marinova 2 , P. Chakarova 1 , Sv. Dimitrova 2 , G. Yordanov 3 , K. Peeva 2 , B. Parashkevova 2 , G. Chamova 2 , V. Marinov 3 , J. Zdravkova 1 1 Children’s Clinic of the Medicine faculty, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria 2 Social Medicine and Health Management Department of the Medicine faculty, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria 3 Ophthalmology Department of the Medicine faculty, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria ABSTRACT Purpose: to describe and analyze basic demographic indicators in the last century, to discuss the opportunities for overcoming the present demographic crisis. Methods: Information from the national health statistics and the regional office of WHO in Copenhagen for the past 100 years. A descriptive analysis of the status and dynamics of basic demographic indicators in Bulgaria has been done. Results: The demographic development in the beginning of the 20-th century reflects the general tendencies resulting from the socio-economic development of the country, defining the demographic transition and change in the pattern of the reproductive behaviour. Since the beginning of the transition to market economy the long lasting tendency of decreasing child mortality rate has been stopped. The indicator’s critical level is reached in 1997. A trend of decreasing child mortality rate has been marked recently but it remains significantly higher in comparison with the average for the EU countries. The dynamics of the indicators: birth rate, marriage rate, fertility, natural growth is unfavourable in the recent decades. Towards the end of the period a slight improvement occurs in the context of the severe aging of the population. The necessity of a clear concept of demographic policy of the country focusing main directions is underlined. Key words: demographic indicators, demographic crisis, birth rate, concept, growth, demographic policy. Current changes in the demographic status in Bulgaria are raising certain concerns that attract the attention of medical professionals of different fields. Various indicators are used to describe the demographic status. Among them of great importance are the demographic ones. They are topic of interest for us, due to their influence over children’s health and role and participation of pediatricians for its improvement. The purpose of our study is to track and analyze some basic demographic indicators, depicting the demographic status in Bulgaria for the last century, and to discuss the changes that overcome current demographic crisis (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11). ______________________________ *Correspondence to: prof. Georgi Petkov Address: Trakia University, Armejska 11, Medical Faculty, e-mail: prof_petkov@abv.bg MATERIALS AND METHODS An official data supplied by National Health Statistics: - Annual indicators “Healthcare” – 1959-2008 (12); - Health indicators of National Centre for Health Informatics; basic demographic indicators; National Statistical Institute (13, 14); - Health indicators data base HFA of Regional Bureau of WHO (15). Using these sources an SPSS database is built (16). It lacks some data for the first 4 decades of XX-th century to be complete. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Child mortality rate: Child mortality rate (infant deaths per 1000 live births) is extremely sensitive indicator for assessing population’s standard of living, effectiveness and quality of undertaken measures – social and political to ensure child’s well-being.