Penza, 19 December 2012. PenzaNews. Natural population loss decreased by 23% in the Penza region in 11 months of 2012 compared to the same period last year.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Health of the region, since the beginning of this year 13,672 children were born in the Penza region, which is 901 more than in 2011.

“The highest birth rates are observed in Bessonovsky, Gorodishchensky, Kolyshleysky, Kuznetsky, Sosnovoborsky areas, and Kuznetsk,” the press service explained, adding that the number of abortions in the region reduced by 15,4%.

The press service of the Ministry also noted that the overall mortality rate decreased by 3,2%.

“There were registered 617 deaths less than in 11 months of 2011 in the Penza region. The lowest mortality rates are observed in Penza and Kuznetsk. Moreover, there is a decrease of death rates from a number of pathologies — from diseases of the circulatory system (-243 cases), malignant neoplasms (-80), pneumonia (-60), as well as alcohol poisoning (-39), and tuberculosis (-12),” clarified the Ministry.