[The application of DPS/HIS system in demographic study of the Polish-German cross border region].

Demographic situation in Polish and German cross border regions was compared in this study. The data from 17 Polish powiats, including 2 cities with powiat status: Gorzów Wielkopolski i Zielona Góra, and from 7 German powiats (Kreis), including 2 cities with powiat status (Kreisfreie Stadt): Cottbus and Frankfurt on Odra were analysed. The data concerning demographic structure of population, live births, perinatal and infant mortality were stored and analysed using Data Presentation System (DPS 2.0). In Polish powiats higher percentage of children and adolescents, and lower percentage of population in age 65 years and more was observed than in German Kreis. Both in Poland and in Germany the cities with powiat status differ from other powiats of their country by low percentage of the young (up to 14 years old in Germany and less than 24 in Poland). In Polish powiats more children are born in relation to both the total population and number of women in reproductive age (15-44 years). The decrease in number of live births observed recently in both countries is stronger in Poland. The perinatal mortality in Polish zone systematically decreased, reaching the level close to that of German zone. Despite the infant mortality in Polish zone is decreasing, it's still almost twice higher than in German zone.