The article focuses on the perception of Yakut literary texts by students – representatives of different nations and countries. The authors have chosen three classical works of famous Yakut writers as subjects of the research - V.S. Yakovlev-Dalan “Glukhoi Viluy / Tulaaiakh ogho” (‘The Remote Viluy River”), a drama of A.I. Sofronov-Alampa «Taptal» («Любовь»)”Love” and a story of N.G. Zolotarev (Nikolay Yakutskiy) «Kemusteekh yuryuie» («Золотой ручей») ”Golden Stream”. It is stated that acquaintance with other cultures through literary works can be one of the most effective ways of intercultural communication as it helps better understanding of cultural diversities. Such cultural conflicts as murder (killing a kin), women’s rights and the loss of historical lands of the local people with the coming of the representatives of other cultures are described and analyzed. The research predictably revealed the differences in the perception of the respondents as their answers have been discussable and variable, especially among the representatives of the eastern and the western worlds though their attitude in common are the same for all human beings. Those concepts which were culturally arguable provoked serious thought process. As a result of the research it can be stated that cross-cultural conflicts can have not only a destructive function but also a constructive one as well.

In order to assess the mortality and lethality rates of newborns in obstetric organizations of the North-Western Federal District in 2013–2019, a comparative analysis of official statistics data was carried out. It was found that in the North-Western Federal District in the period from 2013 to 2019, there was an almost annual decrease in newborn mortality rates. The overall decrease in mortality in maternity care organizations of the Federal District (from 2,5% to 1,9%) was mainly due to a decrease in mortality in obstetric hospitals of the first and second levels (respectively from 3,2% to 1,2% and from 1,7% to 0,7%), while most children died in perinatal centers, where the mortality rate has not changed in recent years (2013 – 4,1%; 2019 – 4,0%). The study showed a decrease in mortality rates in the subjects of the Russian Federation that are part of the federal district, except for the city of St. Petersburg. The average hospital lethality rate of newborns in maternity care organizations of the North-Western Federal District during 2013–2019 was in the range of 1,9%–2,0%, did not change significantly and corresponded to the national average. However, the level of hospital lethality significantly differed in individual subjects of the district – in more than half of them, the level of hospital lethality exceeded the average, while in others it was significantly lower. Thus, the decrease in the mortality and lethality rates of newborns in maternity care organizations indicates an increase in the quality of medical care for children in the North-Western Federal District. dicates an increase in the quality of medical care for children in the North-Western Federal District.