Russian Abortion Rate Finally Declines

Russian Abortion Rate Finally Declines

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 28, 2003

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Russia has had one of the highest abortion rates in the world for a long time. However, abortion, used as the country's primary means of birth control, is finally on the decline.

The abortion rate is still astronomical: For every 10 births there are about 13 abortions, compared with roughly three in the United States.

In 1997, there were three abortions registered for every birth in Russia. The infant mortality rate also fell during the same period, and the number of miscarriages has dropped from 21,000 in 1997 to 12,000 in 2002.

Russia ranks second in the world behind Romania in the number of abortions per capita. Girls in Russia under 18 account for every tenth abortion.

Of some 38 million women of childbearing age, about 6 million are infertile, and medical authorities consider abortions a major cause of infertility.

Birth control is credited by abortion advocates as the big reason why the rates are going down, but others say the health system is improving and complications during pregnancy are on the decline as well.

Now the Russian government is looking at driving the rates down even further.

The government's health ministry is considering a proposal to scale back the permissive abortion policy allowing women to have abortions for a host of non-medical reasons. Abortions can be performed for essentially any reason and into the second trimester of pregnancy.

The new proposal would keep abortions legal through the 12th week of pregnancy, but would make abortion relatively rare beyond that.

"Abortion should never in any society be the primary method of birth control," Vladimir Kulakov, a leading gynecologist and head of the Scientific Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, told the Associated Press.

Part of the blame for the high abortion rate lies at the feet of a horrible Russian economy. Following the collapse of communism, it took years for the economy to stabilize.

Now, following four years of better economic times, the Russian birth rate is finally back on the rise. Last year, there were 9.8 births for every 1,000 people compared to 9.1 the year before.

However, population experts still predict Russia, during the middle of the century, will be the largest country in the world but only have one-quarter of the population of the United States.


Enter your email address to receive news from LifeNews.com via email. Do you prefer to receive news daily or weekly? Daily Weekly Do you favor or oppose abortion? Favor Oppose Click here to make a PayPal donation to LifeNews.com!	Russian Abortion Rate Finally Declines by Steven Ertelt LifeNews.com Editor July 28, 2003 Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Russia has had one of the highest abortion rates in the world for a long time. However, abortion, used as the country's primary means of birth control, is finally on the decline. The abortion rate is still astronomical: For every 10 births there are about 13 abortions, compared with roughly three in the United States. In 1997, there were three abortions registered for every birth in Russia. The infant mortality rate also fell during the same period, and the number of miscarriages has dropped from 21,000 in 1997 to 12,000 in 2002. Russia ranks second in the world behind Romania in the number of abortions per capita. Girls in Russia under 18 account for every tenth abortion. Of some 38 million women of childbearing age, about 6 million are infertile, and medical authorities consider abortions a major cause of infertility. Birth control is credited by abortion advocates as the big reason why the rates are going down, but others say the health system is improving and complications during pregnancy are on the decline as well. Now the Russian government is looking at driving the rates down even further. The government's health ministry is considering a proposal to scale back the permissive abortion policy allowing women to have abortions for a host of non-medical reasons. Abortions can be performed for essentially any reason and into the second trimester of pregnancy. The new proposal would keep abortions legal through the 12th week of pregnancy, but would make abortion relatively rare beyond that. "Abortion should never in any society be the primary method of birth control," Vladimir Kulakov, a leading gynecologist and head of the Scientific Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, told the Associated Press. Part of the blame for the high abortion rate lies at the feet of a horrible Russian economy. Following the collapse of communism, it took years for the economy to stabilize. Now, following four years of better economic times, the Russian birth rate is finally back on the rise. Last year, there were 9.8 births for every 1,000 people compared to 9.1 the year before. However, population experts still predict Russia, during the middle of the century, will be the largest country in the world but only have one-quarter of the population of the United States.