Characteristics of the Reproductive Behavior of the Population

Abstract

Data on the main tendencies in Russia in abortion and contraception and in sociohygienic knowledgeability of the population in regard to reproductive matters, show that despite positive tendencies in the population’s contraceptive behavior, the level of reproductive losses due to abortions is quite high; the use of contraceptive methods of low effectiveness is widespread; and there is a deliberate decision not to use contraceptives, a decision that is not connected with planned pregnancy.

Notes

1. According to data of the European Regional Office of the WHO [World Health Organization]. www.gks.ru.

2. Scientific research work studying the reproductive potential of the population has been conducted by the ISERT RAN [Institute for the Social and Economic Development of the Territories, Russian Academy of Sciences] every year since 2004. The sample is the quota type broken down by sex and age; the size of the sample is 1,500 people of reproductive age (fifteen to forty-nine). The sample error does not exceed 5 percent. The survey method is the individual distribution of questionnaires.

3. The percentage of families that have a high disposition to reproduce (the “desired” number of children is three or more) is 19 percent to 20 percent (in 2007 and 2008, respectively). Two children would be the desired number for 56 percent to 55 percent of the inhabitants of the oblast; 20 percent to 23 percent would prefer to have one child; and 5 percent to 2 percent would prefer to remain childless. A total of 16 percent of the inhabitants of Vologda oblast reported that they plan to have three or more children; 53 percent plan to have two children; and 24 percent to 27 percent plan to have one child (in 2007 and 2008, respectively). A total of 8 percent to 4 percent of the population do not plan to have a child. The data are provided by ISERT RAN.

4. The Pearl Index shows how many women out of a hundred become pregnant when using a particular method of contraception in the span of a year.

5. The Pearl Index for combined oral contraceptives comes to 0.05 percent to 0.2 percent; for IUDs, 0.2 percent to 3.0 percent.

6. As defined by the experts of the WHO, the term “family planning” covers types of activity whose purpose is to enable married couples and individual people to freely, and with a sense of responsibility, decide the question of the number and timing of the birth of their children and to have at their disposal the information and means that enable them to make the decision and to ensure a deliberate choice, and also to provide them the opportunity to use a whole range of safe and effective methods (United Nations 1995).