Physicians, Politicians In Russia Increasing Efforts To Discourage Abortion, Los Angeles Times Reports

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 24 Sep 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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Physicians and politicians in Russia are "quietly" increasing efforts to dissuade patients from abortion in the country, which is believed to have the highest abortion rate worldwide, the Los Angeles Times reports.

According to the Times, contraceptive use in Russia is low, and many Russian women rely on abortion if they experience an unplanned pregnancy. Although Russia's Federal State Statistics Service in 2007 reported a higher number of live births than abortions, some doctors have said the statistic is flawed because abortions performed in private clinics were not counted.

Alexander Medvedev, a gynecologist who performs abortions, said more physicians, including those in community clinics, are changing their attitudes about abortion and "are trying to dissuade patients from abortion." Under Russian law, parental consent is required for minors seeking abortion who are younger than age 16; however, some gynecologists have attempted to persuade younger women against abortions by involving the parents of women younger than age 19.

According to the Times, the Russian government recently restricted abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy and "toughened" language on waivers women must sign before undergoing abortion. Until recently, abortions were easily accessible after the 12th week of pregnancy if a woman told a social worker she would be unable to raise the child. Abortions now are permitted after the 12 weeks' gestation only in special circumstances, such as the death of a husband or a health emergency. In addition, the Russian government is persuading citizens to have more children to maintain the country's population.

Natalia Karpovich -- a leader of the State Duma committee focused on family, women and children -- said Russia has a high abortion rate in part because of a nationwide trend that emphasizes economic development as a priority, adding that Russia's "economic development ... has led us away from the priority of building a family and gave a serious boost to abortion." Karpovich and other lawmakers are calling for messages that encourage women to have children by offering cash bonuses and more day care centers across the country. Karpovich also has called for media messages that discuss the risks of abortion. "Like on packs of cigarettes or bottles of alcohol, advertisements for abortion services should be obligated to warn about the consequences" of the procedure, Karpovich said (Stack, Los Angeles Times, 9/21).

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