MOSCOW. Oct 18 (Interfax) - The main reason for the poor demographic situation in Russia is the low reproductive capability of the population, medical officials said at a Friday news conference on the reproductive health of Russia.
Russia's Gynecologist General Vladimir Kulikov said that 1.3 million pregnancies are annually registered in Russia, but 60% of women have abortions, 10% lose their unborn babies, and only 30% give live births. In addition, half of the women deciding to have their babies are anemic, which naturally affects the health of their offspring. In 2001, 58.8% of all newborns had various inborn diseases.
"Anemic expectant mothers do not simply need additional nutrition, but additional vitamins and micro-elements as well. Several federal mother-and-child programs provide for that, but their implementation is obstructed by insufficient funding," Kulikov said.
He said Russian medical science has developed original techniques permitting expectant mothers to keep their babies even in the worst cases. "Effective forms for curing infertility have also been developed. However, all that requires serious funding. Budget spending on health protection is increasing year after year, but is clearly insufficient," he added.
Deputy Health Minister Olga Sharapova drew attention to one more problem. "25% of deaths of women during pregnancy are caused by abortions. Moreover, earlier abortions affect following births and the health of future children," she said.
Sharapova stressed that the problem is especially acute among risk groups - minors and low-income families. "The Health Ministry campaign to distribute free contraceptives among risk groups through youth and medical centers was an effective method of preventing abortions. The number of abortions dropped radically in areas where the campaign was waged," she said.
Participants in the news conference also said that not only women have serous reproductive problems. Some 69% of men under 50 in Russia also have them.
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