COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ABORTIONS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND ITS REGIONS

Objective. To comparatively analyze the trend in abortions and their patterns in the country as a whole and its regions from their rates per 1000 women of reproductive age and per 100 live and still births. Material and methods. The official statistical data of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of Russia on abortions in the Russian Federation (RF) and its regions in 2005—2008 were used; the trend in abortion rates was analyzed in this period; an aggregate of the areas was divided according to the abortion rates, by applying the quartile distribution. Results. The number of abortions per 1000 women of reproductive age and 100 live and still births dropped in both the country as a whole and in its all federal districts. The vast majority (93.5%) of abortions were performed at less than 12 weeks gestation. According to the quartile distribution of the number of abortions, this indicator exceeded the mean rate (32.9%) in most RF subjects. Conclusion. For a further reduction in the number of abortions, it is necessary to improve preventive measures against abortions, mainly medical (legal) ones, and to introduce the positive experience accumulated in the regions.

abortion, fertile age, quartile distribution, regional characteristics