Abortion Rates In Russia - Research Paper Example

Section/# Abortion and the Russian Federation The debate surrounding abortion is a relatively new phenomenon within much of the world, speaking historically. Whereas many developed countries in the world had previously legalized abortion decades prior to the United States landmark of Roe v. Wade, the history of abortion and its implementation within society can be traced back even as far as the anxious Egyptians. However for purposes of this paper, the author will consider one of the most interesting and alarming demographic dynamics that is currently displayed within the world. One of the best ways of seeking to determine overall economic power, military strength, and outlook for the future is by examining demographic trends and projecting population growth, sustainment, and reduction over time. As a function of this, it is necessary to consider the case of the Russian Federation with respect to its abortion rate; combined with its extraordinarily low birth rate. In such a way this brief analysis will attempt to trace the history of abortion within the Russian Federation, the former Soviet Union, and the preceding Russian Empire. As a means of seeking to understand the dynamics that play into this particular case study of the country with the world’s highest rate of abortion, it is this authors hope that the preceding analysis will help to shed light on the means by which demographic shift can ultimately be affected by societal as well as governmental factors. Historically speaking, the Russian Federation and the territories, that formally made up the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire, before that have had a very long history of legalized and/or expected levels of abortion; as compared with the rest of the world (Tulchinsky & Varavikova 1996). Dating as far back to the tsar’s times, abortion was almost a common practice among the rural poor. This was due to a number of factors; not the least of which was the fact that the poorest members of society would often suffer the most from having to bring another mouth into the world that would require sustenance. As a function of this, something of a cottage industry of abortion developed within the far-flung regions of the old Russian Empire (Sedge et al 2007). Although it was technically illegal during these times to perform abortions the law was hardly ever enforced and the penalties for breaking this law were mild and comparison the litany of other crimes that Russian Empire heavily punished. In this way, the stigma that surrounded abortion was slowly removed and society began to accept it to a degree that would not have been possible in Western European or even North American nation. It is of course this sociological dynamic that has greatly contributed to the extent and prevalence of abortion within current society within the Russian Federation. Likewise, when the Soviets came to power, it was understood that the rights of women must be upheld and abortion was legalized. This helps to further remove the stigma that abortion had gained and allowed for an even increased prevalence of the practice within the early years of the Soviet Union. However, as a result of the Second World War and the famine in Ukraine, it was decided that abortion would again be made illegal (Henshaw et al 1999). However as can be seen with almost any change in government regulation or policy with regards to something that was previously allowable, the rate at which society accepted this greatly lagged behind what the government would have liked to have seen. Again, abortions continued, albeit hidden from the purview of the government authorities. Once again in the year 1965, Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev struck the illegality of abortion from the law books, assuring in some of the highest abortion rates that this region had yet seen. One of the greatest difficulties in seeking to understand the exact number of abortions that were performed during this time is the fact that Soviet records of abortions were and still are considered state secrets. However, it is been noted by many historians and sociologists that the numbers were extraordinarily high (Zakharov & Ivanova 1996). This historical understanding is necessary for the reader to come to grips with the extent to which abortion has had a long and storied past within the collective memory and society of those that reside within the Russian Federation and related geographies. Although an analysis of history is useful in attempting to understand the means by which abortion is represented within the current system, as is been discussed in the preceding paragraphs, one of the most important factors with relation to the rate of abortions that are exhibited is the level of economic hardship that the citizens integrate with. One can hardly examine the economic system and situation of the Russian Federation currently without realizing the extreme from that has been experienced since the collapse of communism. During this time, nearly every aspects of the economy ground to a halt and it was even difficult for individuals to purchase food from their local grocers. As such it is of course painfully evident to the reader that individuals would not want to bring the child into such a situation of deprivation and hardship as they were experiencing during that time (Entwisle & Kozyreva 1997). Although the economics of the Russian Federation have greatly improved since the fall of communism is societal interpretation of childbearing and abortion have continued along the same lines that had been built both historically and economically throughout the very long period of time that has thus far been described. Currently, the Russian Federation has the highest abortion rate in the entire world. As of 2011, the Russian Federation experienced 1.3 million abortions; this out of a population of nearly 143 million. This is of course problematic due to the fact that a great demographic shift is taking place within the Russian Federation and former Soviet states within the past 20 to 25 years time (Parfitt 2003). As a result of low life expectancy, poor health, alcoholism, and mass emigration, the population levels of the Russian Federation have been plummeting precipitously. Adding to these issues is the high prevalence of abortion that is currently evidenced within the system. Due to fact that the rate of abortion the Russian Federation currently outpaces live births, it is not take much of a mathematician to see that such a policy and social practice is ultimately unsustainable (Philipov et al, 2004). With such a reality in mind, leaders in the Russian Federation have been working diligently to place legal constraints as well as reintroduce moral arguments that might be defined as pro-life in other countries and integrate these with the general population. Some of the programs that have been started include pro-life campaigns by the first lady of the Russian Federation, regulations restricting abortion to the first 2 ? months of pregnancy (except in the case of rape), and offering economic incentives for all individuals who choose to give birth (Popov 1994). Moreover, strict records are now being kept and any individual performs abortions without a medical license or knowledge meant by the state faces severe fines as well as jail terms that can exceed two years time. Although these programs have experienced a nominal level of success, the Russian Federation still leads the world in total number of abortions and is still experiencing a negative population growth. This issue of population sustainability has proven to be such a concern that the government of the Russian Federation has begun offering even more lucrative incentives for individuals willing to have a first, second, third, or even fourth child. Whereas many nations around the world are integrating policies that would seek to restrict overall population growth, the Russian Federation has begun programs of giving both cash incentives and material goods the families that choose to procreate. However outside of mere cash payouts for individuals, the government also offers a 2 year maternity leave. This can be extended to five with the correct documentation; to allow the mother to spend all of the formative years with the child prior to him going to kindergarten. Such a liberal policy with regards to non-cash incentives cannot be understood to cost the Russian government little to provide. Due to the fact that nearly half of the workforce within the Russian Federation its female, reducing this workforce in order to provide such generous maternity leave necessarily constrains the overall output and efficiency that the economy would otherwise realize. However, it is been understood by policymakers and key leadership positions that this stance is one that the government is willing to provide regardless of the overall cost and efficiency and loss of production that is realized. In combination with the other monetary incentives, this has served to help to stem the population decline within the nation. The situation that has been illustrated within the Russian Federation is of particular interest to the reader and student of sociology due to the fact that it represents one of the only systems in the world in which abortion has had a long and seamless history; dating as far back as the Imperial colonial era of Europe. Moreover, the reader can see that many factors impact upon the rate of abortion that is realized within a given geographic or ethnic grouping. As has been discussed, some of these profound factors include: economics, history, governmental control, and extreme poverty as well as a general outlook online. To the sociologist, the Russian Federation and its abortion rate is of particular interest. This is due to the fact that normally nations with a relatively low HDI (human development index), normally exhibit very low abortion rate; whereas nations that normally are more economically advanced and have a higher standard of living are typically the ones that experience the highest rates of abortion. In this way, the sociologist and the reader can come to an appreciation of the fact that the Russian Federation exhibits something of an abnormality to this rule of thumb. Regardless the way that one might feel with respect to abortion and the ethics surrounding such an issue, the sociopolitical and demographic ramifications that such a choice portends has far-reaching impact with regards to the way in which the government and people of the Russian Federation will seek to maximize their own utility, have a place in world affairs, and secure their own borders for the future. Naturally, it has not been the purpose of this paper to delve into a socio-political and/or foreign policy/international relations analysis of the abortion rates and demographics of the Russian Federation. However when one seeks to examine the society from such as perspective, it is necessary for the sociologist to engage with all of these factors in seeking to paint a more broad and clear picture of the issue at hand. References Entwisle, B., & Kozyreva, P. (1997). New estimates of induced abortion in Russia. Studies in Family Planning, 14-23. Henshaw, S. K., Singh, S., & Haas, T. (1999). The incidence of abortion worldwide. International Family Planning Perspectives, S30-S38. Parfitt, T. (2003). Russia moves to curb abortion rates. The Lancet, 362(9388), 968 Popov, A. A. (1994). Family Planning and Induced Abortion in the Post Soviet Russia of the Early 1990's: The Unmet Needs in Information Supply. Center of Demography and Human Ecology. Philipov, D., Andreev, E., Kharkova, T., & Shkolnikov, V. (2004). Induced abortion in Russia: recent trends and underreporting in surveys. European Journal of Population/Revue europeenne de Demographie, 20(2), 95-117. Sedgh, G., Henshaw, S., Singh, S., Ahman, E., & Shah, I. H. (2007). Induced abortion: estimated rates and trends worldwide. The Lancet, 370(9595), 1338-1345. Tulchinsky, T. H., & Varavikova, E. A. (1996). Addressing the epidemiologic transition in the former Soviet Union: strategies for health system and public health reform in Russia. American Journal of Public Health, 86(3), 313-320. Zakharov, S. V., & Ivanova, E. I. (1996). Fertility decline and recent changes in Russia: On the threshold of the second demographic transition. Russia’s Demographic “Crisis,” Santa Monica, Calif.: RAND CF-124, 36-82. Read More