Reproductive Health in Russia - Discovering Determinants Through Comparative Research

Consortium: Reproductive health and fertility patterns in Russia - a comparative approach (Hemminki / Rotkirch)

Abctract
The project studies reproductive health (RH) in St. Petersburg after the collapse of the Soviet Union. To understand the level and the changes a comparative approach is used: comparison is made over time and to another ex-Soviet state, Estonia, having a large Russian population, and to neighbouring Finland, which is a stable country. We compare: (1) current RH problems stressing the respondents' understanding of the link between different reproductive events, (2) professional cultures in RH and the link between them and RH. The project is multidisciplinary, combining health research and social science approaches, and it is conducted in close collaboration with Russian, Estonian and Finnish researchers.

Three approaches are used: (1) Representative surveys covering childbearing and reproductive problems in two populations in St. Petersburg and in Estonia are compared to similar existing data from Finland. (2) Semi-structured interviews of health care planners, administrators, educators, and service providers are made in St. Petersburg, Estonia, and Finland. Doctor-patient-encounters in family planning clinics are also observed. (3) Abortion trends in the 1990's are analysed overall and in different subgroups.

Part 2 of the Consortium studies fertility and family formation. A close collaboration in terms of data collection, data analysis and researcher training occurs within the Consortium.

Project leader: Prof. Elina Hemminki, STAKES, Health and social services, POB 220, 00531 Helsinki, + 358 9 3967 2307, +358 40 550 0818, fax + 358 9 3967 2227, elina.hemminki(at)stakes.fi, www.stakes.fi/palvelut/kay

Project home page:  http://www.valt.helsinki.fi/staff/rotkirch/RH_&_fertility_patterns

Researchers:
Elina Haavio-Mannila, University of Helsinki, elina.haavio-mannila(at)helsinki.fi
Päivikki Koponen, Public Health Institute
Minna Nikula, STAKES, minna.nikula(at)stakes.fi
Kirsi Viisainen, STAKES
Meri Vuorenkoski, STAKES, meri.vuorenkoski(at)fimnet.fi

Project description