Indigenous women’s reproductive health in the Arctic zone of Western Siberia: challenges and solutions

International Journal of Circumpolar Health

Andrei Popov¹  Ruslan Kochkin¹  Sergei Andronov²  Andrey Lobanov²  Elena Bogdanova³  Ildiko Asztalos Morell⁴  JonØyvind Odland⁵ 

[1] Arctic Scientific Research Centre of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug;National Medical Research Center for Rehabilitation and Balneology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation;Northern Arctic Federal University;Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences;The National Research University Higher School of Economics;

关键词: women’s health;    reproductive health;    reproductive loss;    child mortality;    pregnancy;    indigenous peoples;    the arctic;    western siberia;    yamal-nenets autonomous okrug;   

DOI  :  10.1080/22423982.2020.1855913

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

In the Russian Arctic, alarming trends (shortage of nomadic Indigenous women, high reproductive loss, child mortality rates) indicate long-term changes towards demographic decline. This study aimed at comparing some indicators of the reproductive health (childbirth rates, number of pregnancies, pregnancy loss) of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women in the exploration of cultural and social factors influencing reproductive behaviour. A multidisciplinary approach draws on methods of medicine, sociology and health economics. It includes data of the women’s reproductive health collected from surveys of 879 women (of whom 627 were Indigenous) during expeditions to the settlements and the tundra of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in 2013–2019. In the tundra, 66.7% of registered Indigenous women’s pregnancies resulted in childbirth, 7.8% in induced abortions, 25.5% in spontaneous miscarriage. More than three children were delivered by 59.1% of Indigenous women. Most Indigenous families suffered from high pregnancy loss. Marriage between close relatives was 27.0%. Child mortality equalled 24.4%, three times higher than in the population of the settlements and eight times higher than in families immigrating from other regions. The survival of Indigenous peoples significantly depends on women’s reproductive health and sufficient medical service that requires targeted policy.

【 授权许可】

Unknown