Reproductive history as a predictor of reproductive behavior
The article is devoted to the analysis of actual tendencies of reproductive behavior, change of birth rate indicators, frequency of induced abortion and births’ loss for natural reasons. The significance of reducing reproductive losses, both by of reducing the number of induced abortions, and by improving women’s reproductive health is shown. The article contains dynamic statistical data on the indicators of reproductive behavior, comparisons are made with similar indicators of other countries, to clarify the characteristics of reproductive behavior of Russians. The data of sociological surveys conducted by leading research centers on the attitude of the population to various lines of reproductive behavior are also given. Based on the analysis of the survey data, it is shown that, despite declared disapproval of abortions, people in general are not ready to assume the financial responsibility for making such a decision. Based on the regression analysis of reproductive histories of 2935 women, who participated in a series of studies conducted under the chair of the Sociology of Family and Demography, the influence of previous reproductive behavior on the outcome of pregnancy was analyzed. It is shown, that in addition to known medical patterns, a number of behavioral and values’ system factors that increase the likelihood of a child’s birth can be identified. Regression analysis showed that the growth of reproductive attitudes not only leads to an increase in the likelihood of a child’s birth against artificial abortion, but also has a positive effect on reducing the probability of spontaneous abortion. The significant negative impact of the existing number of children on the likelihood of choosing a birth against induced abortion was shown. This result confirms spread of low-fertility norms and childbearing termination after the need in children and their specific number is satisfied.